• Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto has defended the company's recent remakes, like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
• He says remakes allow younger gamers to experience older titles that aren't accessible anymore
• Miyamoto says remakes lead to "future developments"

Nintendo executive and representative director Shigeru Miyamoto has defended the company's recent remake releases, suggesting they'll lead to sequels.

After launching Star Fox, a remake of Star Fox 64, on Switch 2 last month, Nintendo is scheduled to launch another remake for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time sometime this year.

While many fans are excited for a modern version of the beloved Zelda game, Nintendo has been criticised for frequently re-releasing old, classic titles for its current hardware; Ocarina of Time was first released on N64 in 1998, then received a Nintendo 3DS remaster in 2011, which makes the upcoming Switch 2 title its third iteration.

Now, speaking in an interview with Famitsu(via Nintendo Everything), the Mario creator has addressed concerns that Nintendo is releasing too many remakes, explaining that the projects allow younger gamers to experience older titles that aren't accessible anymore and that the games will eventually lead to "future developments."

"Some people might say there are a lot of remakes, but after five years, a lot of people have outgrown games and stop playing them," Miyamoto said. "Young people today don’t have the opportunity to play games from 10 years ago, so remaking them to be more playable and releasing them again is a good way to meet the demand."

He added, "Letting people know the original games also leads to future developments, so we’ve been actively pursuing that recently."

It's this last comment that suggests Nintendo is actively working on projects that will follow these remakes, but whether they'll be direct sequels or projects within the same franchise, we'll have to wait and see.

In 2021, Nintendo released remakes of two games in the Famicom Detective Club series, The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands Behind, which were then followed by a brand new Switch sequel, Emio - The Smiling Man.

It also released a remake of Metroid on 3DS, which led to Metroid Dread on Switch, as well as a The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening remake, followed by the spiritual successor in 2024, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.

• Square Enix just released Final Fantasy 10 and Final Fantasy 10-2 for Nintendo Switch 2
• The bundle now runs at a higher resolution with improved textures and some quality of life additions
• There is no upgrade path for existing owners of the original Switch version, however

Square Enix just released new versions of its iconic role-playing games Final Fantasy 10 and Final Fantasy 10-2 for Nintendo Switch 2, but there's some bad news if you own the existing Switch editions.

The two games come as a combined HD Remaster bundle, which is currently available on the Switch 2 eShop for $49.99 / 44.99 / AU$79.95. There's no upgrade path if you bought the same remasters when they released for the original Nintendo Switch back in 2019. This means if, like me, you have a copies for Nintendo Switch, your only option to get your hands on these new ports is to buy them again at full price.

It's a huge shame, especially considering the fact that the Nintendo Switch 2 ports do look better in my experience.

The publisher provided a copy of the Switch 2 game earlier this morning and, weirdly, it turns out that it does not offer a save transfer feature — so I've only been able to compare very early sections in Final Fantasy 10.

Still, as you can see from the images above (captured in handheld mode), the Switch 2 port has a noticeably higher resolution picture (even with the Switch 2's handheld mode boost option enabled) and much better looking textures — especially if you pay attention to the background terrain while characters are speaking.

Unfortunately, it seems like the game is still locked to 30fps, though that shouldn't come as much of a surprise as every version so far has had the same restriction.

The Switch 2 edition also comes with some quality of life features that were previously added to the PC port of the games but absent on the original Switch. This includes the ability to speed up the game, turn off annoying random encounters, give yourself loads of items, and so on.

It's the kind of extra content that you would want from a $10 upgrade, but certainly does not justify paying full price. If you haven't played Final Fantasy 10 and Final Fantasy 10-2 this new port is likely to be a more tempting option, as these small changes still mean that it is the best version on Nintendo platforms right now.

First released in 2001 for PlayStation 2, Final Fantasy 10 sees protagonist Tidus as he navigates a fictional world inspired by the tropical islands of Southeast Asia in a quest to defeat a powerful evil creature.

Despite its age, it's considered one of the best RPGs with fans praising its distinctive art direction and emotional narrative. Its sequel, Final Fantasy 10-2, dropped in 2003 and continues the story in the same setting.

If you’ve always loved the world of the Splatoon series but have been — understandably — put off by the prospect of its sweaty competitive multiplayer modes, then this latest Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive third-person shooter is for you.

Splatoon Raiders offers an incredibly compelling, single-player take on the series’ trademark ink-spewing action. It’s all underpinned by the same excellent shooting mechanics that make online matches of Splatoon 3 such a blast, now smartly recontextualized in a wholly player versus environment (PvE) format and enhanced with a plethora of satisfying progression systems that allow you to experiment with countless impactful character builds.

The sheer volume of content here is formidable: there are a vast number of highly replayable missions that can be tackled in multiple difficulty levels, more than a hundred weapons to wield, and even lend others a hand in online co-op for more unlockable rewards. This is comfortably one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games and I know I’ll be coming back to it, even now I’ve seen the credits roll.

Fishy business

While the main Splatoon games are known for their clean urban aesthetics, Splatoon Raiders sets itself apart with a much grimier, more salvaged look. Set on the distant Spirhalite Islands, it follows an unnamed mechanic working for the Deep Cut trio — the iconic TV show hosts from Splatoon 3 who apparently moonlight as treasure hunters. With the group stranded on a raft after their latest treasure hunting expedition goes awry, they’re forced to improvise gear and track down the resources necessary to escape.

Fashioned from wooden crates and metal grates, the raft functions as your hub world in between missions and can be outfitted with a range of useful features like a customizable firing range and a range of upgrade stations, in addition to more whimsical options like an arcade cabinet that offers some cute pixel-art minigames. You always feel like there’s a meaningful upgrade that you’re working towards, and watching your craft develop from a ramshackle structure into a fully-fledged mobile base as you progress through the story is immensely satisfying.

That’s not to say that you need much encouragement to complete missions, however, as they’re a load of fun. There are three main types: quickfire dens that have you beating a few waves of foes in a short time limit, longer raids where you drop into large semi-open environments to secure nearby treasure chests, and dungeons that challenge you to get to a goal with a set loadout.

It seems pretty basic at first, but there are an incredible number of unique twists that keep each new mission feeling fresh. A den, for example, might throw hundreds of the same area-denial enemies at you — coating the small arena with noxious slime that chips away at your health and forces you to stay on your feet — while a raid could surprise you with tricky platforming sections and a strict time limit.

The dungeons, meanwhile, are more focused around puzzles and cleverly serve to tutorialize many of the weapons and abilities that you can unlock.

In the tank

Your character can carry one of three ink tanks (which basically determine your chosen ‘class’), designed for raw power, speed, or more careful ranged tactics. They all play completely differently, with their own roster of powerful gadgets to unlock and an overall power level that gradually ticks up with use.

I mainly relied on the Power Tank, which, true to its name, is all about big, bombastic attacks that deal massive damage. My favorite gadgets include the inky hatchet with its huge slashing strike that is invaluable for taking out tankier foes and a charging rocket launcher that wonderfully shreds through groups of smaller ones.

It might be tempting to rely on one favorite, but there are plenty of good reasons to try the others. Fully upgrading one tank requires you to spend time with the others, and some dungeons even have specific rewards depending on which you use to complete them. I initially thought that this might prove a frustrating barrier to progression, but soon came to appreciate being made to step out of my comfort zone because all three tanks are equally enjoyable to use with a huge variety of gadgets to discover.

Every gadget is highly customizable as well, with a plethora of collectible parts that do everything from minor stat upgrades to fundamentally change how they work. You can only add a certain number of parts at a time, so you’ll need to think carefully in order to craft a new build to successfully overcome a particularly tricky challenge.

There’s just as much depth to the wide selection of weapons. The 11 types on offer will all be familiar if you’ve played Splatoon 3, with a good mix of long-range shooters, nimble pistols, sloshing buckets, and so on, all with their own mechanics to master. Tackling more difficult missions rewards more powerful weapons at a strong pace, which, alongside the steady introduction of new rarities with their own unique qualities, further stops everything from becoming stale.

The same is true of the many enemy types. It’s the same malevolent Salmonids from the Salmon Run side modes of Splatoon 2 and 3, but with a healthy number of new varieties to surprise even the most seasoned fish hunters.

It all comes together for an experience that, even when some of the more difficult challenges force you to grind up your power level, remains fresh and exciting like a delicious piece of sashimi throughout.

Should I play Splatoon Raiders?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

Like most modern Nintendo releases, Splatoon Raiders is lacking when it comes to accessibility features. It offers the ability to invert both thumbsticks, or use motion controls to aim.

The color of ink is usually random, but you can lock it to either blue or purple in order to be easier to see. In addition to offering harder versions of most missions, the game features three overall difficulty modes which decreases or increases the power of enemies.

How I reviewed Splatoon Raiders

I played nearly 20 hours of Splatoon Raiders on Nintendo Switch 2 using the Joy-Con 2 controllers in handheld mode. For audio, I used the system’s built-in speaker setup.

I experienced the whole of the game’s story, hitting the credits having tackled all of the major missions on the standard difficulty mode, in addition to some online co-op play.

First reviewed June 2026

When developer Campo Santo released Firewatch in 2016, it was an unexpected hit. A debut title launching from a tiny indie studio with zero combat and doing really well is usually the stuff of fantasy, but Firewatch surpassed expectations – and it certainly surprised me.

Firewatch follows Henry, a man with a harrowing past. His wife, diagnosed with early-onset dementia, has been moved across the world to be cared for by her family. So, Henry makes a complicated decision to throw himself into an even lonelier situation by becoming a fire lookout in an expansive national park. He’s searching, perhaps, for an answer to all his problems.

It’s one of those games that doesn’t sound incredibly captivating. I mean, how hard can living in a remote tower looking out for flames really be? But it’s Firewatch’s narrative-driven storyline where the true magic lies, carrying you on an unsuspecting journey over a number of hours.

For some players, it could be a dull proposition. If I’m honest, 10 years ago, I wasn’t really into solely storytelling games. My brain worked a lot faster, and I was heavy into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (and I’m still busy writing my feature wishlist for The Witcher 4). Yet, I played Firewatch on a whim, and it changed my mind.

Still burning bright

As the From the Backlog series launched, it felt like the perfect excuse to replay it. Oh, and the fact it’s celebrating its 10th anniversary!

The biggest surprise for me was how little I remembered. I had forgotten the immediate depth the narrative throws at you as conversations unfold on screen. I almost felt like I’d never played the game at all. I became lost in thought about whether I actually paid enough attention the first time around.

Everything I loved back then was still here – the art style, the mystery, and the problem-solving. But, as I’ve told people over the last ten years that they should play Firewatch, I’ve always been at a loss when it comes to explaining why. Now, I know exactly why. While Firewatch presents as a game that’ll follow just Henry, it’s the conversations he holds over his radio with Deliah, another lookout based across the park, that are utterly captivating.

Like Rob Dwiar’s Eastshade retrospective, Firewatch is a lesson in how to slow down wrapped up in a video game. This second time around, my mid-30s brain appreciated the pace, and for a replay, it almost felt like I was playing an entirely different game.

Solitude and substance

Through voice acting alone, they banter, swear, and even flirt at times. There are laughs shared, memories unravelled, and a deep connection sets itself firmly at the center of the game.

Perhaps it’s because you’re alone, or perhaps it’s because Campo Santo knew how to make you care, but whatever it was, it still works. Delilah’s constant reassurance (and occasional squabbling) over the radio is so much richer when there’s absolutely nothing to distract you. I realised I’ve been searching for this same feeling in games over the last decade.

I’ve played titles from What Remains of Edith Finch to, most recently, 2026’s Will: Follow The Light, but while their storytelling is enchanting, nothing looks the way Firewatch does. Something about the vibrant hues and vintage aesthetic makes me listen, and it turns out, all I needed was a replay to remember how intense and emotionally compelling the story really is.

As the days passed in my fire lookout tower, I didn’t want the story to end. I didn’t want to bury Firewatch for another ten years. And yet, after a handful of hours, it had come to an end once again.

At least, I thought, I’m finishing this time round safe in the knowledge that if I played again in 2036, I’d still get to feel the same way about this game. Oh, and I’ll also remember that I’ll always be bad at reading maps.

8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller: Two-minute review

The 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller was primarily created for the Analogue 3D—a third-party console that emulates N64 hardware and requires real cartridges. However, it's also compatible with Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (as well as Android devices).

Now, I don't own an Analogue 3D personally (limited stock and an even more limited wallet have seen to that), but I do have a Switch 2, and the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller shines just as brightly on Nintendo's current-gen machine. I've been playing Nintendo Switch Online's roster of N64 titles with it and found it to be a fantastic (and not to mention, cheaper) alternative to the official Switch Nintendo 64 controller.

The 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller comes in a wide variety of colorways, most of which are available to buy at the brand's Amazon store page. The standard black and white variants can be bought for $39.99 / £34.99 (around AU$60). Meanwhile, the version that bears the N64 controller's iconic color scheme (alongside several translucent models) is a touch pricier in the US at $44.99 / £34.99 (around AU$65).

I was sent the 'Grey' model for this review, and it perfectly mimics the look and feel of the original N64 controller. The grey finish of the shell and the colored Start, A, B, and C-buttons are all accurately rendered.

The major difference is that the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller opts for a more contemporary layout, sporting two controller grips as opposed to the original N64 controller's odd but strangely comfortable trident-esque design.

There are pros and cons to this approach. The 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller's more modern flourishes do make it comfortable to hold. Additions like a Hall effect thumbstick also make for a pad that's built to last. Basically, the thing won't fall apart after a few heated sessions of Mario Party. Though the stick retains that rugged, contoured design of the original, meaning your hand won't be any better off if you stick to the 'palm method' of getting high scores in certain minigames.

Where this modern design falters slightly, though, is in the triggers and shoulder buttons. While they feel perfectly fine, the default layout in some games might feel off if you're used to the original N64 controller. That's because, with Nintendo Switch Online, the 'ZR' button is reserved for the quick menu. This relegates the left trigger as the dedicated 'Z' button by default.

That kind of was the case with the original N64 pad, too, where the Z button sat at the center-rear for your left index finger to rest on. It can just make things feel occasionally awkward on the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller.

Take Star Fox 64, for example. Because the right trigger is reserved for the quick menu, it means the left trigger and right bumper are used to barrel roll by default. In GoldenEye 007, meanwhile, the left trigger fires your weapon, while the left bumper activates manual aiming. As a result, you might find you have to dive into the quick menu and adjust control schemes on a per-game basis, which can be a bit frustrating.

Thankfully, that's the only major issue I have with the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller, and it's one that wasn't hugely difficult to get used to. I did find myself bringing up the quick menu by accident, annoyingly often, though.

At least battery life is solid, at around 15-20 hours on a full charge. That's about standard for the brand's controllers like the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 and 8BitDo Pro 3. Not class-leading by any means, but certainly gets the job done.

8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller: Specifications

8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller: Scorecard

8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller

I tested the 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller for about a week, putting it through its paces with Nintendo Switch Online's dedicated N64 library. Titles played include F-Zero X, Ridge Racer 64, Star Fox 64, Pilotwings 64, Sin and Punishment, Mario Tennis, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

I tested the controller wirelessly on Nintendo Switch 2 to get a feel for battery life and connectivity, with my display of choice being the LG CX OLED TV. For audio, I find that wired is best on Switch 2 due to Bluetooth audio delay, and thus opted for the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS gaming headset.

First reviewed June - July 2026

Read more about how we test

• Mario Kart Tour will shut down on September 29
• Nintendo has confirmed that an offline mode is not planned for release
• Nintendo said "We sincerely thank the many players who have loved and supported the game since service began so long ago"

Nintendo has announced that the servers for Mario Kart Tour will be shut down later this year.

The company notified players in a new blog post, confirming that the mobile racing spin-off, which first launched in 2019 for iOS and Android, will cease operating on September 29 at 11PM PT / 2AM ET / 7AM BST.

"Service for the Mario Kart Tour game for smart devices will come to an end as of 11:00 p.m. Pacific on September 29," the post reads.

"We sincerely thank the many players who have loved and supported the game since service began so long ago. Thank you for playing Mario Kart Tour."

In the FAQ, Nintendo confirmed that "An offline version is not scheduled for release," meaning it's officially the end of the mobile Mario Kart game for now.

All automatic subscription renewals and new subscriptions to the Mario Kart Tour Gold Pass were stopped during the game's maintenance on July 7, in conjunction with the game's end-of-service time frame.

Mario Kart Tour was centered around a race seasons mode and featured online multiplayer that allowed players to compete in live races against others around the world.

The mobile game also featured tracks that were later added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the Nintendo Switch game's Booster Course Pack DLC.

Nintendo didn't offer a reason for the game's shutdown, although the company may be attempting to encourage more mobile players to make the jump to the recently released Mario Kart World.

• Nintendo will release a new Switch 2 featuring a replaceable battery in Europe to comply with new EU legislation
• Other Nintendo accessories will also be updated and available throughout the year and in early 2027
• The sale of original Switch hardware will also end starting mid-February 2027

Nintendo has announced plans to sell a new Switch 2 console featuring a replaceable battery in Europe later this year and confirmed that it will end the sale of all original Switch hardware in early 2027.

Last month, the Super Mario creator shared a statement saying that it would comply with a new regulation called the EU Batteries Legislation, which was passed in 2023 and requires companies to make products with built-in batteries replaceable by February 18, 2027.

Now, in an updated support post, Nintendo has confirmed that it will launch new versions of the Switch 2 in the EU that will allow users to replace the battery, with the first revised hardware arriving this summer, with additional products becoming available later this year and early 2027.

"Starting summer 2026, in preparation for upcoming changes in European battery regulations coming into effect in mid-February 2027, selected Nintendo products in Europe will begin to be replaced on a rolling basis by revisions that contain a user-replaceable battery," Nintendo said.

The company noted, however, that "There is no difference in functionality between current products and revised products containing user-replaceable batteries."

"The first revised products are expected to become available from summer 2026, with additional products becoming available in autumn, winter, and early 2027. Due to a variety of factors, revised products may not become available in all European countries simultaneously."

The products that will be affected include: the Nintendo Switch 2, Joy-Con pair, Joy-Con (L&R) in Neon Blue and Red, Joy-Con 2 pair, Joy-Con 2 (L&R), Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, N64 Controller for Nintendo Switch, and GameCube Controller for Nintendo Switch 2.

Seemingly as a result, the company also confirmed in the FAQ that it will stop selling all original Switch hardware next year, almost a decade after the console launched.

"From mid-February 2027, almost ten years after Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017, Nintendo will no longer sell to retailers hardware in the Nintendo Switch family of systems – specifically Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model," the company said.

"Sales of Nintendo Switch hardware on Nintendo Store will also end in mid-February 2027."

For now, the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model will all continue to be manufactured for the rest of 2026 "and should be widely available in Europe all year."

Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review

The Snakebyte Ergo Grip 2 is a basic grip for the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, although it has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Its design is very much a case of function over form. There’s no RGB lighting, and the all-black colorway leaves no room for levity. At least it's simple and unfussy, consisting merely of a central bar and two grip handles on either side. These handles are reasonably long but quite thin compared to more traditional controllers.

The build quality isn’t particularly great, it has to be said. There’s quite a bit of flex to the whole unit, although it's solid enough and the plastic feels smooth in the hand. But it’s certainly not going to challenge the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers on this front.

There’s a small switch underneath the Ergo Grip 2 to release the central bar from the bottom of the pad, allowing it to pivot upwards and out of the way of the grip handles so you can insert the Joy-Cons. This seems a little gimmicky, and what’s more, it’s not strictly necessary: by inserting my Joy-Cons at an angle, I managed to get around the handles while the center was locked down.

I think it would’ve been simpler to engineer a solution where the handles didn’t get in the way at all, rather than have a rotating mechanism. I’m also mildly concerned about the button that locks it down. I noticed a small amount of play while it’s locked down, which could spell failure further down the line.

Happily, the fit for the Joy-Cons is more secure. They slot into the Ergo Grip 2 just as well as they do into the Switch 2 itself. The hold feels strong, and the handles effectively partially cover their outsides, which prevents them from being prised out easily.

In action, it’s quite comfortable. The Joy-Cons sit fairly close together, but not so close as to cause issues. However, the grip handles took me a little while to get used to. At first, I had to slide my hands upwards to reach the Joy-Cons' bumpers when playing games such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder. However, I discovered that I could slot my last two fingers into the handles’ small indents for better purchase, which helped alleviate this problem somewhat.

But there are a few more ergonomic issues with the Ergo Grip 2. The bottom parts of the grips aren’t particularly long, and what’s more, they’re completely vertical, rather than angling outwards. This meant that they didn’t sit in the palms of my hands as well as more traditional gamepads, leading to a less secure feeling of grip.

This verticality extends to the orientation of the Joy-Cons. They don’t angle outwards at the bottom, which is part of the reason why reaching the bumpers can be a struggle. Other grips, such as the Genki Dual Wield, create such an angle, which feels like a more natural way to use the Joy-Cons.

The Ergo Grip 2 features a USB-C port for charging while you play. There are LEDs on top to indicate charging status, although these are basic, merely lighting up red while charging and green once complete.

At 200cm, the included USB-C cable is quite long, but it's made from rubber. This contrasts with the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, including other controllers and grips, that come with braided cables for better flexibility. Thankfully, the cable is quite light, so I didn’t feel much resistance while playing, and I wasn’t worried about the cable disconnecting. However, it’s quite hard to unbunch, meaning it fails to maximize its entire length.

At less than £20, though, such shortcomings are easier to swallow. If all you’re after is a cheap way to securely hold your Joy-Con 2 controllers and want to play and charge at the same time, you could do worse than the Ergo Grip 2.

Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review: Price and availability

The Ergo Grip 2 can be ordered from Snakebyte’s website for €19.99, which is about £17. However, we have seen it for less than this at other retailers. This is a fair price for a Joy-Con 2 grip, especially one that features charge-and-play.

However, there are Switch 2 accessories that are arguably better value for money, including others from Snakebyte. Its Starter Kit S2, for instance, includes Joy-Con 2 grips, a case, wired earbuds, joystick caps, and a screen protector — all for about the same price as the Ergo Grip 2.

Should I buy the Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review: Also consider

How I tested the Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2

I tested the Ergo Grip 2 for several days. I played various games with it attached to my Joy-Cons, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Super Mario 3D All-Stars. I attached and detached my Joy-Cons several times to test the fit and pivot mechanism of the grip.

I’ve been gaming for decades and have used many systems and controllers in that time. I’ve also reviewed other Switch 2 grips, as well as numerous controllers for the Switch, PC, Xbox, and mobile.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: June 2026

The latest installment in Nintendo’s weird and wacky rhythm game franchise has finally landed with Rhythm Heaven Groove (known as Rhythm Paradise Groove in PAL regions). It’s a game that sticks closely to its foundations: there’s a simplistic control scheme, cartoonish art style, and a set of frankly surreal levels to sift through.

That’s not to say that Rhythm Heaven Groove brings nothing new to the table, however. There are plenty of multiplayer minigames available, and there’s a new single player mode called Beatspell, which riffs on the RPG genre.

So, is the mix of classic Rhythm Heaven charm and new content enough to place this entry among the best Nintendo Switch games? Here are my thoughts after hours upon hours of testing my skills.

More of the same — but not in a bad way

Let me begin by laying my cards on the table. I’m a long-time fan of the Rhythm Heaven series, and have poured a ton of hours into perfecting my timing on Rhythm Heaven (DS) and my personal favorite Rhythm Heaven Fever on the Wii.

I’m a sucker for the zany characters and goofy set of circumstances they find themselves in — whether that be dancing in tandem with a group of shrimp or playing badminton with a dog while piloting an airplane (yes, really).

And I’d argue that Nintendo — alongside codeveloper TNX — has re-created what made the series special effectively in Rhythm Heaven Groove. It’s a lot more of the same stuff we got before, but that’s by no means a bad thing.

A lot of the absurdism has been retained, and whether I was playing as a frog and launching my amphibian brethren off a lily pad or bouncing lemons off by biceps as a hard-core gym bro, I felt that the unorthodox appeal of what came before was still alive and breathing on Nintendo Switch.

Levels are, on the whole, pretty memorable, and while I found some to be less compelling — like using a massive hammer to crush cans, or sweeping the floor as part of a four-piece pop band — there’s plenty of personality, vibrant colors, and eccentric character designs to marvel at.

In the core solo levels, there’s a decent amount of variety too, even with the music, which spans a variety of genres, tempos, and styles. I found myself bopping my head to the tunes in Alien Alphabet — a level where you have to communicate with a chatty extra-terrestrial — as well as Hop N Slide — where you play as a computerised creature that has to jump and duck through hurdles — among many others.

If you want, you can even listen to the tracks in the Sound Studio menu, which fills out as you play through the game’s varying levels.

But let’s talk a bit about gameplay, something that there’s understandably little to discuss around. Like its predecessors, Rhythm Heaven Groove keeps things outrageously simple.

Whatever mode you’re playing, you just have to press buttons — sometimes even just one — in time with the beat. Controls are responsive and there are visual and audio cues that help you to nail your timing. You’ll either get your rhythm spot on, a little off, or straight up wrong, and this will determine how well you do in a particular level or minigame.

In the main single player levels, you can earn medals by hitting almost every note faultlessly, and this really brought the perfectionist out of me. I felt almost compelled to get a medal in every level, including the remixes, which combine multiple levels together in one brilliant collage.

You occasionally get the option to go for Perfect in some stages, which can earn you an in-game reward. This can be infuriating — but in a way that’s addictive and oh-so satisfying when you pull off a flawless run.

One minor gripe I have is that there’s no option to restart within a level when going for Perfect. For some reason, you have to jump back to the main menu, re-enter and try again. It’s a minor frustration, sure, but when you’re trying to get in the zone it can feel a tad grating.

Speaking of menus, I was slightly surprised to find that they were quite bland. The main menu is just a list, there’s little visual flair or intrigue about it. Again, this is a nit-pick, but for such a vivid and charismatic title, I expected something a little less rudimentary.

The new stuff: the good, the bad, and everything in between

Right, so despite a couple of small things, the core single player experience is very enjoyable in Rhythm Heaven Groove. But what new stuff can you sink your teeth into.

Well, perhaps the highest profile addition is the aforementioned Beatspell mode, which takes visual and gameplay inspiration from classic RPGs. By entering varying commands at different rhythms, you’re able to cast a handful of spells, including fire and water attacks, healing, and more. You must use your magic to defeat basic monsters as well as bosses, which have varying weaknesses and attack patterns.

You can level up your spells as you progress through each level, although these are reset at the beginning of each new area. It’s a neat idea, and I personally preferred to pour my points into attacking spells to defeat enemies faster — which helps you earn bonus points for a better star rating at the end of each segment. While beating your enemies is pretty easy, getting a high star rating requires consistently good timing, especially later into the campaign.

However, I wouldn’t say that Beatspell is the strongest mode ever. The levels feel pretty repetitive, and the narrative throughout the campaign failed to capture my interest. It’s very basic, and it doesn’t quite have the same quirky feel that the core levels exude.

Sure, there’s a bit more variation in terms of gameplay — you’re not restricted to one or two basic inputs and can approach levels how you see fit, but the music and enemies I encountered felt less charismatic than what the series typically delivers, making me less enthused about returning to levels and perfecting my score.

Still, some of the new additions show promise, and when my talented colleague and TechRadar Gaming Editor, Dash Wood, played the multiplayer minigames, he had an absolute blast. We loved everything here, from the catchy tunes through to the charming visuals and competitive feel, and I’m definitely going to be forcing a few friends and family members to duke it out with me.

There are more modes too, including Drum Lesson, the experimental Rhythm Toy Mode, and the Café, where you can take a break and receive tips. All in all, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy the beat-based fun in Rhythm Heaven Groove, and although I didn’t love Beatspell, the core experience alone had enough content to keep me entertained.

I liked most of the new additions overall, then, although I wasn’t a huge fan of the narrator, named Lil’ Miss Reeds. This robotic character uses text-to-speech to read menus aloud, which is a neat touch in terms of accessibility, although the voice, in my view, is pretty annoying.

Luckily, you can turn text-to-speech off in a sub-menu, which I quickly did — but again, in spite of my dislike for the robo voice, it’s a thoughtful touch. Especially given that there’s an option to describe what’s on screen as well as reading text aloud.

One final point before I wrap up, which has been a fairly big topic of discussion for this title. Although the Nintendo Switch 2 has been out for more than a year now, Nintendo decided to release this entry as an exclusive on the original Switch. In my view, this is a very sensible decision: not only is the Nintendo Switch the best-selling console in history, opening one of the more niche Nintendo franchises up to a larger player base, but the game itself is hardly the most technically demanding.

And I found performance to be consistent throughout — there were no framerate hiccups, visuals looked vibrant and relatively sharp, and controls felt responsive too, whether I was playing on my TV or using wired earbuds in handheld mode (though the latter option will be best for perfectionists due to lower latency).

So, what do I make of Rhythm Heaven Groove overall? For me, it's a continuation of everything that made its predecessors tick. With a whimsical visual style, head-bopping tunes, and zany level design, there’s plenty of the oddball rhythmic fun that we’ve come to expect from this series.

Sure, Beatspell wasn’t my favorite, and the simplistic gameplay won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you want a beat-hitting game that’s entertaining to dip into solo or with friends, this is an easy title to recommend.

Should you play Rhythm Heaven Groove?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

Accessibility features

There aren’t all too many ways to customize your experience in Rhythm Heaven Groove, although you can switch between a few Read-Aloud settings.

There’s the option to have the narrator Read words, read and describe what’s on the screen, or deactivate the narrator altogether.

How I reviewed Rhythm Heaven Groove

I spent around 10 hours playing through Rhythm Heaven Groove. During this time, I played through the main solo levels, the Beatspell campaign, and tried out the other side modes.

The majority of the time, I played the game in TV mode, with my Nintendo Switch 2 connected to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and my Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. However, I did also dip into handheld mode a fair few times, and connected up the Sennheiser CX 80U wired earbuds to enjoy the in-game music and sounds.

More generally, I’m a long-time fan of the Rhythm Heaven series and have reviewed many video games during my time here at TechRadar. This has included plenty of Nintendo exclusive games, like Kirby Air Riders, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and Drag x Drive.

I love every part of Splatoon... Except actually playing it — a problem the upcoming Splatoon Raiders might just fix.

In my eyes, the series’ art style is one of the best in Nintendo’s incredibly strong catalog. It has an attractive urban fantasy world populated by adorable, squid-like characters that feels both modern and fresh. The bright, shiny colors give everything a decidedly Gen Z vibe — one that’s further reinforced by the fashionable street clothes available for your in-game character to wear.

The concept of a third-person shooter all about ink is wonderfully original too, and I adore how the pristine blank stages are gradually smothered in your team’s colourful ink as matches progress. The problem, at least for me, is how incredibly sweaty the player-versus-player (PvP) side of the game inevitably becomes. Both Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 offered me a few weeks of fun around launch, but after a while it started to feel like the only people I matched up against had thousands of hours in the game and could destroy me in a flick of a wrist with the twitchy motion controls.

A skill issue, perhaps, but I know that I’m not alone, and it seems like Nintendo has cottoned on as well. While Splatoon 3 offered a single-player campaign, it wasn’t the most exciting, but the developer has clearly taken everything it learned from creating it, alongside the game’s roguelike Side Order DLC, and poured it into this new Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.

Splatting solo

After playing for a few hours at a recent preview event, I can already see that Splatoon Raiders is shaping up to be the ultimate experience for those who, like me, are enamored with the series but just aren’t cut for competitive online play. Everything that I enjoyed in the main games is here, starting with the character creator.

You can choose to be either a squid-like Inkling or Octoling (an alternate species introduced in the Splatoon 2 expansion), with a few body types and hairstyles to flick through. The designs are all fantastic and aggressively on-trend.

I particularly appreciated the cute bangs available if you choose an Octoling, decked out in shiny plastic charms like a Fairy Kei model. Your options are limited at first, but there’s a decent roster of great-looking outfits to unlock and further customize your look as well.

The character you create is an anonymous mechanic, trapped on a remote island with Shiver, Frye, and Big Man (the iconic television hosts from the in-game Deep Cut broadcasts that trigger every time you log in to Splatoon 3, who it turns out also moonlight as a team of treasure hunters) after an expedition gone awry.

This island serves as your hub world, offering a little firing range and various stations where you can upgrade your gear. The base itself can be upgraded too, adding new targets to the firing range, unlocking new types of gear upgrades, and even introducing a little arcade cabinet where you can play charming retro-style mini games.

While I pored over every little detail, you’re only meant to spend a little bit of time here in between replayable missions. These drop you into surrounding islands to fight off waves of Salmonids — the rabid fish creatures from the other games’ Salmon Run co-op modes.

The shooting is as satisfying as ever, with all the most important weapon types of Splatoon 3 returning from the rapid-fire Splattershots and Dualie Squelchers to long-range options like the Jet Squelcher and Splat Charger.

Fighting fishy foes

There's a good level of enemy variety, with a good selection of basic grunts to mow down on top of some more advanced, and surprisingly tricky, types. I also spotted a handful of new arrivals, like the massive Salty Tongue — a huge, fat salmon that slides around the battlefield on a bed of evil goo and takes a good few shots to beat. Defeated foes drop glowing orange eggs, charging a gauge for a devastating special attack.

Most levels are quite large and open, with your main goal being to recover upgrade material and hidden treasures throughout. A compass guides you towards the available objectives, though eagle-eyed explorers will spot a small number of hidden detours filled with extra loot.

As in the main games, spraying on the ground coats it with a layer of bright slime that you can quickly swim through in a squid form while replenishing your tank of inky ammunition — a mechanic now used for platforming challenges to break up the fights against enemy waves. These are paired with fun little segments that see you surfing across water or floating through the air on wind currents.

It’s clear that Splatoon Raiders is intended to be more approachable than the multiplayer games. It offers three difficulty levels and isn’t particularly punishing if you do die: you retain most of what you’ve collected and can thus invest it in upgrades to make your next run easier. There’s co-op too, which lets you tackle the levels of the campaign with up to three friends if you really need a the added hands.

I’m eager for a second helping when Splatoon Raiders drops on July 23, 2026.

Final VR3000 EX for Gaming: two-minute review

The Final VR3000 EX for Gaming is a multi-platform gaming headset aimed at the more affordable end of the gaming market. It offers a low-latency connection, a fold-to-mute mic, and spatial audio for a much more manageable price than many of the premium pads on the market. But does it deliver on everything it promises?

The Final VR3000 EX for Gaming’s build isn’t bad, all things considered. I’m not a huge fan of the plastic on its earcups or how rattly it can be — both make it feel a bit cheap and flimsy — while the adjustable headband doesn’t really go tight enough for people with smaller heads. But the fabric section of the headband and the faux leather cups are really comfortable: despite a tiny bit of sweatiness, I found them comfortable enough to wear for the best part of a day.

Sound quality on the VR3000 EX is really solid: trebles feel crisp enough to give everything real immediacy, while the mids have sufficient clarity that I could easily differentiate the different roars of demons I gunned my way through in Doom. The only area where I’d say the headset doesn’t quite match pace with the best wireless gaming headsets out there is bass. It would be nice if guns had a little more boom — unless I’ve really misunderstood, the F in BFG9000 does not stand for ‘feeble’.

On paper, the VR3000 EX has some pretty great features for its price point, but I found this was the point it really struggled to deliver. Although Final talks a good game about the headset’s spatial audio, in practice the only dimension I really found had strong differentiation was left / right, with noises behind me being harder to pinpoint and there seemingly being no height effect that I could detect at all.

The headset’s Footstep Clarity Mode is a similar story. While creeping around the Dust II map on Counter-Strike 2, I found detecting the footfalls of rivals to be pretty easy, which is great. However, I couldn’t really appreciate a significant difference in this, whether the mode was enabled or not. It seems churlish to complain about this, given footsteps were still easy to hear, but I’m just not sure how much this feature actually adds.

I will give Final less faint praise over the headset’s foldaway mic though. Testing it out, I found it did a pretty creditable job of picking up my voice and its fold-to-mute functionality worked well to stifle the recording, even though there was a slight lag of a little under a second for it to kick in. However, it doesn’t seem to have a near-field mic or significant noise gating, as when it was recording it absolutely picked up the background music I was playing and the clack of my keyboard.

And whatever quibbles I may have about the VR3000 EX’s other features, I was pretty blown away by its battery life. During my battery tests, I found that Final was pretty on the money with its 55-hour estimate for this headset. That blows even many more premium headsets out of the water for longevity and means you’re unlikely to need to charge it more than once a week, even if you’re gaming for a significant proportion of each day.

Everything is relative. Given its price, I’d usually be pretty generous with the Final VR3000 EX for Gaming. And it doesn’t get everything wrong: it has decent enough mids and trebles and a good stereo field. But bass is pretty lacking and many of the features it professes to have are almost imperceptible. In light of that, I’d argue another budget option like the Corsair HS55 Wireless might serve you better instead.

Final VR3000 EX for Gaming review: price & release date

• Launched on December 12, 2025
• List price of $149.99 / £99.99 / $259
• But it’s already on sale for £69.99 in the UK

Released on December 12, 2025, Final VR3000 EX for Gaming is available now. While it originally went on sale at a list price of $149.99 / £99.99 / $259, it’s already showing up for a fair amount less in some regions. You can currently pick it up for as little as £69.99 in the UK, which is a pretty low price for a gaming headset.

As for your options at that price, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that there’s not a whole load of customizability and it only comes in one colorway, black. On the plus side, there aren’t loads of different versions for different platforms: the one version of the VR3000 EX is compatible with PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC, although unfortunately there’s no Xbox Series X / S compatibility.

Final VR3000 EX for Gaming review: specs

Final VR3000 EX for Gaming review: design / features

• Comfortable to wear
• Not all materials feel that premium
• Epic battery life
• Quite loose fitting

Given its price, it’s not surprising that the Final VR3000 EX’s build quality seems a little on the cheap side. Not only does the textured plastic on their cups feel pretty low quality, but they are incredibly rattly when you handle them, which doesn’t speak to a tremendously robust construction. On the plus side, they didn’t seem to rattle at all when they were on my head.

Additionally, the fabric headband and faux leather earcups are delightfully soft, meaning I actually found the VR3000 EX to be surprisingly comfortable. I wore them on and off for much of a day, and they didn’t start to squish my ears, a problem I’ve always found with cheaper headphones and headsets. However, I will say the faux leather gets decidedly sweaty during longer use, particularly during tense first-person shooters.

I’m less convinced by the VR3000 EX’s fit, unfortunately. While the clamping force feels just about right, it’s not all that easy to adjust the stiff adjustable headband while the headset is on your dome. And Final seems to have modeled this headset around Mr Mackey from South Park — I have a pretty big head and yet the VR3000 EX only just about felt stable on the shortest setting, while one of my smaller-skulled colleagues definitely found he couldn’t get it small enough for it to feel comfortable.

All of its controls are on the left earcup. There’s an on switch, the volume dial, a Mode button that lets you switch between Bluetooth and USB mode — as well as play/pause media and answer/end calls — and the Control button, which allows you to trigger Footstep Clarity Mode. Each button has a clicky enough action to provide decent tactile feedback, while the volume dial is lightly notched to make increasing the volume feel nicely precise. However, I will say that they’re positioned close enough that it’s not always easy to know right away which button is which by feel alone.

The app for the Final VR3000 EX is pretty limited. It has three features: it enables you to update the headset’s firmware, switch on Footstep Clarity Mode, and provides access to Final’s EQ settings. While it’s hard to justify using the app just for the Footstep Clarity Mode, the 10-band EQ that’s included is pretty decent, even if I’m not all that convinced that the impact of the lowest 31Hz is really that appreciable. So while it’s not like you need to rush to download this, it’s still useful so I’ll count this one as a bonus.

A far more unequivocal win for the VR3000 EX though is its battery life. Final quotes its total life as being up to 55 hours, and this was borne out by my testing. I set it streaming music constantly for six hours, and during that time the battery only dropped to 90% — a back-of-the-envelope calculation would put its total life at 60 hours. So even factoring in that battery discharge curves aren’t necessarily regular, I’d say 55 hours is a perfectly reasonable expectation for how long this headset should last you.

Final VR3000 EX for Gaming review: performance

• Good sound performance, even if bass is weaker
• Spatial audio claims totally overblown
• Not sure Footstep Clarity mode adds much

Design and features are all well and good. But where the rubber meets the road for a gaming headset is whether those things translate into a good sonic performance in-game. And, sadly, when you actually take the Final VR3000 EX for Gaming for a test drive, it doesn’t quite deliver on the expectations it’s set for itself.

The VR3000 EX sounds very decent, but it is a little uneven in how it handles the balance of frequencies. On the plus side, it has a good level of bite in the high-end. The screams of the possessed when I was playing Doom were immediate enough to be rattling, while the whine of my chainsaw as I carved up imps felt sufficiently realistic.

But it’s when it comes to bass that the VR3000 EX is a little more lacking. When I tested the Turtle Beach Atlas 200, I heaped praise on it for the almighty boom that issued when I was clicking heads with the sniper rifle in Counter-Strike 2. With the VR3000 EX, it almost felt like I was playing a different game, with the game’s rifles having scarcely any more impact than my dual Berettas. While that has a very limited impact on your kill ratio in-game, it does make the whole thing feel a lot less immersive.

Speaking of, Final spends a lot of time hyping up the VR3000 EX’s spatial audio skills in its product description. And yet I’d say rumors of its immersiveness have been greatly exaggerated.

On the one hand, the VR3000 EX has a pretty creditable stereo field, with action occurring on either side of me always feeling pretty easy to pinpoint. Whether I was trying to spot where an inbound explosive engineer was charging from or fleeing from hell knights in Doom, the VR3000 EX generally made it easy to tell which side their howls and roars came from.

Unfortunately, I can’t say Final’s headset fares as well in other dimensions. There’s just enough variation in footsteps in front and behind you that I could tell which was which when giving it my full attention — but in the heat of battle, I’m not sure how useful I actually found these subtle cues. And while Final explicitly mentions height effects on its site, I could not spot any significant difference at all between action happening above me and gunfights happening right under my nose.

Honestly, that’s fine: I do not expect accomplished Dolby Atmos-style effects from hardware that costs roughly the same dough as a couple of AAA computer games. But I do wish brands would stop denuding the term spatial audio of its meaning by using it as a marketing gimmick.

Sadly, the VR3000 EX also treads a pretty similar path with its Footstep mode. While engaged in a free-for-all deathmatch in Counter-Strike 2, the headset did a perfectly adequate job of allowing me to pick out my rivals’ footfall and react accordingly. So far, so good, right? Except during this match I switched Footstep mode on and off many times, and I genuinely couldn’t spot whether I was actually getting an enhanced sense of steps or whether it was largely just a placebo.

One area I’ll happily give the VR3000 EX its due, though, is its connectivity. Using its USB dongle, I honestly couldn’t detect any latency between kills onscreen and the crack of gunfire. While an effective low-latency mode is pretty common with gaming headsets, it’s still a welcome feature on a headset this affordably priced. Even when connected via Bluetooth, the audio wasn’t remotely laggy and enabled me to respond pretty quickly to what was going on around me. So it definitely gets some points there.

And as long as you don’t have particularly high expectations, the VR3000 EX’s foldaway mic works well enough as well. Its action is smooth, and the fold-to-mute function absolutely works, meaning you can be sure no one is overhearing you when you want a bit of privacy — although there is a lag of around a second before it mutes, so bear that in mind. Unfortunately, though, sound quality isn’t great, with my voice sounding a little bit on the tinnier side, and there’s no noise-gating that I can tell, meaning friends and foes online will be able to hear any background chatter or music in your room.

Should I buy the Final VR3000 EX for Gaming?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if...

Final VR3000 EX for Gaming review: also consider

How I tested the Final VR3000 EX for Gaming

• Tested over a week
• Tried out on a range of titles including Counter-Strike 2 and Doom
• Have 10 years experience writing about audio and 35 of gaming

I tested the Final VR3000 EX for Gaming over the course of a week. I paired it with my desktop PC at home, my MacBook Pro M4 and TechRadar’s Acer Predator Helios 300 gaming laptop. I then tested it out with multiple titles including Counter-Strike 2 and Doom, as well as listening to some playlists on Apple Music.

In terms of specifics, I tested out the spatial audio in multiple Counter-Strike 2 deathmatches and tried switching the Footstep Clarity Mode on and off to see how much difference that made to how perceptible opponents’ positions were. I recorded myself while talking, typing, and playing music to test the VR3000 EX’s foldaway mic, as well as folding it away to test how effectively it muted incoming audio.

When it comes to my personal experience, I’ve been writing about and testing audio gadgets for over ten years now, as well as using audio gear to produce and listen to music. I’ve been playing games on a daily basis since they were all 8-bit, sharing my time pretty evenly between console, handheld and PC gaming. And yet, it turns out, I still get thoroughly mogged when playing Counter-Strike 2, which I blame on my middle-aged reflexes.

• First reviewed: June 2026
• Read more about how we test

With protagonist Fox McCloud appearing in a surprise cameo in the recent Super Mario Galaxy Movie, it’s clear that Nintendo wants to bring its niche on-rail space shooter series to a wider audience. To that end, this new Star Fox makes a lot of sense. It’s a remake of the 1997 title Star Fox 64, which is beloved by fans and a good starting point if you’ve never played one of the games before.

The problem for me is that this is far from the first time that Nintendo has brought Star Fox 64 back. I grew up with the Nintendo 3DS, and experienced it as Star Fox 64 3D. This was followed by some hands-on time with the Wii U reimagining Star Fox Zero, and then finally a playthrough of the original release when it came to Nintendo Switch via Nintendo Switch Online.

Every single mainline Star Fox game that’s come out since I was about eight years old has been a version of Star Fox 64, and now, as an adult, I’m getting yet another one in Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2.

I really wish the gaming giant had been a little bolder with this release, adding even just a smidge of new gameplay to freshen up the old campaign. Still, Star Fox 64 is a cult classic for a reason, and thanks to its strong base, this remake is still plenty of fun to play through for what is, hopefully, one last time

Into the Lylat Wars

The premise is simple, if a little unconventional. You’re a dashing fox in a universe populated by anthropomorphic animals where civilization has managed to crack space colonization despite an apparent lack of opposable thumbs.

Rather than rooting through sci-fi bins, you’re the leader of a mercenary squad (staffed by you, the bird-like Falco, the lagomorphic Peppy, and slimy Slippy toad) that lends its services to the highest bidder — in this case an intergalactic army that’s waging war against the evil scientist dictator Andross.

Fully voiced and animated cutscenes to convey all this information are one of this remake’s biggest new additions, and they feel like a natural inclusion. They’re not super long or expansive by any means, but all flow well and are decently acted throughout even if there are a few moments where the animation can look a bit cheap.

They provide some much-needed downtime in between each of the levels, which are hectic, high-score challenges that see you steering your ship, the Arwing, through intense battles. The action unfurls in a largely on-rails format, but that doesn't mean that this isn’t a degree of strategy to it.

You can swerve all across the screen, hitting barrel rolls to deflect incoming fire and blasting your laser canons. Your craft very much exists in a 3D space, so enemies often come up behind you, requiring evasive maneuvers like somersaults or hitting the brakes.

There's a boost too, which, deployed at the right time, can see you zooming under falling debris or through closing gaps — often picking up a power-up or two in the process. It’s all remarkably smooth to control, and sections where you pilot other vehicles keep the stages feeling fresh.

Each campaign is extremely short, taking just over an hour to complete, and has you working your way through a map of the galaxy littered with 16 unique planets.

You can’t visit all of them in one playthrough, which, alongside the two main story paths, gives you plenty of reasons to replay it at least a couple of times. That said even when you bear that in mind, the experience is still pretty fleeting and doesn’t feel befitting of the $49.99 / £41.99 / AU$84.95 digital (or $59.99 / £44.99 / AU$99.95 physical) asking price.

This is especially true if you’ve played all the other versions of Star Fox 64, as you’re basically just paying for a new, admittedly quite pretty, coat of paint.

There is thankfully a new battle mode to try out, and it’s pretty good on the whole. It’s in an online 4v4 player versus player (PvP) format, with one team playing as the Star Fox squad and the other cast as their rivals Star Wolf. Each of the three maps has its own associated game mode, ranging from simple control point capture to fighting to drag limited space cargo back to base.

I’ve had a great time with it so far, though I can imagine that online populations will quickly dwindle given the small map pool. Hopefully a post-launch update will add some more.

Should I play Star Fox?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

As with most first-party Nintendo releases, the accessibility features here are thin. Subtitles are used throughout the game, though their appearance cannot be customized. You can invert the axis of the control scheme and disable features like controller rumble, but that’s basically it.

How I reviewed Star Fox

I played Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2 for roughly eight hours, experiencing all of its major campaign routes, unlocking every planet, and trying out challenge mode.

I also dived into its multiplayer offering, using my earlier hands-on experience with other players when trying it at Nintendo HQ and testing matches against bots. I mainly played the game in handheld mode using the Joy-Con 2 controllers, though I did briefly test it in docked mode on a 4K Samsung TV to ensure the performance and Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller support is up to scratch.

First reviewed June 2026

• The UK is experiencing another heatwave, with temperatures expected to exceed 35°C
• Nintendo Switch users should be reminded of the risks of overheating their console
• Nintendo has previously said that the consoles can "malfunction" in temperatures above 35°C

As we enter another UK heatwave, Nintendo Switch users should be reminded of the risks of overheating their console.

Recent weather reports have forecast that temperatures in certain parts of the UK will exceed 35°C this week, reaching as high as 40°C.

An amber warning has been issued, in addition to a rare red extreme heat warning, for some regions and those spending time outside should be prepared for the sweltering heat. Even those indoors should take similar precautions to stay cool, especially if they have any running hardware that can contribute to the heat.

Whether it be a PC, PS5 console, or Xbox Series X, these devices do run the risk of overheating, particularly during a heatwave. The same goes for Switch and Switch 2 consoles, which Nintendo has previously cautioned can "malfunction" if temperatures are above 35°C.

"Using a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 in places with high temperatures may cause the console's temperature to rise," the company said in a post shared last year.

"This could potentially lead to malfunctions, so please use it in locations between 5–35°C. Lately, there have been consecutive days exceeding 35°C. Please take care when using it outdoors."

For this reason, we'd highly recommend avoiding using your Switch or Switch 2 when temperatures are at their highest.

In other news, Nintendo has officially announced The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, and it launches this year on Switch 2.

If you're hoping to pick the console up before the game drops, the Switch 2 just got an absurd Amazon Prime discount thanks to Amazon Prime Day.

I couldn’t get enough of Pokémon Champions at launch. The Nintendo Switch 2 pokémon battler was a game I’d been waiting for since its announcement and it was close to everything I hoped for— but after a couple of weeks I fell off.

Between a mixture of other games releasing, not always having my Switch 2 on me, and several real life commitments taking up my time, my quest to climb up through Mater rank petered out.

Now Champions has hit smartphones — launching on iOS and Android earlier this week — and the game feels more at home here than it ever did on Nintendo’s hardware. The quest to be the very best is back on.

There’s something somewhat surreal playing an official full-on Pokémon battling game on mobile, especially a mobile game that’s so microtransactions light compared to other Android and iOS releases from the franchise — it’s possible to spend real money on more storage space, teams and a Battle Pass for premium rewards, but nothing beyond cosmetics is exclusive to folks who pay up and the free-to-play experience is fantastic especially if you have transferred in critters from Pokémon Go or a mainline entry via Pokémon Home.

Despite this strangeness, Pokémon Champions works so well because any time your phone is connected to the internet (via wi-fi or a cell network) you can boot into a battle. I’ve battled on London’ tube while commuting to work, when kicking back in bed, while sat at a restaurant waiting for friends to arrive, and I might have snuck a game or two from my work desk….

Because this is all on a device you can slip into your pocket it’s super easier to pick up an impromptu game or two when the moment arises — there’s no prior thought or prep required compared to playing on a Switch. Wile the graphics are a little tuned down compared to what you’ll get on Switch 2, my experience so far has been very smooth on mobile.

I started out using my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 with the tablet-like inner display giving me a great view of battles even with menus sharing the screen, however I didn’t feel the experience was especially cramped when I switched to its smaller front display, or the screen of my Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

In fact, there was a strange nostalgia to using the Ultra, with the S Pen stylus making me feel like I was back in 2005 playing Pokémon Diamond on Nintendo DS.

No matter what Android or iOS device you have, the Pokémon Champions experience should feel like a delight and much more fulfilling than other free mobile games out there, but if my words so far aren’t enough to convince you to hop onto the ladder The Pokémon Company is sweetening the deal…

Let’s Go Raichu!

To celebrate the Android and iOS launch all players (who log in by September 1) will receive a free gift: Raichu and both of its Pokémon Legends Z-A DLC Mega Stones to mega evolve it into either Mega Raichu X or Mega Raichu Y.

Having fallen down the ladder in my hiatus I decided to climb back up to Master Rank using Raichu, and as some expected ahead of its debut Raichu Y and its No Guard ability is an absolute beast. A speedy special attacker with 100% accurate Zap Cannon and Focus Blast is a force to be reckoned with, and this pocket monster pairs very well into many of Champion’s biggest threats.

Life Orb Garchomp, or Raichu itself (with its un-mega evolved Lightning Rod ability), are two solid counters if you’re struggling against it on other teams, but I’ve found it’s a lot more fun to ride the Mega Raichu Y wave than try to fight it.

Mega Raichu X is nothing to sniff at, though in Champions’ current doubles meta — which is low on sleep control or future paradox pokémon — its ability to set up electric terrain isn’t super impactful. If/when the future paradoxes and threats like Amoonguss rear their head I see Raichu X finally emerging from hibernation.

That’s the joy of Champions’ approach so far. Slowly rolling out new ‘mons and items to mix things up often enough to keep the game fresh, but not yet so often to feel overwhelming for more casual fans.

If you’re still here I’m not sure what excuse you have. Go download Pokémon Champions, there’s nothing better you could be doing with your phone.

I recently downloaded the Star Fox demo from the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop and thought it had the smoothest, most perfectly-framed camera in gaming history. And you’d write hyperbolic sentences like that, too, if you’d also spent the last week wrestling with the nightmare that is its predecessor.

The Wii U’s Star Fox Zero should have been brilliant. Itself a reimagining of the beloved Star Fox 64 (similar to the upcoming remake), it was developed by Platinum Games, hot off the one-two punch of Bayonetta 2 and The Wonderful 101 — both essential Wii U titles.

Miyamoto was personally involved, saying that Star Fox had skipped the Wii because they felt that it lacked a strong enough idea. Now, to its credit, Star Fox Zero has loads of ideas. Unfortunately, none of them are very good…

For fox sake

The brilliance of Star Fox 64 was its easy-to-learn, hard-to-master controls. It was simple and intuitive to fly your Arwing and blast enemies with lasers. Fun, too, which made the process of gradually getting good enough to avoid all incoming fire with somersaults and barrel rolls joyous.

The Wii U incarnation attempts to innovate by pretending that Star Fox was always missing a second screen. On your TV, you get a third-person view of the action while the Wii U gamepad screen shows the POV of the cockpit. In theory this is meant to simultaneously give you the advantages of a wider view and a more zoomed-in sharpshooting one.

But Star Fox isn’t exactly a game about sniping. It’s a big, loud star war where you’re painting the skies with laser fire. Mostly you’re charging up attacks and locking on to enemies anyway with a generously-sized targeting reticule, so the view on your TV is 99.99% more useful than the gamepad one.

The game’s horrible solution to that is to have the TV camera operated by a hyperactive five-year-old who’s just downed six barrels of Lucozade. Zero is in love with shots that would be described as ‘absolute cinema’ by young people, and ‘game-breakingly misguided’ by my ancient, bitter tongue.

Some enemy ships can’t just explode in peace. The camera has to zoom out and spin around to capture the most epic angle. You’re left lost and wondering where the hell you even are on-screen. Oh, it turns out you were well within the blast range of that explosion, based on how loudly Fox is screaming and how much fire is on the gamepad screen.

Camewahhhh

This particular torment kept happening in a mission where I had to destroy several massive missiles before they reached a teleport. I was about to down the missile with mere seconds left on the clock, only for the camera to go “whoa, what’s this hot new threat?” and immediately abandon the action to get a better look. I glanced down at the gamepad just in time to get a lovely zoomed-in view of me crashing into my target.

It even whiffs clear opportunities for the dual screens to be useful. At one point you have to lock onto a giant mechanical gorilla (the perfectly-named Gigarilla) to get it to follow you. Gigarilla will kindly crush any enemy you lead it to, you see. Well, you don’t see much, actually. Because when you’re locked on to Gigarilla, you’re stuck looking directly at it and have to reverse blindly.

Aha! But with the power of the Wii U, I can look down on the gamepad and see a reversed-view or a wing mirror, surely? Nope. You just see the exact same view as what’s on the TV. Or your disappointed face when the gamepad battery dies again (out of shame, I can only assume.)

Direct why

If you think a stealth level in a spaceship-flying game sounds stupid, then it’s a real pity you weren’t on the Star Fox Zero development team. Operating a slow hovercraft around security beams is boring, with the game barely even bothering to punish you for getting caught. But the real “fun” begins when you have to hack computers to proceed by lowering a little robot called Direct-I. Congratulations to Slippy Toad, who in this exact moment becomes only the second-most hated Star Fox character.

Direct-I is a helium-voiced horrorshow who you lower from a tether out of your ship’s belly. A tiny tether that’s just short enough to make anything as complex as ‘going around a corner’ too much for the poor little robot to comprehend. “Leave it to me!” it squeals merrily, before crashing into a wall and forcing me to try again.

At one point Fox has to save a woman who keeps constantly spouting the exact same request to be saved over and over and over. Imagine her constantly repeating quips, occasionally broken up with Direct-I’s requests to “leave it to me!” as it merrily botches another attempt, and you might be starting to realise why this game didn’t turn things around for the Wii U and drive Microsoft and Sony out of business.

Is Star Fox Zero an abomination then? Well, yes, for the most part. But it’s not quite a total disaster. Platinum may have made more missteps here than someone hosting a tap-dancing contest on a minefield, but the creators of Bayonetta didn’t suddenly lose their eye for over-the-top action. There are still plenty of good boss fights, and can you truly hate a game that features Gigarilla?

It can have so much more on-screen chaos than the Nintendo 64 game could ever dream of as well. When the screen is full of killer robots, colourful laser fire, and the right kind of escalating chaos — and actually letting you see what you’re doing — it occasionally becomes the great next step for Star Fox that Nintendo frustratingly no longer seems interested in taking.

Exciting as the prospect of Ocarina of Time being remade with megagraphics is, wouldn’t it be more satisfying if they’d taken another crack at Wind Waker? The one with all the cut corners and missing dungeons, finally added back in? Likewise, I don’t want to serve in the Lylat Wars yet again, when another go at Zero has so much more potential.

Give it a coherent camera and a snip of the tether that sends Direct-I squealing into a black hole, and I’d be there day one. Let’s hope Star Fox’s Phantom Menace moment hasn’t put Nintendo off ever taking a risk with this series again.

• Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked has just launched on Nintendo Switch 2
• The port arrives alongside an update that adds a new playable character
• The game is a Dungeons & Dragons themed version of the digital board game Demeo

The smash hit Baldur’s Gate 3 might not be coming to Nintendo Switch 2, but that doesn't mean that you should sleep on some of the other brilliant Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying games (RPGs) out on the platform. In fact, one just launched today in Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked.

As the name would suggest, it's a distinctly D&D take on the existing digital board game Demeo, which has players exploring dungeons and fighting monsters with tactical card-based combat. If you have fond memories of the physical board game HeroQuest, then you’ll feel right at home in Demeo, as it’s almost like a modernised version with a unique deck-builder twist.

Battlemarked adds a whole heap of D&D goodness into the mix, and it’s a match made in heaven. There are eight playable heroes to choose from, including one that’s just been added in time for the Nintendo Switch 2 port, all based on classic D&D classes. There’s a paladin, of course, alongside the expected sorcerer, ranger, fighter, bard, and rogue, all with their own weapons and unique abilities. I’m usually drawn towards playing a versatile bard character, but I’m very keen to unlock the newest addition to the roster: an orc druid who can literally turn into a giant bear.

D&D features like skill checks are present and accounted for throughout the two available story campaigns (more are set to be added in future), but this is by no means a proper adaptation of the ruleset. This is a more casual experience that can be enjoyed with up to three friends regardless of their individual levels of experience with the wider D&D universe.

You don't need to worry if nobody in your friend group has played Demeo before either. There's no prior knowledge of that game needed, as a detailed tutorial explains everything you need to know right when you first start.

The art direction is strong as well, with a presentation that makes it really feel like a board game come to life. The different classes are represented by little miniatures with a set design, though I do appreciate the fact that you can mix up their color schemes or change their in-game names if you’re eager for a little more role-play.

I rarely use the touchscreen on Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode, but the support for it in Battlemarked is superb. Dragging your pieces around the board feels totally natural and flicking the die every time you need to roll it is so satisfying that it's become my favorite way to play.

Joy-Con 2 mouse controls are similarly well implemented, with an on-screen cursor appearing automatically and letting you have a similarly enjoyable experience even if you're playing in docked mode on a TV.

This is definitely good thing, as I had one major complaint from my time so far: the regular thumbstick and button controls can be a little fiddly.

You can pick up Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons via the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop for $29.99 / £24.99 / AU$41.99.

It’s also out on PlayStation 5, PC, and Meta Quest with full support for cross-platform multiplayer. If you already own it, there’s no need to worry about missing out on the new content added to the Switch 2 release — it’s coming to other platforms as a free update today.

• After four years, we finally get a second Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer
• Disney characters were few and far between, but two worlds were teased
• We also didn't get a release date

It’s tough being a Kingdom Hearts fan. The series is an all-time great, but if its platform-hopping origins weren’t frustrating enough — with entries exclusive to different consoles and even different regions for a while — we must now face the fact that Square Enix loves taking its time between entries, and between a new game’s announcement and release.

Kingdom Hearts 3 was first showcased around five and a half years before its release, and it seemed Kingdom Hearts 4 might take just as long between merely its first and second trailers. That is, until we got a brand new look at the game at Nintendo Direct, saving this year’s Summer Game Fest event for me just as I had conceded the Disney meets Final Fantasy crossover would be absent yet again.

The minute and a half of footage blended combat gameplay with cutscenes of black robe-clad figures, protagonist Sora facing off against a Heartless behemoth on the streets of Tokyo, and a few new and familiar faces — including several from Kingdom Hearts’ now-defunct mobile and browser games.

Despite these more obscure inclusions, Square has said KH4 is meant as a jumping-on point for the series, with the game’s director, Tetsuya Nomura, describing the KH3 ending in a interview as a “reset” — one which “should make it even easier for newcomers to join the story starting from KH4.”

Disney who?

I’m not convinced the latest trailer supports Nomura’s claims, though, as a long-time fan who has loved the series’ weird spin-offs, I’m not complaining.

The one other interesting detail of the trailer for me is how short it is on Disney characters. We only get the briefest glimpse of Donald and Goofy surrounded by blue flames.

Though we did get hints at two possible Disney worlds we’ll get to visit in some capacity. The first comes from those blue flames, which strongly hint at the return of Hades, the god of the underworld, from Hercules. Hercules’s world has appeared in almost every entry in the series so far, so its inclusion in 4 makes plenty of sense.

Further, while Sora’s fate at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3 is a little strange, it seems he has died in a way, so a god of death would likely be involved in his friend’s quest to find him. Plus, Hades’ voice actor has since teased his involvement online, saying “I might have a little bit of inside knowledge on this” and sharing the latest trailer.

The other hint comes from Sora’s keyblade — a swirl of fire and water combined into one weapon. While we don’t get the best look at it while it’s swung around in combat, this feels like a clear reference to 2023’s Elemental, especially as the keyblade creates a flower effect when it hits enemies, which looks a little bit like the film’s vivisteria flowers.

Interestingly, Sora has this keyblade while battling in the realistic version of Tokyo, suggesting he’ll be world-hopping while still trapped in this alternate reality — one which didn’t experience the visceral conflict of light and darkness before his arrival, we learn in this new clip.

One missing detail

The only thing missing is a release date or even a release year. After four years since it was first teased, you’d hope Square Enix would be able to give us some kind of timeline for this game’s release.

My guess is sometime in late 2027 at the earliest, maybe early 2028. That’s based on a new Kingdom Hearts collection that is landing this October, and that we have the final part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy dropping in Spring next year (that’ll be sometime in March through May).

This is certainly frustrating. I can’t tell you how desperate I am to jump back into the Kingdom Hearts world, but hopefully the wait will be worth it.

Admittedly, this trailer makes me a little concerned. Perhaps it’s the wide open space of Tokyo’s streets, but the combat felt a little sparse, and something seemed a little off about Sora’s fight against the giant Heartless. Footage, so perhaps things will change come Kingdom Hearts 4’s eventual full release.

At least we found out it’ll be yet another multi-platform launch across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC, and the Nintendo Switch 2.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m pretty darn excited for a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. But boy, I would have been so much more excited for a sequel instead.

If you’ve somehow missed it, at the most recent Nintendo Direct, we saw a brief teaser for a Switch 2 version of Ocarina of Time. Admittedly, the brief trailer is light on details — merely showcasing a cinematic intro for the iconic adventure with some voice acting and vastly improved graphics over the Nintendo 64 original — but the promise to return to Hyrule later this year has left many (myself included) ecstatic with the hope this is Zelda’s Resident Evil 2 Remake equivalent.

Anyone who has touched Ocarina of Time knows why it’s regarded as one of the best games ever made. It perfectly translated the previously 2D-only series’ sense of adventure into a 3D world, and even close to three decades later, Ocarina’s Hyrule is a delight to explore — with its dungeons to solve, monsters to slay, and songs to learn.

A return to this world with a graphical and gameplay overhaul — taking learnings from titles like Breath of the Wild — would be the perfect way to revisit the classic, and introduce it to a new generation.

More to the story

Though it doesn’t quite hold a candle to its direct sequel, Majora’s Mask.

The darker tone and the repeating three-day cycle create a claustrophobic aspect that pairs perfectly with the game’s expansive world and its various branching stories. You don’t have time to solve every problem at once, so you have to slowly piece together each puzzle through what you learn in previous cycles, and the items and abilities you unlock.

Majora’s Mask could easily have been a mess, but instead it pioneered the Groundhog Day-like genre, setting the bar for what time loop games should deliver.

Everything is perfect… but ultimately unfinished too.

Majora’s Mask picks up where Ocarina of Time ends, with Link on a quest to find his fairy companion Navi after she leaves him at the end of the first game.

While he does save yet another realm, his inciting quest doesn’t have a conclusion, as Majora’s Mask ends with Link venturing on once more to find his fairy friend.

While the Zelda series has had plenty more entries since these two games, it has long felt like there should be a third story in the Ocarina of Time duology — one that ties up this loose end adventure in some way.

So while I’m excited for a new Ocarina of Time, I am left desperately wishing we were getting a fresh follow-up instead, one that finally concludes this long-time Zelda series mystery rather than simply being the fourth Ocarina of Time re-release.

Why not both?

My mixed feelings aside, this remake doesn’t rule out the possibility of a sequel. In fact, it could make one more likely as players are refamiliarized with the game’s story and finale.

Adding to my hope (read: cope) is that we’re coming up fast on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s 30th anniversary — which lands at the tail end of 2028. Concluding this mystery would be quite the birthday treat for longtime fans of this game.

Now that would be quite a swift turnaround time, but the Zelda series does comfortably hit one entry every couple of years — since 2023, the franchise has actually had a release every year if you count the Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

We’ll have to wait and see what Nintendo has up its sleeve, but as I play through Ocarina of Time on my Switch 2 later this year, I’ll be desperately hoping a brand-new sequel to it is just around the corner.

• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has been announced
• Nintendo shared the first teaser trailer during today's Direct showcase
• The game launches this year on Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo has officially announced The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, slated to launch this year exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.

The news comes from the latest Nintendo Direct, which aired today, where Senior Executive Officer at Nintendo, Yoshiaki Koizumi, ended the 50-minute showcase with our first look at the remake of the beloved 1998 game.

"The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be reborn on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026," the trailer description reads.

The teaser trailer begins with a narrator telling the tale of Kokiri Forest, the Kokiri who live there with their fairy companions, and a boy without a fairy, aka Link. Meanwhile, the camera pans over a gorgeous tapestry depicting the Great Deku Tree and Hyrule Castle, as the ocarina plays in the background, before it fades into our first official look at a sleeping Link in-game, which is how the original game begins.

The art style is very modern, but it isn't the same as Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom's; it leans more toward Skyward Sword HD or Hyrule Warriors, only with improved graphics for the Switch 2 hardware with more realistic skin textures and fibres.

We then see a close-up of the Triforce pulsing on the back of Link's hand, before the trailer fades to black and shows the official logo.

Unfortunately, there's no set release date, but the game is launching in 2026, which means I'll need to finally invest in a Nintendo Switch 2.

With only six months left in the year, we can expect more trailers sooner rather than later, and hopefully a dedicated Nintendo Direct showcase as well.

Rumors about a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake had been circulating online for quite some time, but it was only recently that YouTuber and reliable industry insider NatetheHate claimed that it would be revealed during today's Direct.

Ocarina of Time originally launched on the N64 in 1998, before a remastered version on the Nintendo 3DS was released in 2011. The original game can also be played right now on Switch and Switch 2 with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.

• A new Nintendo Switch 2 model with a replaceable battery will be released soon
• The new model will be sold to meet the new EU Batteries Legislation
• The new regulations come into effect in February 2027

Nintendo has announced that it will soon release a revised Switch 2 model with a removable battery in Europe to meet new regulations.

In a recent post on its website (via The Verge), Nintendo said it will comply with a new regulation called the EU Batteries Legislation, which was passed in 2023 and requires companies to make products with built-in batteries replaceable by February 18, 2027.

"Nintendo of Europe ('Nintendo') and its products are in compliance with all applicable European Union directives and regulations," the company said. "Many of those are aimed at environmental protection as well as consumer health and safety with respect to the manufacture, supply and use of Nintendo products."

While the company didn't specify the Switch 2 itself, it did confirm "current products with model numbers starting with ‘BEE'" will see revisions, which would include the Switch 2, which has a model number of BEE-001.

Other Switch 2 accessories, like the Joy-Con 2 controller and Switch 2 Pro Controller, also have model numbers beginning with BEE (BEE-012 and BEE-014, and BEE-008) and have built-in batteries, suggesting they could also get revised models.

"The Batteries Regulation aims to reduce the environmental impact of the manufacture, distribution, use, disposal and recycling of batteries and rechargeable batteries,” Nintendo said. "In doing so, it forbids the supply of batteries and rechargeable batteries with certain hazardous metal content and sets out requirements for batteries' labelling, safe removal from appliances, collection and recycling.

"Nintendo products are fully compliant with these requirements, and Nintendo cooperates fully with authorised regional institutions to facilitate the proper collection and environmentally sound recovery or disposal of its batteries.

"In addition, the Regulation requires that from February 18th, 2027, batteries integrated into certain appliances and sold in the EU must be easily replaceable by end-users at any time during the lifetime of the product. Nintendo is implementing measures to comply with these requirements by preparing versions of products to meet the Regulation."

For now, there's no word on what the new Switch 2 model will look like or if it will see a price increase.

Last month, Nintendo announced that the console will see a considerable price hike, rising in the US from $449.99 to $499.99 effective September 1, 2026, as a "response to various market conditions."

• Belkin is launching two new accessories for the Nintendo Switch 2
• The Charging Grip aims to improve comfort and extend battery life
• It could help solve one of the Switch 2's biggest handheld gaming challenges: shorter play sessions

Ahead of the Nintendo Switch 2's first anniversary on June 5, Belkin is expanding its accessories lineup for the popular gaming handheld console hybrid with two new additions.

While you might think of Belkin as a maker of wall chargers, power banks, and screen protectors for your iPhone, the accessory brand has offered some pretty awesome products for the Switch 2. I’ve already written about the Charging Case for Nintendo Switch 2, which has been out for several months, and we’ve even rated Belkin’s screen protector for the console four and a half out of five stars.

That serves as a reminder that I might need to invest in one, as I almost exclusively use the Switch 2 as a handheld. And that leads me to Belkin’s Charging Grip for the Switch 2, which is available now for $99 / £69.99 / AU$149.

The general idea here is that it snaps around the Switch 2 for a more comfortable gaming experience, though it does add a bit more heft to the unit. It also features magnets on the back, allowing a power bank — which is included — to snap on easily.

And for me, that’s the big win here. We’ve seen other power solutions, even from Belkin, but normally you’re left trying to hold the battery pack or let it dangle. Here, it snaps onto the back, and its included cable can easily plug into the Switch 2 to solve one of my biggest gripes: battery life in handheld mode.

For longer gaming sessions — which the battery naturally helps enable — and to improve overall ergonomics, the grip wraps around the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons as well. Perhaps most importantly, the grips are non-slip and still allow you to remove the Joy-Cons while the Charging Grip remains attached to the Switch 2. It’s simply smart design, and there’s even a built-in kickstand. If you also like to use the Switch 2 docked on a bigger screen, such as a TV, the grip doesn’t affect compatibility.

So, for the price, you’re getting both the grip for the Switch 2 and a 10,000mAh power bank with a cable for easy plug-and-play charging. Belkin says the power bank can recharge the Switch 2 up to 1.5 times, and you can monitor the battery level via a circular LED display on the unit.

Less electronic, but no less useful, is the Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2, which isn’t just a fashion-forward way to carry the console but also offers dedicated storage for key accessories. It can hold the Switch 2, a Pro Controller, and other accessories. Like Belkin’s other cases, it also includes slots for up to 10 game cards. It’s worth noting that it’s designed to work with the Charging Grip, meaning these two products go hand in hand.

You’ll also have room inside for other accessories, and whether you swear by an AirTag, a Tile tracker, or a MotoTag, there’s a dedicated slot for one. Belkin’s Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2 is available now for $49.99 / £29.99 / AU$54.95 from the brand's online store and Amazon.

Both the Travel Bag and the Charging Grip come in three colors: black, lilac, and olive. While the latter two add a bit of color, I’m still hoping Belkin will increase the vibrancy and introduce a few more fun shades if these accessories prove popular.

Nacon Storage Case for Nintendo Switch 2: review

If you want the most all-encompassing, compromise-free storage for your shiny new Nintendo system, then the Nacon Storage Case for Nintendo Switch 2 might be ideal for you.

This large carry case is rammed with a whole lot of space for your console, dock, Joy-Con 2 controllers, traditional controllers, and accessories. It comes equipped with individual compartments for each part of your Switch 2 set up, so if you’re planning on setting up a gaming party, tournament, or travelling for a while, then it seems like the perfect companion?

But just how good is the Nacon Storage Case for Nintendo Switch 2 really? Well, I’ve spent a few days testing it and I have plenty of thoughts. Can it compete with some of the very best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories? Here’s what I think.

Let’s talk about the storage situation first, because this is probably the most spacious Switch 2 case I’ve ever seen — let alone tested.

You get a whopping 21 game card slots, which can also be used for microSD Express cards if you’d like, and that’s probably more than you’ll ever need. There’s also a net on the top side of the case where you can store HDMI cables, power leads and the like.

The main event, though, is the giant storage compartment with bespoke slots for specific Switch 2 gear. While this compartment isn’t anything flashy, and it doesn’t look the most attractive, it is admittedly pretty practical. I had room to place two Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controllers, four extra Joy-Cons, my Switch 2, dock, and power cable, enabling me to take my full setup anywhere.

Even when swinging the case around and dropping it from a controlled distance, everything stayed in place without a hitch.

My only real criticism here, would be that some of the slots are on the tight side of things. The joysticks on my controllers and on my Switch 2 were being pushed out of place in order for them to fit in the case, and while I don’t expect this would create lasting damage, it isn’t ideal.

Otherwise, the case is a pretty solid all-rounder. The exterior is sturdy and rigid, and it was resistant to scratches when I tried roughing it up. It did pick up dust and fibres pretty easily, though, which some may find frustrating.

Still, the zips are well-made and firm, the handle is wide making it easy to grip, and the interior compartment is fully removable.

The main downside of this case, if you ask me, is that it just doesn’t look amazing. Frankly, it’s gigantic, and rivals like Nintendo’s official All-In-One case provide individual compartments and strong protection with about half of the overall footprint. It also has a fairly one note design, and as I say, picks up debris pretty readily.

Ultimately, this case doesn’t have to look beautiful or anything — after all it comes in at a relatively modest price-point of $44.99 / £29.90 (about AU$63). But whether it’s right for you or not will come down to one major factor: are you willing to lug such a giant case around? Do you really need quite this much space? The answer for me on both counts, would probably be no.

If you can get past the size then you have a durable and (mostly) well made case that will store just about everything you need. If not, then I’d suggest checking out my alternative picks in the ‘Also consider’ section.

Nacon Storage Case for Nintendo Switch 2 review: price & specs

Should I buy the Nacon Storage Case for Nintendo Switch 2?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Nacon Storage Case for Nintendo Switch 2 review: also consider

How I tested the Nacon Storage Case for Nintendo Switch 2

• Used the case over the course of multiple days
• Directly compared against other models
• Tested by a Switch 2 owner and experienced gaming accessories reviewer

I spent a few days putting the Nacon Storage Case to the test, bringing it with me when out and about and cramming it with just about every Switch 2 accessory I have.

During my time testing the case, I performed durability tests, which included scratching the model, as well as dropping it from a controlled height. I also compared it against rivals like Nintendo’s official all-in-one model.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing tech and gaming gear here at TechRadar, including a whole lot of Switch 2 cases. I’ve also been a Nintendo Switch 2 owner from day one, and know exactly what it takes for a case to stand out from the competition.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: June 2026

• A Nintendo Direct will reportedly air the week of June 8
• Reliable insider Nate the Hate claims it will air the week after Summer Games Fest
• A release date for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and The Duskbloods has yet to be announced

The next major Nintendo Direct showcase will reportedly air next week, according to reliable industry leaker Nate the Hate.

In a new YouTube video, Nate the Hate addressed fan expectations for a new Direct soon and claimed that it will be broadcast the week after Summer Games Fest (via VGC).

"We are in the month of June and expectations are there will be a Direct in the near future," the industry insider said. "Do these claims have merit? When will Nintendo begin to discuss their 2026 plans with us after Star Fox and Rhythm Heaven and Splatoon Raiders? What does the rest of 2026 look like from Nintendo?

"We’ll be getting that answer very soon, as from what I have heard, the Nintendo Direct will take place next week, the second week of June."

When asked by his co-host, Modern Vintage Gamer: "Just to be clear, that is the week of the 8th?" Nate the Hate replied, "Yes. So very near, we will have that Nintendo Direct."

If true, the Direct would be the first major presentation in nine months, excluding dedicated broadcasts like Indie Worlds and Partner Showcases.

As the YouTuber put it, Nintendo has yet to announce the release date for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, and FromSoftware has been pretty quiet about its Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods, since it was announced last year.

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition was also announced for Switch 2, but was delayed in October last year to 2026, so we still have that to look forward to. A summer Direct would be the perfect time to share new details.

Nate also noted that "We have to find out about that Ocarina of Time remake. Get a first look at it, see the ambition and scope of the project," if the rumors prove true, as well as see what other third-party studios are up to for the rest of the year.

In terms of first-party titles, Nintendo is releasing Star Fox on June 25 and Splatoon Raiders on July 23, so a Direct sharing new trailers for both could be in the cards.

• A new Entertainment Software Association study found that most Americans think video games provide the most entertainment value for their money compared to other forms of entertainment
• 75% of parents are actively play video games each week, while 81% enjoy playing with their children
• The majority of players across all age groups are also spending money on in-game content

A new Entertainment Software Association (ESA) study has found that the majority of gamers in the United States prefer to spend their money on video games because they think they provide more entertainment value than other forms of media.

As detailed in its annual Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry report conducted in partnership with YouGov, video games are more popular than ever among most age groups.

According to the ESA, 67% of Americans between the ages of five and 90 are now playing video games one or more hours per week, which equates to 212.3 million. This is up by 3% (7.2million) compared to 2025, and split fairly equally between men and women, with 53% of men and 46% of women actively playing.

The latest stats show that parents actually like their children playing video games and enjoy gaming with them, with 75% actively playing video games each week, and 81% saying they also game with their children (52% at least weekly).

Nearly half (49%) of parents also believe that their children playing games teaches important skills, such as problem solving and creative thinking, while the majority of American adults recognize the positive benefits of play.

85% find games to be fun, 78% say they offer stress relief, and 79% say they provide mental stimulation. Younger gamers in the Gen Z category (88%) also believe gaming brings people together and builds relationships (87%).

Gaming is a billion-dollar industry, and the cost of consoles and software has been increasing over the past few years, with most AAA first-party games now costing upwards of $80 to $90.

However, according to the study, most Americans (63%) believe games offer the most value for their money compared to other forms of media like video streaming services for music, TV, movies, books, and magazines.

The majority of players across all age groups are also spending additional money on in-game content, with 69% of Gen Alpha, 78% of Gen Z, and 67% of Millennials typically spending $20 per month.

54% of parents are even purchasing in-game content for their children, although we don't know which games. 93% of them also said they require approval for in-game purchases made by their kids.

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, the continuation of the retelling started by Final Fantasy VII: Remake, has finally made it to non-PlayStation consoles, and over the weekend, I’ve been blasting through the game on my Nintendo Switch 2 to answer one question: can the handheld handle it?

The simple answer is yes; the longer answer is yes, but I’m not convinced this is how I’d want to experience this adventure, as Rebirth’s grander scale compared to its first part makes the Nintendo console’s technical deficiencies glaringly obvious.

Though being able to take this adventure on the go with you has some serious upsides — especially as it’s a game you can (and I have, on the PS5 version) sink well over 150 hours into sucking out every last morsel of blood from this stone (my PS5 tells me I spent 187 hours in this game).

Much like Remake, your platform choice for Rebirth should be decided by what you most value from your gaming: beauty or accessibility.

Rebirth reflection

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is not a sequel in the usual sense, it’s more of a disc two in the three-part retelling of the iconic JRPG. The gameplay is mostly identical to the first part, the story picks up exactly where things left off, and it’s essential you play Remake if you want to hit the ground running plot-wise in the way Rebirth expects — otherwise, more so than jumping into the second entry in a gaming series, it’ll be a challenge to get up to speed.

At the same time, Rebirth is an expansion on Remake’s formula thanks to the addition of new playable characters, folios that pave the way for more character build customization, and the open world aspects that make this feel like a grand adventure rather than a linear tale.

The story focus, while a continuation of the remade FF7 plot, is also distinct for this entry. Rebirth’s portion of the FF7 tale is one of confronting the past — for characters on an individual level such as when we return to their former homes in Nibelheim (Cloud and Tifa) and Corel (Barret), for the world as a whole as we learn more of the Cetra Ancients, their stewardship of the lifestream and how this feeds into the various conflicts between modern day factions, and for the series on a meta level as we learn the consequences and outcomes of the first-part’s finale to defy fate.

This reflective narrative (while a touch messy in that last aspect) provides an excellent throughline for this portion of the tale. It’s easy for middle parts to struggle with an identity and feeling satisfied, as they can too easily feel like a mere vehicle to take us from part one to part 3. Rebirth leaves a few loose ends dangling by its conclusions, but this entry makes space for character development and sub-plot conclusions that leave you hungry for more rather than narratively starving.

Unfortunately, where you are left demanding more, at least for the Switch 2 port, is in the performance department. Much like Remake, I didn’t find the game’s quality utterly experience-ruining, but the expanded scope of this title makes it clear that technical excellence is not the Switch 2's strong suit.

The overall technical performance is not drastically different from the Remake experience. Generally, the game runs smoothly at a constant framerate. There was maybe a touch of stutter for the flashy boss-ending finishing combos in a couple of fights, but I was never distracted from enjoying the spectacle of fights in Rebirth.

Quality leaves something to be desired, however, though I will admit my screenshots (especially my combat snaps) paint a slightly unfair picture. With the motion blur, the pace of animations, and the dazzle of colorful explosions, it’s easy not to notice the messy and unfinished nature that individual frames present.

Where the quality is tougher to ignore are the wider environments. Leaving the, at times, claustrophobic streets of Midgar's slums behind, Rebirth offers a true sense of adventure with pseudo-open-world spaces to explore across numerous regions.

On PS5, these spaces can feel dazzling; on the Switch 2, a combination of lower-quality textures, more sporadic (and lower poly) set dressing (i.e., flowers and other foliage, which decorate the Grassland's floors), and a noticeable amount of pop-in detract from the spectacle.

These issues were present in handheld mode, but also in docked mode. In fact, the low-quality textures were more frustrating when blown up on my 55-inch TV screen.

I found the lack of foliage especially amusing in the Chocobo capture section in the second chapter. Cloud had maybe five blades of grass between him and the keen eye of the iconic yellow bird, but this is apparently enough cover to remain hidden — perhaps this is thanks to special training SOLDIERs and Shinra infantry are given.

Alas, the lack of spectacle made exploring the open-world environments much less appealing. Where I had previously made sure to accomplish as many side objectives as possible before moving on, I frequently gave up after just a couple because I didn’t feel quite as immersed in this adventure.

Though if you haven’t experienced the non-Switch 2 version, this graphical contrast might not feel as stark, and with the game offering hundreds of hours of content, the ability to play it anywhere is a major accessibility win.

With free hours to play here and there — while commuting, or travelling, while in bed, or on the couch next to someone using the TV to play/watch something else — the versatility of a handheld is why we play with them, not for graphical superiority.

That said, I’m firmly in the play it on PS5 camp — or on an Xbox or a decent PC — when it comes to Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. The Switch 2 version is fine, but it’s frankly not the best way to experience the adventure

Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2: one-minute review

The Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 is a wireless Nintendo Switch 2 controller that comes in at the fairly modest price-point of $39.99 / £29.99 (about AU$55).

With Hall effect thumbsticks, rumble, and customizable RGB lights, it seems like an absolute bargain. Especially when you consider that the official Switch 2 Pro Controller is twice as expensive. But is it actually any good?

Well, the answer, unfortunately, is: not really.

See, the RGB S2 is plagued by a few too many issues when being used wirelessly, that it's impossible to recommend. Firstly, it requires a dongle to connect to the Switch 2, which is already a little inconvenient compared to many rivals in our guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories.

But the controller refused to connect to said dongle for some time, until I eventually discovered that it needed a firmware update, accessible via my Windows PC. Despite some initial problems, I eventually got the firmware update downloaded, and was able to connect the RGB S2 to my Nintendo Switch 2. But there was more trouble ahead.

A combination of input lag issues and random disconnections made using the controller feel extremely grating. And although it worked decently with a wired connection, I'd expected much better wireless performance.

This is a shame, too, as this Snakebyte controller actually has a decent feature-set given its low price. I mentioned the Hall effect sticks, but there are also remappable M1 and M2 buttons, switchable analogue and digital triggers, a 3.5mm port for wired headsets, and rumble as well.

OK, there's no NFC or gyro, and the controller is hardly the prettiest I've seen — the translucent design is a little cheap-looking, in my view. But its fairly comfortable to hold, and I can see the customizable RGB lights appealing to some gamers.

Ultimately, though the Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 is impossible to recommend, due to its painful pairing process, input lag issues, and unreliable connectivity. If you're looking for a more solid budget-friendly Switch 2 controller, then the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 is well-worth checking out — or you can even go for the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller if you've got the cash.

Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 review: price and release date

• List price of $39.99 / £29.99 (about AU$55)
• Which is significantly cheaper than the official Switch 2 Pro Controller
• Launched in June 2025

The Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 was released in June 2025 with a list price of $39.99 / £29.99 (about AU$55). This wireless controller is firmly in the budget category — after all, it's far cheaper than the official Switch 2 Pro Controller, which comes in at $84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95.

Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 review: specs

Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 review: design and features

• Not the prettiest controller, but RGB lights are customizable
• Relatively comfortable and includes rumble, C button, and 3.5mm port
• Leaves out NFC and gyro

In total honesty, I'm not a huge fan of the Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2's look. Its fully transparent plastic outer casing just feels a little bit cheap — although in fairness, this whole controller is. I also felt that some of the buttons — especially the D-pad — just lacked that quality I'd expect, even if this isn't a particularly pricey model.

The LED lights aren't too bad, though. Again, the loud RGB design isn't my favorite, but the lights are customizable, and can even be switched off if you want to conserve some battery life. The controller is also relatively comfortable in-use, with a smooth, rounded feel.

In terms of features, this Snakebyte model has a fair bit to offer. It's good to see customizable M1 and M2 buttons on the reverse side of the controller, which can easily be remapped — useful for inventory management in games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, for instance.

You can also physically toggle trigger stops on or off on the controller, there's a C button for accessing GameChat in an instant, and there's a turbo button on the reverse side — though I never felt the need to use this. A 3.5mm port is also present on the underside of the controller if you want to hook up a wired headset.

However, there are some notable omissions to point out. First of all, there's no gyro, which means that motion controls in titles like Mario Kart World and Super Mario Galaxy won't be accessible. There's also no NFC support, meaning you can't tap amiibo figures, which can be used in titles like Kirby Air Riders and Donkey Kong Bananza.

Still, there is rumble — something the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 left out, and the feedback is relatively powerful on Snakebyte's wireless controller.

Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 review: performance

• Clunky set-up and pairing process
• Constant input lag issues and occasional disconnections
• Hall effect sticks are welcome, but controller only really usable wired

Although the Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 has a solid feature-set for a budget-friendly controller, I have to say, I had a pretty awful time using it.

Let's start by talking about setup. Now, in order to use the controller wirelessly, you need to use a dongle, which is included in the box. This is already a bit of a sore point, given that many rival budget Switch 2 controllers can connect without one, but I inserted it into the system, and got ready for pairing. However, I was surprised to find that the controller wouldn't pair to my console at all.

I was able to set it up wired, by toggling on 'Pro Controller Wired Communication' in system settings, but whatever I tried, I couldn't get a wireless connection. After a bit of research, though, I discovered that the controller and dongle required a firmware update, available on my Windows PC, before using on my Switch 2.

The update itself — available on Snakebyte's website — wouldn't work for me at first, but after swapping the included USB-A to USB-C cable for one of my own, I managed to see it through. But I wasn't expecting what followed.

Sure, after updating the controller's firmware, I was finally able to pair it to my Nintendo Switch 2, but I soon realized that my troubles had only just started. While sifting through the console's main menu, I encountered constant input delays, making basic navigation feel troublesome.

And after firing up Mario Kart World, I realized that these issues weren't going to go away. While drifting, the release felt sluggish and unresponsive. Turning also seemed less fluid than usual, and input lag delayed my ability to use items.

It was the same for other games too. When trying the GameCube Classics version of Chibi-Robo! I encountered similar problems, with the titular character's movement often lagging behind my inputs. After a few minutes, the controller even randomly disconnected, which was pretty frustrating.

For reference, I was sitting close to my Switch 2 console, with the dongle inserted into the USB-A port. After this, I decided to use the dongle in the USB-C port instead, and the controller did feel a lot more responsive. However, I did still experience the odd bit of input lag, even when sitting closer to my console than usual.

So, even though this Snakebyte controller comes with Hall Effect thumbsticks — something that even the official Switch 2 Pro Controller leaves out, these wireless problems largely dampen the joy of that inclusion.

In fairness, the controller worked totally fine in wired mode, and while playing Pikuniku, I wasn't subjected to the same input lag issues or random disconnections. But if I wanted a wired controller, I'd easily be able to grab a competent one for less than $39.99 / £29.99 (about AU$55).

When combining the clunky pairing process, occasional input lag, and random disconnections, I have to say, the Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 is tough to recommend.

Should I buy the Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 review: also consider

How I tested the Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2

• Tested across multiple days
• Compared against other wireless controllers
• Played a range of Nintendo Switch 2, original Switch, and retro titles

I spent days testing the Snakebyte Gamepad RGB S2 controller, during which time I played a number of games, made use of its various features, and compared it against a a few rivals.

To fully assess the controller’s capabilities, I played classic titles via Nintendo Switch Online, such as Chibi-Robo!, as well as games for the original Switch and the Switch 2. I typically used the controller while my Nintendo Switch 2 was docked, and connected to my Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and Marshall Heston 120 soundbar.

More generally, I’ve tested a bunch of Nintendo Switch 2 accessories – not only controllers, but also cameras like the Hori Piranha Plant Camera, screen protectors including the Genki Aegis Shield, and cases such as the official Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case.

• First reviewed: May 2026
• Read more about how we test

AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro: One-minute review

I've reviewed pretty much every AndaSeat gaming chair launched in the last two years, and I've got to say the Phantom 4 Pro line is the most confusing of the lot. It doesn't quite know what it wants to be, straddling two lanes of design decisions, compromising on one more so than the other.

The big talking point is the adaptive lumbar support that AndaSeat has built into the Phantom 4 Pro. It flexes, shifts, moves with your spine, providing support for any and all angles, and you can (after much fiddling) shift it back and forth to really dial in exactly how you sit.

But critically, although yes, the Phantom 4 Pro line does indeed hit all of the ergonomic standards it needs to (with full certification) it feels like a bit of a swing and a miss. The brand has sacrificed a lot to hit those heady heights, and I'm not sure it's worth it, certainly not if it's aiming to be one of the best gaming chairs money can buy.

It's just not comfortable. Not in the same way that the Kaiser is, or even the Novis (my personal budget favorite). And that's an issue, because this is inherently first and foremost, a gaming chair (albeit one that you're going to have in your home office) and one you’re expected to spend countless hours sat in day-in, day-out.

And I know why this is. There's two prevailing trains of thought when it comes to how you design office chairs. The first mostly revolves around comfort: "How can we take a design we've already established and make it even better to sit in next time?". Squishier padding, memory foam, plenty of bounce, encapsulating supports, spongey adjustable arm-rests, magnetic headrest pillows, soft fabrics, you name it. This is typically where brands have fun with bucket seats and exciting new features.

Then there's the other line of thinking. Ergonomics first. Heavy lumbar support, mesh weave, lightweight, integrated headrests, a hard seat base, all designed to tick off health and safety check-boxes, or ensure your butt doesn't atrophy after months of use (the AndaSeat X-Air is an example of a very similar style to this), and that the wheels don't roll too fast in case of a fire (it's a genuine EU convention I promise: EN 1335 / BIFMA).

The problem is that these two design methodologies are so paradoxically juxtaposed to one another, that they can't exist equally in tandem, implemented to a high degree of efficacy. That's a long way of saying, if it's comfy, it's probably not good for you, and if it's good for you, it's probably not comfy.

Sadly, the Phantom 4 Pro falls in the latter category. Yes, its features are quite impressive on paper, but it lacks that element of comfort that, if I'm honest, it looks like it should have. Which is a shame. It might, ergonomically, be the best office chair, but it certainly isn't the nicest to sit in.

AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro: Price and Availability

• Costs $389 (around £290 or AU$545)
• Only available in the US at launch
• Multiple colorways and fabric options

Right now, you can pick one of these bad boys up in the US for $389, directly from the AndaSeat webstore. You've got your choice of upholstery, Linen Fabric, or the Premium PVC leather, and some fairly muted colorways as well.

That's quite the surprising development in of itself, as AndaSeat's webstore gives you access to some store exclusives, and a wider array of color options. Not so today. Instead, you've got "Elegant Black" (PVC leather) and "Royal Black" (PVC leather with some orange, or goldish stitching), and "Ash Grey" (fabric) and a "Carbon Black" option as well.

Intriguingly, there's also no XL variant on offer here like there usually is, either, so if you sit outside of the realms of AndaSeat's proposed height and weights, you're up a particular creek without a movement device.

AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro: Specs

AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro: Design and Aesthetics

• Impressive appearance
• Black PVC leather is especially good
• Doesn't look overly gamer

Visually, the Phantom 4 Pro looks pretty damn impressive. Especially the black leather edition I have here. At first glance, this thing is clean. You've got some bolstering, sure, but it's not too dramatic, treading a fine line between gaming and office chair.

On a call with your CEO? They're not going to be put off by any glaring seatbelt grommet holes from a bucket design lifted straight out of Recaro's back catalog, and there's no snake-based logos or RGB glimmering away in the background telling you to buy Gamersupps either.

The leather in particular looks utterly lush. It's smooth with a fine grain appearance, and the stitching is remarkably tight, with even the embroidered logo looking far cleaner than it has done in the past. It's not quite at the old Noblechairs Legend level, but it's close, and that's seriously impressive, given the cost.

The caster base, too, is nice. It doesn't have the cleanest weld lines, but let's be fair, you're not going to be looking at the undercarriage of this thing that often. The wheels are super smooth and glossy, gliding nicely along the floor.

Before I get into the two big show-stoppers, though, I do want to cover the added accessories that AndaSeat provides, because, well, the list is quite sparse. You do get a magnetic memory foam headrest pillow that sticks on quite nicely to the headrest area, and two spare bolts and an Allen key, and that's about it. If you're looking for a nice care package, you'd better look elsewhere.

So, onto the key features then starting with the armrests. The ones here are a bit controversial. In short, they're fully adjustable across three axes, including, what I'm dubbing as an infinite rotation angle, or 360 degrees. You can just continually spin them. That might sound odd, and it kind of is, but it's insanely useful to move them out of the way during assembly. Otherwise, they're still padded, mildly squishy, with that soft sand-blasted-style coating that you've seen on a hundred other gaming chairs.

Two of two features. Gotta be that lumbar support, right? I've got a lot to say about that in a minute (curse these pesky design subsections limiting my editorial flow), but the tl;dr is that it's a fully fledged, "dynamic", "auto-tracking" lumbar support. Basically, sit in the thing, and it pivots and twists depending on how dapper your spine is, with 15 individual depth locking positions that, fortunately, you can adjust in between (with a bit of effort).

AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro: Comfort and adjustability

• Seatbase is tough
• Lumbar support is aggressive and complex
• Armrests are impressive but also might be controversial

I've spent a lot of time testing the Phantom 4 Pro. Trying to understand it. Trying to come to terms with that aggressive lumbar support. And it is aggressive. I almost always come into these reviews as best I can, fully blind. I do get the pitch for the product, but I tend to try and forget everything between that and when it arrives purely so I can go into the review with fresh eyes as a buyer would.

The lumbar support caught me entirely off guard. After I built it, the lumbar was fully extended in its maximum position, and, try as I might, I just couldn't adjust it. I looked at the manual. I tried moving in and out, and nothing worked. It was only when I accidentally grabbed it with one hand, in the crevice at the bottom, then pulled it forward that I figured out it was actually possible to adjust it. Which is nuts. At its full extension, my head couldn't reach the headrest pillow, and I was practically perched on the very edge of my seat if I wanted to lean back and put my feet up.

Once I figured out that you can actually grab it from underneath, and then ratchet it forward with your hand, or pull it all the way out and then reset it back flush to the chair, I was convinced it was actually worth it. It's frustrating to say the least. AndaSeat, I know you read these so make a better instruction manual please.

Moving on to the seat base, and boy is it tough to sit on. The Phantom 4 Pro uses 55 kg/m3 cold-cure foam, which is a high-density design (albeit the lowest density in AndaSeat's chair range).

It's a bit of a staple of AndaSeat's arsenal of gaming chairs in fact. The Kaiser 3E and the Novis use a 60 kg/m3 setup, and the Kaiser 3 Pro and 3 have a 65 kg/m3. More density doesn't necessarily mean softer either, as it depends on how the bolstering is set up, and how that foam is tuned, plus the general thickness of it.

It can still be 55 kg/m3, and harder, despite having fewer cells in a broader space. The bad news is, the Phantom 4 Pro is, well, quite hard. It's not that there's no padding, but compared to those softer options, like the Novis, the difference is palpable.

Lastly, we have the armrests, and I'm torn on these. One of my biggest criticisms of a number of AndaSeat chairs in the past is the fact that the armrest ends are often either too big or a bit abrasive, and almost feel like they should've been oriented in the opposite direction. With the Phantom 4 Pro, you actually have the latter as a choice. You can spin it entirely so the lightly embossed AndaSeat logo is situated at the rear, and has a smooth, curved end facing forward. Or alternatively, spin it a complete 180 degrees from there, and instead have the flat-end facing forward. A one-off decision for 90% of us, maybe, but it's a nice touch.

The price you pay for that flexibility is a lack of quick access to lateral movement (side-to-side). If you want to shift the armrests out, even slightly, you have to take an Allen wrench to the underside of the chair and move the entire armrest. It still moves up and down vertically, but you lose that sideways movement, which is surprisingly useful from time to time, particularly for us cross-legged sitters. Plus, as they constantly spin, you can't actually put that much pressure on them without movement occurring. Lean sideways, or push on them to get up, and they'll move outwards away from you.

I could deal without the lateral movement, sure, a lack of that is fine, but a locking button to stop the spin that you press in to rotate would be a quick-fire fix for sure.

Other than that, the usual bells and whistles are here: you've got the recline adjustment, tilt, seat base height adjustment, gas piston, you know the drill, and it works; there's little more that needs adding.

One final thing I'll add, that does frustrate me quite a bit, is how limited the Phantom 4 Pro chair is in terms of human capacity, too. Max load is just 100KG or 220lbs, and max height is 6 '1 or 185cm. That's not a lot of flexibility there. Particularly given there's no XL variant yet either.

AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro: Assembly

• Easy build process
• Done in 20 minutes
• Seat back bolts were tight

There's not a whole lot to say about the build process. Overall, it was very consistent with every other gaming chair I've ever constructed. You grab the base, plug in the casters, pop the piston in, and add the covers. Fit the armrests to the seat base. Attach that to the seat back, then install the seat base mount, with its levers, and slot it onto the piston.

AndaSeat includes everything you need to get it built, and a fairly hefty instruction manual, but as I've already mentioned, the lack of a guide on how to use that adjustable lumbar support is painful.

One other thing I will say is that there are bolts included in the seat back that you need to remove by default, and they are incredibly tight, so you might need a second set of hands, or a bigger Allen key, or a power drill. Depends how strong you are. Similarly, they're quite the challenge to get back in, too, once you've got the seatback slotted into position.

Otherwise, it’s an easy build.

Should You Buy The AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

Not a fan of AndaSeat's lumbar implementation and want something with a bit more cush? Try these alternatives.

How I tested the AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro

• Tested over 3 weeks of constant use
• Fully built by hand with included tools
• Used in all manner of configurations possible

Testing gaming chairs and office chairs generally is quite challenging. You need a broad knowledge of other gaming chairs in the area, otherwise everything looks and feels good. These are premium products designed to encourage comfort or ergonomics, so having a broad sense of the industry is pivotal.

Fortunately I've reviewed practically every AndaSeat gaming chair in the last three years, and a few more besides that. I actively compared the Phantom 4 Pro, to my experience with the Kaiser 3E XL (my daily driver), alongside the Novis, the Kaiser 4, the 4 Pro, and the X-Air too.

Predominantly I used the Phantom 4 Pro as my daily driver for around three weeks before writing up my review, keeping an active diary of any bug-bears or issues that arose during my time with it. Comfort issues that might be apparent on day one typically shift over time, so it's important to keep a running log.

I also got my partner (a dinky 5'5 lady) to sit in and provide me with her feedback, along with a few members of my close friends and family as well, asking for their opinions and direct feedback, questioning them on comfort, the feel, the build quality, and what their experiences are with it, providing me with a broad spectrum of qualitative views from multiple body types.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed May 2026

• Actors Troy Baker and Alix Wilton Regan will co-host the 2026 Future Games Show Summer Showcase
• The showcase will feature world premieres, new trailers, and deep dives into over 40 games
• This year's event airs on June 6 at 12PM PT / 3PM ET / 8PM BST

The hosts for this year's Future Games Show Summer Showcase have been announced as actors Troy Baker and Alix Wilton Regan.

Baker is an award-winning actor best known for his roles as Joel Miller in Naughty Dog's The Last of Us, Higgs Monaghan in Death Stranding, and, most recently, Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

"I’m truly honored to be hosting the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6 alongside the wonderful Alix Wilton Regan," Baker said. "There’s a certain magic in stepping into new worlds and discovering what’s hidden just beneath the surface - and this show is full of those moments. With world premieres, new trailers, and deep dives into over 40 games, I can’t wait to share what we’ve uncovered together."

Wilton Regan, who is the new voice of Lara Croft in the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and has also starred in Cyberpunk 2077, the player character in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and more.

"I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Troy Baker for the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6," said Wilton Regan. "We’ll be unveiling world premieres, dazzling new trailers, and a host of extraordinary titles - so do come along and join us. It’s all shaping up to be a wonderfully daring adventure, with plenty of surprises in store."

As Baker mentioned, the Future Games Show Summer Showcase will feature world premiere reveals and exclusive trailers, as well as stealth demo drops from some of the industry’s biggest studios.

The show will also feature more than 40 games from upcoming AAA and indie developers, including some of the most anticipated titles coming later this year, such as IllFonic's single-player horror game, Halloween: The Game, which launches on September 8, as well as a new trailer for the tactical first-person shooter from Team 17, WARDOGS.

Viewers can also expect an extended gameplay reveal for EXODUS from developers Archetype Entertainment immediately after the main showcase.

Fans can watch the 2026 Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6 at 12PM PT / 3PM ET / 8PM BST at Twitch, YouTube, Steam, and more.

FGS Live From Los Angeles, a multi-format showcase hosted by FGS channel presenters, will follow the main Summer Showcase, which will bring fans even more world premieres, exclusive trailers, and news.

8BitDo Pro 3: One-minute review

In the half-decade or so I’ve been testing gaming hardware, I’ve loved almost every 8BitDo product I’ve reviewed. The 8BitDo Pro 3 is no exception. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s the best budget-friendly controller on the market today. Yes, even beating out other desirable choices like the GameSir Nova Lite.

Contrary to its appearance, the 8BitDo Pro 3 isn’t just the Pro 2 in a particularly slim-fitting trenchcoat. It looks identical to its predecessor, sure, but 8BitDo has refined the newer gamepad to what feels like its logical conclusion. TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance; essentially an improvement over Hall effect) thumbsticks, swappable magnetic face buttons, micro switch trigger locks, charging dock, and two additional remappable buttons for a total of four are all additions here.

Then there’s the d-pad, which, despite being a simpler cardinal design, is one of the nicest-feeling I’ve ever had the chance to play around with. It’s rugged and precise, smartly avoiding that spongy, mushy feel that you find on a lot of retro-inspired controllers.

You’re getting a symmetrical stick layout here, which isn’t too common in the third-party controller space, especially beyond the realm of PlayStation and its current DualSense controller. And while you’re not getting compatibility with Sony’s machine (or Xbox consoles for that matter), the 8BitDo Pro 3 is broadly compatible with PC, Switch, Switch 2, as well as iOS and Android devices. For connectivity, your options are 2.4GHz (with dongle included), Bluetooth, and good ol’ wired via USB-C.

Battery life can vary, though I found the 8BitDo Pro 3 outlasts the pricier 8BitDo Ultimate 2 on this front. The brand states you’ll get around 20 hours per charge, but this all depends on your personal usage. Hopping between Switch 2 and PC (Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity, respectively), I managed around 15 hours before needing to top up. On average, that still beats out the Ultimate 2’s 10-15 hours.

The only gripes I have with the Pro 3 are minimal; nice-to-haves, if anything. I’m not a fan of the Start/Select buttons being crammed right in the center, and they’re a bit mushy to the touch. And I think the lack of a 3.5mm port for wired headphones is a shame, though the Ultimate controllers didn’t have one of these, either.

Those nitpicks aside, if you’re in the market for a new PC and/or Switch-facing controller and you don’t want to break the bank, buy the 8BitDo Pro 3. For now, it’s the last word in budget-friendly controllers and, astonishingly, has none of the usual concessions made to get it down to a price this low.

8BitDo Pro 3: Price and availability

• Costs $59.99 / £40 (around AU$84)
• Available to buy now at 8BitDo’s Amazon store page
• No set price in the UK, but hovers around £40-£50 depending on colorway

The 8BitDo Pro 3 launched in 2025 and is available to buy right now from 8BitDo’s Amazon store page. In the US, you can get it for $59.99, which puts it in roughly the same price range as the GameSir Tarantula Pro — a similarly brilliant Switch-facing symmetrical controller. That’s also cheaper than the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller; ideal if you’re shopping for a pad for the handheld hybrid that doesn't empty your bank account.

Things get a bit weird in the UK, price-wise. At Amazon, I’ve seen the 8BitDo Pro 3 hover anywhere between £40-£50 on the brand’s official store page, and there doesn’t appear to be a set-in-stone retail price for it. It’s worth noting that these aren’t second-hand listings, either. Best not to look a gift horse in the mouth, though; if you’re in the UK, you’re getting the 8BitDo Pro 3 at an aggressive price given its quality and feature set.

8BitDo Pro 3: Specs

8BitDo Pro 3: Design and features

• Build looks like a SNES controller with modern flourishes
• A focus on tactility and immediacy
• Neat extras like trigger locks and swappable face buttons

Put the 8BitDo Pro 3 and its predecessor side-by-side, and you might not notice any immediate differences. They broadly share the same silhouette, looking like a SNES pad with grips bolted on. And those flat, slightly curved shoulder buttons almost look like they were taken wholesale from that iconic 16-bit era controller.

It’s not just looks that 8BitDo has borrowed from Nintendo’s playbook, though. Nearly every module on the controller — from sticks and d-pad to face buttons and triggers — has been implemented with tactility in mind. I know, that’s not uncommon for the modern controller, but it’s still fairly rare to see in the Pro 3’s price bracket.

One example is the simply sublime d-pad here. It’s not much of a looker, and its bumpy texturing gives the impression of something clunky and toy-like. In reality, it’s exceptionally comfortable and offers a level of precision that even Nintendo’s pricey Switch 2 Pro Controller d-pad can’t match.

Another more interesting feature the 8BitDo Pro 3 has is its magnetic, swappable face buttons. These are more for show than anything, but they’re a neat extra that lends the controller some personality. An obvious usage here is that you can swap around the ‘ABXY’ layout based on Switch/XInput preferences.

There’s also a multicolored set of face buttons included in a latch underneath the charging dock (where you’ll also find the 2.4GHz dongle) and a small plunger-like item that you stick onto the buttons to remove them with ease. Don’t worry, though; the buttons themselves don’t feel loose and won’t come off during play.

All around, it’s a great-feeling package, though the one area where design lets me down (and hasn’t been improved on since the Pro 2) is the rather mushy Start and Select buttons. These are reminiscent of the squishier buttons found on the SNES pad, so it’s likely this is another continued design inspiration. They just don’t feel particularly great to press and lack that immediacy shown off by everything else on the Pro 3.

8BitDo Pro 3: Performance

• Heaps of customizability
• 15-20 hours of battery life
• Trigger locks and claw grip bumper buttons feel great

I test and review controllers pretty frequently, and often, switching from one to another can take a bit of getting used to, especially when there are differences in size and button/stick layouts. In contrast, the 8BitDo Pro 3 felt immediately comfortable to use thanks to a rounded design that sits in the hands just right.

Except for the Start and Select buttons, which I feel are just a bit too crammed together in the center, everything else rests under your thumbs and index fingers just right. Those long, rounded bumper buttons act as a nice cushion for your fingers, and the new claw-grip remappable bumpers next to them sit under your fingertips. I love these, especially, as they’re wonderfully clicky and responsive. I’ve even taken to mapping them to my trigger actions in Final Fantasy 14 Online, for extremely quick access to skills on my hotbars.

Briefly, I’ll go over how you can actually make use of these extra remappable buttons yourself, because it’s not immediately obvious. You can set them in the excellent Ultimate Software V2 app for PC (which also lets you tinker with vibration strength, button macros, and stick sensitivity). But a quicker way to do it is to hold one of these buttons in tandem with your input of choice and the ‘Star’ button found on the bottom-left of the controller. It can be fiddly, especially if you’re binding multiple inputs, but it’s much faster and easier this way if you don’t have immediate access to a PC.

A similar series of inputs applies to the Pro 3’s ‘Turbo’ functionality, which enables the repeated pressing of an input simply by holding a button down — handy for arcade games and shoot-em-ups that don’t already have a turbo function built in. To enable Turbo on the Pro 3, just hold down the button you’d like to assign Turbo to, in addition to the Star and Home buttons. To disable it, repeat that very same input.

Now, I’ve yapped on about responsiveness a lot, but it really is the name of the game here. There’s wonderful precision to every module found on the 8BitDo Pro 3. The exceptional d-pad is a highlight, as I mentioned at the top. Those TMR thumbsticks are incredibly smooth, too, and as someone who prefers a shorter trigger pull, the digital trigger locks featured here work wonderfully.

That last point is important, as I’ve tested many a budget pad like the HyperX Clutch Gladiate, which had trigger locks that rendered the triggers completely unusable for most games. That’s why I appreciate it all the more when a cheap controller actually puts the effort in.

Battery life isn’t exactly class-leading, but I managed around 15-20 hours on a full charge, which is in line with what 8BitDo estimates on its website. Out of the box, battery life is at roughly half, so I recommend topping up via USB-C or with the included charging dock before your first use.

Should I buy the 8BitDo Pro 3?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider...

If the 8BitDo Pro 3 isn’t quite what you’re after, I’ve highlighted a couple more products from the brand that I recommend.

How I tested the 8BitDo Pro 3

• Tested for three weeks
• Primarily tested on PC and Switch 2 with both wireless and wired connections
• Played a variety of single and multiplayer games

For this review, I ended up testing the 8BitDo Pro 3 for around three weeks. I put it through its paces with games of all kinds, from the high-difficulty Savage raids of Final Fantasy 14 Online to the hilariously off-kilter vibes of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream.

The controller felt more than well-equipped for any kind of game thrown at it. That extends to fighting games like Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, and retro racers on PC via emulation, including NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona and Ridge Racer Type 4.

Naturally, I also found the Pro 3 to be fantastic for arcade games thanks to its remappable buttons and Turbo functionality. On this front, playing titles like DoDonPachi Resurrection on PC as well as Metal Slug 3 and Rave Racer on Nintendo Switch 2 felt just right.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed May 2026

This week, Apple announced it's set to pay out millions to iPhone users over its Siri AI promises, and Google unveiled a different kind of Fitbit.

To catch up on all that and more, scroll down to read our recap of the week's seven biggest tech news stories.

Before you catch up with this week’s tech news, why not test yourself on last week’s eight biggest stories to see how well you were paying attention? Take the quiz below.

7. Google’s $3 ChromeOS USB sold out

Last month, Google and Back Market announced a USB stick that could convert many old laptops into a basic Chromebook in a matter of minutes.

This week, the drive sold out, though a fresh batch of ChromeOS converters should be available soon.

The reason you might want to switch is ChromeOS is much less demanding than Windows and macOS. Sure, it has some limitations when it comes to app selection, but if it means you can use your aged laptop instead of needing to buy a new one, that’s a major win.

So if you’re looking to revamp your old machine, take a look at ChromeOS Flex.

• Read the full story: Google's $3 USB stick for revamping old laptops with ChromeOS Flex has sold out

6. Third time's the charm for Star Fox?

Japanese gaming giant Nintendo shocked us all with the sudden reveal of a new Star Fox for Switch 2... kind of. Simply titled Star Fox, the upcoming game is actually a remake of Star Fox 64, which originally released for Nintendo 64 back in 1997.

That game was already remade for both Nintendo 3DS (as Star Fox 64 3D) and Wii U (with Star Fox Zero), and many fans were expecting a wholly new entry to come next.

Still, it looks impressive with cutting-edge graphics, new character designs, and an exclusive competitive online battle mode. That's on top of support for a wealth of Switch 2 features like GameShare and GameChat, not to mention Joy-Con 2 mouse controls.

• Read the full story: Star Fox 64 is getting yet another remake

5. Google I/O-themed Android Show announced

Ahead of Google I/O — the company’s annual developer conference — we’ll be getting The Android Show: I/O Edition, which should give us a good look at what’s in store for Android 17.

Last year, for reference, the Android Show included a look at Google’s Material 3 Expressive interface redesign, along with Gemini Live, Gemini across new devices like watches and TVs, and new safety and security tools.

This year, we’re expecting The Android Show to showcase features such as a new Liquid Glass-like look, App Lock, and a motion assist feature to help cut down your motion sickness.

• Read the full story: 5 Android 17 features that could be announced at Google's pre-I/O Android reveal

4. Vine came back?!

Vine spearheaded short-form video content in the 2010s, and it’s coming back as a new platform called Divine, which is being funded by the co-founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey — the same guy who killed it in 2017.

As well as hosting a nostalgic catalog of over 500,000 of some of its most famous six-second videos, Divine won’t rely on a singular algorithm and will allow you to select how content reaches you through four options: Home feed, Discovery, Trending, and Hashtag feed.

But nostalgia is just one of the platform’s aims, and it’s also taking a stance against AI-generated content by implementing a series of measures, including a user reporting system, machine-learning detection, and human-in-the-loop (HITL) techniques to ensure that you only view content created by humans.

Divine is invite-only for now, but the platform has plans for a wider expansion in the coming months.

• Read the full story: Vine is coming back, and it’s being relaunched by the guy who killed it

3. We reviewed the LG C6 OLED TV

We released our LG C6 review, and the TV earned the full five stars. Not only does it carry across everything we loved about its predecessor, the LG C5, but it delivers some great upgrades. The C6 comes with a new, faster processor, the Alpha 11 AI Gen 3, which is also used in the flagship LG G6 OLED. The C6 also delivers better color accuracy and has received a nice brightness boost compared to the C5.

Its overall picture quality is excellent, it's a phenomenal gaming TV, and its webOS smart TV is one of the best around. The C6 has easily set the benchmark for OLED TVs in 2026. Our review was for the 65-inch model, which uses the standard WOLED panel. We’re hoping to review one of the Primary RGB Tandem OLED models (the 48, 77, and 83-inch models) later this year.

• Read the full story: I tested the LG C6 over two weeks

2. Google Fitbit Air flew in

We've got a new Fitbit! The much-teased Google Fitbit Air has broken cover, and it's a cheap screenless Fitbit to challenge the likes of Whoop in the "focus wearable" space. It's pretty simple, as trackers go — a straightforward data collection PPG sensor with a gyroscope, temperature sensor, and so on, with a choice of bands and all the information available in-app.

But it's the app that makes this interesting: Fitbit is rebranding as Google Health, and the Fitbit Premium subscription has morphed into a comprehensive AI fitness coach. This is a mandatory change, even for existing Premium users, with the update rolling out over the next few weeks.

• Read the full story: The Google Fitbit Air finally breaks cover

1. Apple paid for its AI troubles

Apple’s delayed Siri features have caused plenty of headaches for iPhone owners, and now Apple is set to pay for its AI issues, literally. That’s because this week we heard details of a class action lawsuit it had settled in December, in which it has agreed to pay customers a portion of $250 million — and you could be owed up to $95 per device.

The case claimed that Apple had promoted “AI capabilities that did not exist at the time, do not exist now, and will not exist for two or more years.” It also alleged that Apple’s Siri advertisements “saturated the internet, television, and other airwaves to cultivate a clear and reasonable consumer expectation that these transformative features would be available upon the iPhone's release.”

To make a claim, you’ll need to be able to prove you bought a qualifying device once Apple starts inviting claims (which should happen within 45 days of May 5).

• Read the full story: Delayed Siri features have cost Apple a massive $250 million

• Nintendo has revealed a new Star Fox game based on Star Fox 64
• It launches on June 25, 2026, and will be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive
• It offers brand new visuals and a PvP multiplayer mode

Nintendo has revealed a new Star Fox game for Nintendo Switch 2 and, yes, it's yet another Star Fox 64 remake.

As confirmed in a surprise Nintendo Direct stream last night, the new game will simply be titled Star Fox and features enhanced visuals that have been rebuilt from the ground up, in addition to new character designs. Despite the fresh look, stage layouts will be the same as the original game.

In addition to the story campaign, Star Fox will offer a challenge mode that introduces new objectives and challenges for players to tackle. There's also going to be a brand new battle mode, with two teams of four players facing off online.

As a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, it should come as no surprise that it supports many of the console's exclusive features. This includes GameShare support and the ability to speak to other players in battle mode via GameChat. The latter even gives you the option to appear as protagonist Fox McCloud or his crew via a unique interactive avatar system that sees an in-game model match your expressions and movements.

In the campaign, you'll be able to take full advantage of Joy-Con 2 mouse controls for enhanced aiming, too.

Star Fox will launch on June 25, 2026. It marks the third time that Nintendo has gone back to Star Fox 64 (or Lylat Wars as it was known in the UK), which originally released for the Nintendo 64 back in 1997.

A Nintendo 3DS remake called Star Fox 64 3D came out in 2011, while the Wii U game Star Fox Zero was an expansive reimaging of the same story.

The original Nintendo 64 incarnation is also available via the Nintendo Classics service for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

• Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is getting a massive update on May 19
• It overhauls core mechanics like victories and introduces Time-Tested civs that can be played as for an entire game
• Other additions include balance changes and a free new leader

If you weren't a fan of all the ways that Sid Meier's Civilization 7 departed from the long-running strategy franchise, then developer Firaxis Games is cooking up the update for you.

The Test of Time update drops on May 19, 2026, and is a massive overhaul that seems like it's designed to address the complaints that many players had with the game. The most significant addition is the ability to play as a single civilization for an entire game.

Known as Time-Tested civs, these civilizations can use a new Syncretism mechanic to adopt unique units or infrastructure from others, or choose to strengthen their existing traits with Affirmation. Rather than replacing the existing civ-changing mechanics, which let you switch things up between ages, this will seemingly exist as an option alongside them.

Victories are being entirely reworked, too, with a new system that is intended to offer more viable paths to success. Alongside this, the legacy path system, which gave you distinct objectives to pursue in each age, is being replaced with the more dynamic Triumphs.

These challenging tasks are entirely optional and tie into the game's six attributes: Militaristic, Cultural, Scientific, Economic, Diplomatic, and Expansionist.

These big mechanical changes are being joined by a slate of new content, including a new map, updates to map generation, a selection of new narrative events, biome updates, and a wealth of balance changes, plus interface updates. Players will even be getting a new leader for free!

More information about the update is set to be released in the coming weeks, with a developer stream set to take place on May 13.

Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.

You may assume Lego is running out of runway with licensed-IP games. You’d be wrong. I’ve spent two hours in the new Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and having played and loved the original Lego Batman trilogy, I’m now doubly excited to play this latest title.

One thing I appreciate about TT Games is its measured approach to changing the formula. A new Lego game will rarely feel like a total reinvention, but there’s almost always something fundamentally different that could make its way into future iterations.

In Batman’s Lego lifecycle, we’ve seen that a few times already: DC Superheroes introduced the first open world hub and voice acting, and Lego Batman: The Videogame was the first to feature an original storyline. Now, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight challenges Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga for its claim to fame as the biggest departure from the traditional Lego game formula, inheriting its RPG skill trees and combo system but adding a bunch of exciting new ideas, pushing the limits of what a Lego game can be.

Some changes might feel like a loss; being limited to seven playable characters, for one, could raise some eyebrows. But more than ever, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight feels like a classic RPG, especially when compared to the older Lego action-adventure platformers of yore, and I think it’ll go down a treat when it releases soon on May 22, 2026.

OK, I’ll watch the Waynes die… again

One thing we’ve known for a while now is that Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will feature references to a far wider range of Bat-media than previous titles, including the 80s movies, the latest movie starring Robert Pattinson (swoon) and, of course, the comics.

You’ll play through from life as a young Bruce Wayne training with The League of Shadows, later build a family of allies to defeat some of Batman’s most legendary foes. It’s a real love song to one of the most enduring superheroes, and from what TT Games tells me, it’ll see Bruce Wayne’s origins and relationships explored in more depth than ever before… at least, in Lego form.

In my two-hour demo of the upcoming game, I was shown three different points in the game; the first was early-on in a The Batman (2022)-inspired sequence that saw Jim Gordon and the Bat navigate the lower levels of Falcone’s Iceberg Bar — which you learn are actually home to a giant soft-play for his henchmen called Falcone’s House of Fun.

Diving into ball pits and squishy squeeze rollers dressed as Batman wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card, but it was on my bucket list — and it’s the exact kind of creative nonsense I love in Lego games. Add to that the comically thick New York mobster accents, ample smashable and unlockable content, and everything from a chase sequence to platforming puzzles, and you end up with delightfully dynamic level design that’s sure to entertain all ages.

That’s a great segue to one of the exciting additions to Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight — difficulty levels. Now, older players can join in on the fun without feeling the grind thanks to two new increased difficulty levels: Caped Crusader and Dark Knight.

I played mostly in the former, which ups the ante with more enemies and advanced enemy types appearing more often, but with unlimited lives, whereas the latter poses even more challenging combat, more enemies and tougher bosses, plus limits the number of lives.

It was also my first opportunity to try the more complex combat system, which pairs combos with the new counter system. I can’t think of a better IP to introduce more complex combat than Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and I really enjoyed the increased focus on crowd control and timing as you battle different enemies in everything from from defensive to melee to ranged combat. Granted, it’s still far from challenging (though I didn’t try Dark Knight difficulty…) but it keeps you on your toes more than older Lego games would have.

Plus, the new environmental takedowns are brilliant. Pummeling cronies into hot dog stands, dumpsters and more makes for some satisfying vigilante action.

It’s not a heist!!!

The second save I tried jumped forwards to date night (read: definitely a heist) with Catwoman, featuring a fun little safe-breaking mini-level, and, later on, Dick Grayson’s introduction.

This section also allowed me to explore Gotham City a little, and I’m really excited to spend some more time on this once I play the full game. The overworld is sprawling, offering new heights (literally) of exploration and discovery thanks to its taller buildings and traversal mechanics.

The greater focus on verticality primes Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight to be my favorite playable Lego Gotham City yet, and there’s plenty to see and unlock.

Most of the puzzles I found from villains like The Riddler were pretty easy, and I very much doubt that changes with difficulty levels — par for the course, yes, but I hope there’s more challenge to eke out Batman’s detective roots in the final game.

It’s never been easier to get around in a Lego game now you can aim, grapple and even propel yourself by slinging from one roof to another, though I did encounter a few awkward glitches where I was stuck beneath a platform or on a building’s corner. Thankfully, these were far from game-breaking, and the character usually manages to scoot itself into a better position — plus the software I played on wasn’t final.

I also had the chance to check out the Batcave, and I’m pretty excited to see how this evolves through gameplay. There’s plenty to do here, from upgrading your gear with Wayne Tech chips, admiring your costume and vehicle collection to decorating with unlockable items — including decorations from levels you’ve played in as well as shop-bought items from Bat Mite. Or, you can just hitch a ride on the Sub Wayne to head back out to the city.

The last section of the game I tried showed the boss fight against Poison Ivy, in which the Dark Knight and the Boy Wonder face off against a giant two-headed Snapdragon made entirely of Lego pieces, showcasing all of the game’s various combat features into one super fun package. Again, on Caped Crusader mode it’s far from difficult, but you do need to stay on your toes somewhat against its various area of effect abilities.

I saved the city again. It was off the chain.

There’s hours of fun to be had in Lego Batman: Legend of the Dark Knight, and I’ve barely scratched the surface here despite only spending two hours in the game so far myself.

It marries a lot that I love about Lego games with elements of traditional Bat-media and games like Batman: Arkham Asylum while still keeping things lean and fun. That coming at the expense of playable characters does little to assuage me when there’s so much more to collect and explore, and there’s still plenty in that more limited roster to enjoy when it comes to costumes and vehicles.

Ultimately, its greatest calling card is that this marks the first Lego Batman game I’d recommend as a gameplay experience for adults thanks to the new difficulty modes and combat system, and while it’s far from challenging, you’ll at least face a few close shaves and be pushed to do more than button mash to attack.

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight releases on May 22, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Epic Games, and Nintendo Switch 2, and all pre-orders of Standard & Deluxe Editions will receive The Dark Knight Returns Batsuit, inspired by the acclaimed comic book series. Plus, Deluxe Edition pre-orders will also receive 72-hour early access to the game beginning on May 19th, prior to the main launch on May 22nd.

If you’re wanting to go all-in on the Lego side of things, there are a number of newly-launched Lego DC Batman sets that include unlockable in-game digital content, which you can shop at the Lego store US and UK.

• Fortnite's Star Wars Day celebrations have officially begun
• Three new game modes made by Epic and Lucasfilm have been added, alongside hundreds more made by creators
• New Star Wars cosmetics and events will be released throughout May

Epic Games has released the roadmap for its month-long Fortnite x Star Wars Day celebrations, which includes a "galaxy of new Star Wars games" and more to keep fans busy.

While Star Wars Das officially begins on May 4, three new game modes made by Epic and Lucasfilm, along with hundreds of islands made by creators using the official Star Wars toolkit, are available in Fortnite as of today.

"After years of creating Star Wars experiences with Disney and Lucasfilm, we gave Star Wars’ heroes, worlds and assets to Fortnite creators so they could build the experiences they’ve always dreamed of playing. It’s now possible to create a limitless variety of games in the Star Wars universe that anyone in Fortnite can play," said Adam Sussman, president of Epic Games.

The three designed by Epic and Lucasfilm are Galactic Siege, a Battlefront-like mode featuring large-scale, PvP class-based battles with 10v10 combat across iconic Star Wars planets.

Then there's Escape Vader, a four-player co-op game where you need to hide, run, and survive against Darth Vader, and lastly Droid Tycoon, where players build and customize droids using authentic Star Wars blueprints, manage their workshop and factory systems, and unlock rare components and special missions.

"Interactive entertainment is rapidly becoming one of the defining forces in how audiences experience stories, and Disney is fully embracing that evolution," added Sean Shoptaw, executive VP of Disney Games and Digital Entertainment. "Games offer a uniquely powerful way to deepen engagement, expand our worlds, and connect with fans in real time. As this space continues to grow, we see extraordinary potential to elevate Disney storytelling in ways that are innovative, social, and built for the way people play today."

With the release of these modes also comes new Star Wars Quests, with more to come every week in May, all offering free rewards upon completion.

New The Clone Wars skins and accessories for Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker have also arrived in the Item Shop today, along with the return of more Star Wars Outfits, and players can unlock a free Carbonite Fishstick Back Bling for linking their account to MyDisney.

On May 14, Lego Fortnite Odyssey will get its own Star Wars update with a new Hover Bricker, hover vehicles, the Mandalorian and Grogu, and Star Wars enemies.

Additionally, on May 19, players can log in and join the The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island to see a special message from creator Jon Favreau and get a 10-minute sneak peek of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu ahead of the theatrical release on May 22.

However, players must first collect bounties and defend the city against waves of enemies, find Grogu, and spend 20 minutes exploring Nevarro to unlock the exclusive Mandalorian Sanctuary loading screen.

Finally, on May 26, players can visit the island’s amphitheatre to watch a Q&A with Favreau about the film and making of The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island.

• Gamers are suing Nintendo over tariff refunds
• Nintendo is currently suing the US government to get its tariffs returned
• A second lawsuit wants to return those funds to the consumers who paid them

Following the US Supreme Court's ruling that US President Donald Trump’s "Liberation Day" tariffs were unlawful, many companies have started legal action against the government to get their tariff fees back. This includes Nintendo, but if gamers have their way the money will flow all the way back to its customers rather than Mario’s pockets.

Spotted by Game FIle, two Nintendo fans — Gregory Hoffert and Prashant Sharan — have filed a class action lawsuit claiming that any money recovered by Nintendo from the US government should be returned to customers like them who bought tariff-inflated Nintendo goods. Otherwise Nintendo’s tariff refund would constitute unjust enrichment in violation of Washington state consumer protection rules — the state where the class action is being filed.

The suit is being filed on behalf of US Nintendo customers who purchased a tariff-affected Nintendo product between February 1, 2025 and February 24, 2026. This would seemingly include various Nintendo accessories and the original Nintendo Switch which saw price-hikes in that time seemingly in response to US tariffs.

The class action also highlights comments from President of Nintendo Shuntaro Furukawa, who in a May 2025 investor call said, “Our basic policy is that for any country or region, if tariffs are imposed, we recognize them as a part of the cost and incorporate them into the price,” in response to a question about tariffs.

Not a simple calculation

Nintendo has yet to comment on the legal action, nor has it said if it would return the recovered funds to customers when asked about this in the past, and legal experts have started to weigh in saying this lawsuit is unlikely to succeed. Some companies — such as FedEx, UPS, and DHL — have agreed to refund tariffs to customers, and perhaps Nintendo will do the same (especially if it feels public pressure off the back of this lawsuit).

The situation isn’t cut and dry, however. First, companies might not have passed on 100% of tariff costs to consumers, and tariff costs aren’t simple to quantify — for example companies might have taken on debt to pay duties and had to pay back interest on their loan.

That is to say, 100% of the money refunded to companies might not be owed to consumers. As such issuing precise refunds would be a major challenge, causing headaches that most companies might not want to deal with.

Now, if consumers have been asked to bear some of the brunt of tariffs, which have since been repealed, they should be reimbursed even if it is a challenge to determine precisely what they’re owed. That seems like the right thing to do, especially if the company is getting a refund from the government.

That said, I wouldn’t be holding my breath if I were you. Unless legal action or public pressure succeeds, I don’t think many companies will be handing out refunds directly. And, as I’ve warned before, be on the lookout for tariff refund scams. Especially as there is so much confusion around the situation, I wouldn't be surprised if bad actors try to take advantage of it.

• There's a way to transfer 3DS Miis to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2
• Users can copy their 3DS Mii to an amiibo and scan it on a Switch
• Scanned Miis can then be added to Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

A way to transfer Miis from 3DS to Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream on Switch and Switch 2 has been found, but the process is a little complicated.

Living the Dream is finally here, but if you've been wondering if there's a way to bring your long-forgotten Miis over from the 3DS to the latest game, you're in luck.

While Nintendo itself hasn't offered an official solution, the tutorial comes courtesy of a forgotten Reddit thread from nine years ago, along with a more detailed, up-to-date version from IGN for Living the Dream that requires an amiibo.

First and foremost, you'll need to charge up that old 3DS, head to the quick settings, and scroll until you find 'amiibo settings'. Then press "Register Owner and Nickname", follow the steps, and select an Mii from your collection to save to your amiibo. This will be used to transfer to the Switch.

It's noted that a New 3DS, New 3DS XL, or New 2DS XL will make the process easier, since they have a built-in NFC (Near Field Communication) functionality, allowing you to scan an amiibo at the bottom of the screen.

A Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer, an accessory sold separately, will be required if you don't have any of the aforementioned 3DS devices.

After saving your chosen Mii to the amiibo, you'll then need to go to your Switch or Switch 2 settings, scroll to the Mii tab. Here, you can select "Create New Mii" and then "Copy from Amiibo."

Scan your amiibo, and Bob's your uncle! Now, when you open Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, you can select the option to add a Mii from your device.

Elsewhere, game director Ryutaro Takahashi has revealed that development for Living the Dream started in 2017, with lead programmer Takaomi Ueno explaining that Mii interactions took "six or seven years" to get right.

• Game director Ryutaro Takahashi says there was a debate about adding a farting quirk to Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
• Sound director Toru Minegishi says the team was "really obsessed over getting the sound just right"
• The team also experimented with all sorts of visual effects for the quirk

The Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream creators have revealed that there was a debate between the development team about whether they should allow Miis to fart.

That's according to game director Ryutaro Takahashi, in part three of a lengthy Nintendo Ask the Developer interview, where he and his fellow developers discussed the game's Little Quirks, additional personality traits players can give their Miis to make them more unique.

"Speaking of little quirks, there was a big debate among the team about whether Mii should be able to... break wind," Takahashi said.

"Some people found it hilarious, while others thought it was a bit vulgar. After talking it over, we ended up making it a little quirk. If it's your kind of thing, you can bestow the trait on your Mii. If not, you're under no obligation."

Sound director Toru Minegishi said the team was "really obsessed over getting the sound just right," with programming director Takaomi Ueno adding, "We did so many takes."

"Tell me about it. I got comments like, 'That’s a bit too realistic for my liking,'" Minegishi said.

Takahashi continued saying that the creators also tried out all sorts of visual effects for the farting quirk and for a while "the fart looked like an explosion going off," at which they all laughed.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is out now on Nintendo Switch, and it's also playable on Nintendo Switch 2.

In the same interview, Takahashi discussed the initial idea behind the game, confirming that development started in 2017.

After he spoke with franchise producer Yoshio Sakamoto, they agreed that they'd "squeezed" all they could out of Tomodachi Life on the Nintendo 3DS, and decided to make a new game.

• The Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream dev team spent "six or seven years" programming the Mii interaction system
• Lead programmer Takaomi Ueno says it was "pure chaos"
• The team kept coming up with additional ideas throughout the years before it was finally complete

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream lead programmer Takaomi Ueno has said one of the most challenging aspects of development was Mii interactions and that it took around "six or seven years" to get right.

In a new Nintendo Ask the Developer interview with the Living the Dream creators, Ueno explained that designing the way Mii characters interact with the game's features was "no easy feat for the programmers," and it took years to fine-tune.

This included features in the user-generated content (UGC) system, things players can create themselves, item interactions, dialogue, and more.

"Mii characters would sometimes pace up and down the same area, or several of them would try to use the same item at once... So, we set rules for each of those unintended behaviors, keeping the ones we thought were odd but amusing," Ueno said.

"After layering all those elements so they wouldn’t fall apart no matter how they were combined, everything finally clicked into place and made sense. Before we had those rules in place, it was pure chaos and really hard to manage."

The lead programmer even admitted that there was a point where the team "thought leaving it chaotic like that might actually be kind of fun (laughs)."

Art director Daisuke Kageyama added that the team kept experimenting "back when it was pure chaos" without actually finding the "right solution" because it kept asking what players would enjoy seeing.

"It feels like we spent the entire project fine-tuning that balance," said game director Ryutaro Takahashi. "(Laughs) It took a long time until the final vision was clear, and we could say, 'Now we just have to build the thing!' We originally planned to finish the UGC tools in about a year and a half. But because we wanted players to enjoy the game simply by observing the Mii characters, we came up with more and more ideas as development progressed."

Programming director Naonori Ohnishi added, "Takahashi-san and the UGC planner kept coming up with ideas like, 'We want this feature...oh, and this one too'," before Takahashi revealed that the team "ended up spending six or seven years on it (laughs)."

The director explained that the team conducted playtests after the system was finally at a point they were happy with, and the feedback was "overwhelmingly positive, which was a big relief."

"Since we'd struggled with it for so long, it was really reassuring to hear that people had found it fun," Kageyama added.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is now available to play on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream director Ryutaro Takahashi says development began in 2017
• Takahashi says he and producer Yoshio Sakamoto have a "special attachment" to the series
• They agreed they'd "squeezed all we could" out of the 3DS title and agreed to make a new game

The creators of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream have revealed that development began for the Nintendo Switch back in 2017, expressing an attachment to the series.

Speaking in a new Nintendo Ask the Developer interview, game director Ryutaro Takahashi discussed the initial idea behind the game, confirming that development started almost 10 years ago.

Takahashi said he spoke to franchise producer Yoshio Sakamoto, and, after agreeing they'd "squeezed" all they could out of Tomodachi Life on the Nintendo 3DS, they decided to make a new game.

"I believe development started around 2017, after things had settled down on Miitomo," Takahashi said. "The producer, Sakamoto-san, and I both have a special attachment to Tomodachi Life and have been playing the previous game on Nintendo 3DS for many years. But we'd already squeezed all we could out of that game, and Sakamoto-san said to me sadly, 'There's so much that I want my Mii characters to experience, but there’s nothing more that I can do for them.'

"(Laughs) So, we talked about our desire to create a new Tomodachi Life game."

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream launches today on Nintendo Switch, and it's also playable on Nintendo Switch 2.

TechRadar Gaming's gaming editor Dashiell Wood rated the game four stars in his review, calling it "a delight, with superb character customization and plenty of charming humor."

"Its hands-off nature won’t be for everyone, and the lack of a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version is a missed opportunity, but there’s still no other game that offers its special brand of unapologetic weirdness," he wrote.

• Future's summer gaming event returns this summer with three broadcasts
• The Future Games Show Summer Showcase and FGS Live from Los Angeles will air on June 6
• The PC Gaming Show is scheduled to air on June 7

Future has announced the return of the Future Games Show Summer Showcase, FGS Live from Los Angeles, and the PC Gaming Show for June.

First to return will be the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6 at 12PM PDT / 3PM EDT / 8PM BST, and offer viewers "world premieres, exclusive trailers and stealth demo drops from some of the world's most exciting and creative studios."

FGS Live from Los Angeles, which will be hosted by the FGS editorial team, will air immediately after the Summer Showcase and feature even more trailers, as well as deep dives into the games featured in the main showcase and news from summer events.

Finally, the PC Gaming Show will air on June 7 at 12PM PDT / 3PM EDT / 8PM BST and "aims to celebrate the strength and depth of the world's most exciting and innovative gaming platform."

Those who tune in can expect "over 50 PC games" to be featured, including world premiere trailers, exclusive announcements, developer interviews, and updates on new and upcoming games.

All shows can be watched on Future Games' official YouTube, Twitch, and X/Twitter accounts, as well as on Steam.

The June event is the first of three shows in 2026, with the PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct and PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted also scheduled to return later in the year.

Last year's three summer showcases achieved a combined viewership of 41.9 million live and opening weekend views.

Some of this year's most anticipated games, from big AAA studios to indie developers, could make an appearance, such as Fable, which is due to release in Fall 2026, Phantom Blade 0, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, Grave Seasons, and more.

• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream releases for Nintendo Switch tomorrow
• Ahead of its launch, a developer has revealed that the game took nine years to make
• They say user-generated content was a big focus

The team behind Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream has spoken about the title's development ahead of its launch tomorrow.

In an interview on the Nintendo website, game director Ryutaro Takahashi revealed that "development started around 2017" not long after the release of the mobile title Miitomo. He said he has "a special attachment to Tomodachi Life" and played the previous Nintendo 3DS installment for many years, which gave him a strong desire to create a sequel.

Even so, he said he wanted to avoid turning the development of a new game "into a quest for quantity" as he feared that players might become bored once they had "seen everything the game had to offer".

"So, we started development with the direction of leveraging user-generated content — also known as UGC — a system that allows players to create their own content to play with in the game." he explained.

"The concept of Tomodachi Life is to be 'the ultimate inside joke game' that can be enjoyed among people who are close to each other or share things in common. We felt that UGC, which lets players create whatever they want, fit well with this concept. We thought that combining the gameplay provided by the development team with what players themselves create would open up infinite ways to enjoy the game."

This approach is evident in a recent Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream trailer, which revealed that, in addition to creating Miis and customizing their islands, players will be able to design their very food, clothing, treasure items, objects, landscaping elements, and more for characters to interact with.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is set to launch for Nintendo Switch on April 16. A developer recently confirmed that the game will not support the Nintendo Switch 2's new resolution boost feature, but still runs in a higher handheld mode resolution on the company's latest console.

The best way to describe life simulator Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is like a bizarre cross between The Sims and reality TV show Big Brother, but even that would be doing its special brand of weirdness a disservice. There’s simply nothing else quite like this strange Nintendo Switch exclusive, which sees you creating bombastic Mii characters, dropping them into a virtual island, and sitting back to watch as increasingly bizarre events occur.

Thanks to its frankly staggering degree of character customization, which lets you create a digital representation of everyone from your real-life friend group to celebrities and even your favorite gaming characters, the whole thing seems tailor-made for generating viral social media clips, and it’s clear that the Japanese gaming giant is already on to a winner in this regard. With just a demo available to the public, my social media feeds have been filled with hilarious encounters — all elevated by the series' trademark charmingly robotic text-to-speech voices.

If you enjoyed the demo or seeing the countless popular posts, then you’ll love the full game. It’s more of the same with everything dialled up to eleven — letting you unleash up to 70 characters rather than the demo’s three, and with hundreds more items and objects to discover. There are some misses, mostly for those expecting a transformative upgrade on Nintendo Switch 2, but Living the Dream is otherwise a raucous time.

Mini Mii

The most important thing to know is that this is quite a hands-off game and clearly meant to be toyed with in short bursts over an extended period rather than ravenously consumed in just one sitting.

The experience opens by guiding you through the creation of your first few characters and outlining the basics of the in-depth character creator. Crafting Miis is a clear highlight, as Living the Dream offers the most expansive system for making them yet.

The possibilities are practically endless, with tens of face types, hair styles, eyebrows, eyes, noses, mouths, and so on. Beyond the impressive range of options, seemingly minor additions such as the option to select a separate front and back hairstyle and the addition of ears (a first for Miis) make it easier than ever to capture your desired look.

I set about creating as many members of the TechRadar team as possible, including everyone from my boss, Rob Dwiar, and Senior Entertainment Writer Lucy Buglass to our iconic Editor at Large, Lance Ulanoff, and never struggled to nail the look.

More elaborate Miis are possible through the face paint system. It turns your Mii’s face into a blank canvas, which you can draw on freely to add everything from little details, such as make-up and scars, to entire new faces based on your wildest dreams.

The only limit here is your artistic skill, and, luckily, if you’re completely hopeless at drawing like me, you’ll be able to take advantage of some pre-set stamps of common shapes, faces, and a few food items.

Although it is an option, you don’t ever have to start from scratch either. You can clone an existing Mii and then tweak it to your liking (a tool I used to create a tiny Baby Lance) or follow a series of question-style prompts that run through the most important visual traits. The latter is particularly fun and surprisingly effective — giving you a great, near-perfect base that you can then fine-tune to perfection.

No matter your chosen method of creation, the final stage is always inputting some biographical information, including a little personality quiz that assigns your character one of a handful of distinct types to inform their behaviour. This doesn’t seem too impactful in the grand scheme of things, though I did occasionally note some differences in how my easy-going, optimistic Miis and confident leaders, for example, would react in different situations.

If you can dream it

From there, you’re let loose on your island, a customizable tropical paradise that serves as the home of your Miis. Viewed from a birds-eye perspective, they all wander around chatting with each other throughout the day, occasionally retreating into their little houses for the odd rest.

Like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the game syncs with real-world time, so you’re likely to see something different depending on when you choose to log on. Miis will also remark on how much time you’ve spent in the game recently; leave for more than a few days, and they’ll miss you dearly.

Sometimes Miis will require some direct interaction, waving up at the sky to offer the chance to play some basic minigames like a quiz that has you guessing obscured objects via their shadows. They’re a bit repetitive, but thankfully totally optional and do have some decent rewards in the random items available if you win. You’ll also see plenty of little thought bubbles, which you can click with the on-screen cursor to chat to the Mii or trigger an animated scene.

They’ll sometimes ask for advice or guidance as well, which gives you another route to customizing their behavior.

Completing tasks for your Miis often grants some cash and glowing yellow liquid happiness, raising their individual happiness level. Increasing happiness unlocks new traits and the option to give them objects to play with, distinct walking animations, new catchphrases to spout, and more. On top of this, Miis have a hunger level to manage. They won’t die if you starve them or anything — but dispensing good food regularly is a sure-fire way to farm a lot of happiness easily.

You’ll want to keep on top of this, as it all pools into an overall island happiness level. This is the main metric of your progress through the game, and as you raise happiness, a handful of unique buildings are unlocked. This includes a clothes shop to outfit your Miis and a workshop that lets you create your very own objects using an extensive digital canvas.

It does get to a point where it feels like you’ve seen most of what the game has to offer, but it still finds odd new ways to surprise you. There are loads of possible Mii interactions: they can form relationships, make lifelong enemies, move in together, and much more. Events can even happen off-screen, too, leading to some rather amusing instances where I logged in to find Miis had radically altered their own appearances with new hairstyles, or started a feud with a former friend.

The lack of Nintendo Switch 2-specific features is undeniably a shame, though. For some reason, Nintendo has opted to release Living the Dream solely for the original Switch, rather than also offer a dedicated Switch 2 version. It is playable through backwards and benefits from slightly shinier visuals, but the lack of support for features like Joy-Con 2 mouse control is noticeable and seems like a huge missed opportunity given the number of mechanics that involve drawing.

Even those on the original Switch will notice that touch-screen support is also quite limited. You can tap icons in the character creator or drag your fingers across the screen to stroke a Miis head, but that’s basically it — a shame when pressing different options on on-screen pop-ups could easily be accomplished with a quick tap in handheld mode.

Should I play Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream does not have a dedicated accessibility menu and, like other Nintendo-developed games, has very few settings.

Your only real options are to invert the X-axis of the camera and tweak the levels of individual sounds. Dialogue in the game is conveyed predominantly through text, though you cannot customize its appearance in any way.

How I reviewed Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

I played more than 15 hours of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream on Nintendo Switch 2, predominantly in handheld mode using the Joy-Con 2 controllers and relying on the system’s integrated speakers for sound.

During my time with the game, I created countless Mii characters and experienced as much of it as possible, comparing it with the previous entry, Tomodachi Life on Nintendo 3DS, and other life simulation games like The Sims 4.

First reviewed March 2026

Pokémon Champions has had a mixed debut, but the haters are wrong — this title is precisely what I dreamed it would be: the perfect jumping-in point to Video Game Championships (VGC), the series’ competitive format.

Champions is a free-to-play title for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2— with a mobile release also planned — and the sole focus of the game is battling. There’s a bit of story to get you into the action, but there’s not a dedicated single-player mode beyond the quick training courses and a few moments that you see as you progress through the competitive ranks.

This battle focus extends so far that Champions also excludes the series’ iconic catching as a method to add ‘mons to your lineup. It’s instead replaced by recruitment and collection — the first is a loot box-like mechanic where every 22 hours you can select one of ten random critters to add to your roster either on a 7-day trial (free) or permanent basis (using VP or a ticket), while second has you bring in pokémon from your Home storage (which are added from other titles like Legends Z-A or Scarlet and Violet).

Once your team has been sufficiently sculpted using the training service — which gives you full control over your partners’ stats, moves, ability, and nature — you’re ready to hit the Single or Double battle ladder, with my focus being on the VGC-style double battle scene as I find it the most engaging.

VGC’s Route 1 equivalent

Now I’ve explained the Champions basics, what makes it so approachable? Well, for a start, it really strips the competitive scene back so that you aren’t overloaded with possibilities.

The first is your ‘mon selection. As is common for the first VGC format of a new game, Pokémon Champions has a seriously limited pool — just 186 out of the series’ 1,025 official species make the cut, not including alternate forms and mega evolutions. Crucially powerful pokémon such as legendaries, paradox pokémon, and ultra beasts are absent.

With some critters clearly much worse than others, and some intended for either single or double battles exclusively rather than both formats, Champions’ selection feels approachably tight. If you’ve played the recent games, you can easily accrue a synergistic team using Home transfers, and with a bit of practice, you’ll quickly learn your favorable and unfavourable match-ups — and how your strategy should adapt accordingly.

Another tweak is something we haven’t seen much before: the item pool is very restrictive. Every pokémon can enter battle with an item, and it’s arguably as important as your ‘mons moves and ability, if not more so.

With Champions, several VGC mainstays have been left behind — there's no Life Orb, assault vest, or clear amulet, to name a few. There are a couple of utility picks like leftovers and focus sash, but the large majority are type damage boosters and mega stones.

While a lack of items is frustrating to some, as you can’t easily port game plans from previous entries into Champions right now, this smaller starting pool again makes team planning much simpler, as there are fewer moving parts and strategies to consider. It also puts a higher focus on the flashy mega evolution mechanic, which does help to make battles feel more exciting.

With fewer good items in the game, the drawbacks of giving your partner a mega stone over something else aren’t present — as currently a mega stone is the only sensible item to make some carry.

I also love that Champions’ tutorials are quick yet informative, and reward your time well. Even as someone with a solid grasp of the core game, I’ve quickly gone through all of the tutorials to earn their prizes, as it wasn’t a hassle at all.

Actually free-to-play?

There are some fair criticisms of Pokémon Champions. The title can reportedly be buggy (though I haven’t experienced any issues), the 30 frames per second (fps) framerate is a little disappointing, and I wish changing a ‘mon’s moves wasn’t quite the VP drain it is, but one critique I don’t understand is that this title is pay-to-win.

To help me test this game, Nintendo did send me a premium battle pass, a one-month membership, and the starter pack, which each included a bevy of supplies, but I didn’t activate them until I’d spent several hours in Champions. Instead, in my first hours with the game, I got the free-to-play experience, and boy, do you get loaded up with support.

Using the VP and bonuses I earned from missions and tutorials, I was able to train and outfit an entire rain team I had been excited to try — relying on Mega Meganium’s new ability to fire off powerful solar attacks as if it were in the sun, even when it’s pouring. And I had enough VP left over to pick up some cool new threads and poses to flex on my foes.

The only aid I used was Pokémon Home to bring in a team from my collection rather than relying on Champions’ recruitment method, as the loot box-like system is admittedly not ideal for collecting specific pokémon. Though if you’re playing Champions, you’ve probably played some of the other titles, even the free-to-play Pokémon Go (which is actually where a lot of my team came from), so using Home doesn’t feel like cheating.

I’ve played my fair share of free-to-play games, and Champions doesn’t register as anything close to egregious in its monetisation tactics.

All that’s to say: I love Pokémon Champions — it’s precisely what I hoped it would be, and I’ll absolutely be sinking more time into it: plus its mobile release can’t come soon enough.

Asus ROG Kithara: one-minute review

There are a number of gaming headsets available that support high-res audio, such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite, but the new Asus ROG Kithara is one of the first we’ve seen that really takes the plunge into the challenging waters of the specialist hi-fi market.

Named after a stringed instrument in ancient Greece, the Kithara takes its old-school approach seriously, with a wired-only design that turns its back on modern digital features such as Bluetooth, noise-cancellation, and spatial audio. The focus on wired audio may well be a deal-breaker for some people, but in return, the Kithara provides outstanding sound quality that works a treat both for gaming and listening to lossless and high-res music on modern streaming services.

Although it carries the Asus name, and is part of the company’s popular Republic Of Gamers (ROG) brand, the Kithara was developed in conjunction with HiFiMan, a New York-based manufacturer of seriously expensive hi-fi equipment (founded by the fabulously-named Dr Fang, who really sounds like he should be the villain in a Bond movie).

HiFiMan is known in the audiophile market for its focus on ‘planar-magnetic’ headphones, which provide a more precise and detailed sound than the less expensive ‘dynamic driver’ designs used by most mass-market headphones. And, like many audiophile headphones, the Kithara also employs an ‘open-back’ design, which allows sound to pass freely through the earpieces.

Again, this could be a problem for some people, as background noise can leak right through the earpieces while you’re wearing them, while people nearby can also hear every note of your music, and every zap, ker-pow, ka-boom of your gaming action. However, the advantage of open-back headphones is that they provide a spacious, atmospheric soundstage that really immerses you in sound, whether it’s a concert performance or an alien planet crawling with zombies.

Asus ROG Kithara: Price and Availability

• List price: $299.99 / £284.99 / AU$569
• Less expensive than many high-end gaming headsets
• Focus is on sound quality, with few additional features

The planar-magnetic drivers used by the Kithara represent the high end of the hi-fi market and are normally more expensive than conventional headphones and headsets. Even so, the Kithara’s price of $299.99 / £284.99 / AU$569 isn’t wildly high when compared to high-end rivals such as the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro, or Audeze Maxwell 2 headsets.

Remember, though, that most gaming headsets also provide additional features, such as Bluetooth for wireless connectivity, noise-cancellation, or spatial audio. In contrast, the Kithara is a wired-only headset that spends its entire budget on producing the best possible sound quality, with little in the way of added extras.

Asus ROG Kithara: Specs

Asus ROG Kithara: Design

• Bulky 100mm drivers
• Separate cables and adaptor for a gaming rig and hi-fi system
• Limited console compatibility

This is one instance where form and function go completely hand-in-hand. The outstanding feature of the Kithara is its use of HiFiMan’s 100mm planar-magnetic drivers, which puts them in an entirely different league to conventional headsets, such as the 40mm drivers used in the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite. The precision of the planar-magnetic technology also provides an impressive frequency range of 8Hz – 55KHz, which goes beyond any gaming headset I’ve used, including my trusty Master & Dynamic MG20, and only rivalled by hi-fi headphones such as Sennheiser’s HDB 630.

The downside of those humungous drivers is that the Kithara is also one of the biggest and heaviest headsets that I’ve ever used. Wearing the Kithara for the first time, I was taken aback at the sheer size of the earpieces, which cover my ears with so much room to spare that the Kithara initially slid right down over my ears and almost ended up dangling around my neck. It’s heavy too, weighing in at 14.8oz / 420g, which is considerably heavier even than Apple’s metal-clad AirPods Max at 13.6oz / 386g.

Fortunately, HiFiMan’s experience comes to the rescue, managing to make the Kithara more comfortable than I might have expected. The headband provides plenty of room for adjustment, so I was quickly able to find a comfortable position for the earpieces, and the well-balanced design ensures that the Kithara doesn’t feel oppressively heavy when you’re wearing it. One nice touch is that there are two sets of removable earpieces included in the box – one set with thick memory foam padding and a leatherette finish, or a slightly smaller set of earpieces covered with a lighter mesh material. The open-back design of the earpieces also provides good ventilation, so your head shouldn’t get too swampy during long gaming sessions. You will, however, end up looking like a Cyberman from Dr Who, due to the sheer size of the headset.

The connectivity options are a little complicated, though. Wired headphones are normally relatively straightforward – you just plug them into your PC, console or mobile devices, and off you go. However, the Kithara is attempting to satisfy both gamers and audiophiles, so it provides an extensive set of cables and connectors for use with different types of devices.

There are two separate cables in the box – one cable that includes a flexible microphone boom for gaming, and a second cable designed for listening to music with hi-fi equipment, such as an external DAC or amplifier. Each earpiece on the Kithara has its own 3.5mm audio socket, so both cables have a double-ended connector that plugs into the 3.5mm connectors on the Kithara earpieces (having removable cables like this also allows audiophiles to use their own specialist cables if they prefer).

As mentioned, the gaming cable includes a microphone, and there’s an inline control for adjusting volume or muting the microphone as well. This cable has two 3.5mm audio jacks on each end, and the two jacks attached to the inline control plug into the 3.5mm connectors on the Kithara’s earpieces.

The other end of the cable plugs into your PC or gaming console, with one 3.5mm jack handling microphone input while the other handles the audio from your gaming rig. Some PCs do combine the microphone and audio into a single 3.5mm connector, but the Kithara also includes a USB-C-to-dual-3.5mm adaptor, which you can use with any device that has an available USB-C port. Asus states that a USB-C interface can provide a little more power and volume for the headphones, so it recommends using the USB-C adaptor whenever possible. The USB-C adaptor also supports high-res audio formats up to 24-bit/96KHz, so it can handle most of the high-res audio available on Spotify, Apple Music, and other services.

Unfortunately, this does raise some compatibility issues for console users. Asus states that when using a PlayStation 4 or PS5, the microphone on the Kithara only works via the USB-C adaptor included in the box. However, the microphone doesn’t work with the Xbox at all, and audio input requires the 3.5mm audio connector on an Xbox controller, so console owners should pay close attention to the compatibility info on the Asus website to make sure the Kithara will work with the console you own.

The second cable is designed for use with a variety of hi-fi and audio devices and has a slightly different design. It does have two 3.5mm jacks on one end for connecting to the Kithara’s earpieces. However, the other end has a special ‘3-in-1’ connector that can be used to connect any of the 3.5mm, balanced 4.4mm, or 6.3mm audio adaptors that are included in the box. Most computers, consoles, and mobile devices will work fine with the standard 3.5mm adaptor, but audiophiles may prefer to use the 4.4mm and 6.3mm adaptors with a DAC, amplifier, or other hi-fi equipment.

Asus ROG Kithara: Performance

• Planar-magnetic drivers provide superb sound quality
• Open-back design creates a relaxed, open soundstage
• USB-C adaptor supports high-res audio (24-bit/96KHz)

The Kithara arrived just in time for the new season of Diablo 4, and the first thing I notice as I zone into the capital town of Kyovashad is the sheer clarity and detail of its sound. The Kithara creates a real sense of a lively, bustling town around me, clearly picking out the sound of clanking metal from the blacksmith, and the bubbling cauldron of the alchemist when I stop by to stock up on some potions - details that I never really notice when I'm using my normal set of external speakers with my gaming laptop.

I'm not sure I'd call Diablo 4 a true open-world game, but the soundscape really opens up as I head out through the town gates. A crow squawks as I pass by, and I hear the sound of flapping wings panning over my head as it takes to the air. I also notice - for the very first time - the rattling armour and shield of my trusty companion, Raheir, as he jogs along behind me. The Kithara doesn't have the spatial audio features of more expensive rivals such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, but the open-back earpieces are highly effective at creating a sense of space as I run along the road, including the crashing sound of a waterfall over to the left of me.

I get my first taste of combat as a band of Rogues pops up out of nowhere, and the first thing I notice is the power of those chunky 100mm drivers as I fire off a couple of lightning bolts. I only have the game volume set to 50%, but that's more than enough as the chaos of combat erupts all around me. And there's clarity as well as power, capturing the satisfying fizz of energy as my bolts swirl around, bouncing from enemy to enemy. My sorcerer is a typical glass canon, so I trigger my Earthen Bulwark magical shield, and it sounds like a slab of concrete being dragged along the ground as it swirls around me.

I've got to hand it to the sound design team on Diablo 4, as they've done a great job of keeping all the clashing sounds clear and balanced, and the Kithara is a great fit for the game as it has the precision needed to pick out all the sonic details of swords and shields, and the mystical energy of my spells as they all clash in combat.

The sound design on Doom: The Dark Ages is, admittedly, a little less subtle, but the Kithara digs deep for the opening music, landing the grinding sound of fuzz-drenched guitars with real weight, while the martial beat of drums sets the mood for the mayhem to come.

I'm more of a role-playing games (RPG) guy these days, but the gonzo adrenaline rush of the Doom games is hard to resist, and I enjoy the metallic thud of the shield charge that softens up my enemies as I return to the game's opening section in Khalim. I decide to get some target practice in the Ripatorium mode, picking Unchained Predator by Finishing Move from the Jukebox. It's not my favourite musical genre, but the track's chugging guitar riffs cleverly sync with the bullets spewing from my pulse rifle, and the sheer gritty power of the guitar and drums will satisfy even the most die-hard metal-heads. And, as mentioned, the Kithara's oversized drivers have enough power to really make your ears bleed.

But, of course, the Kithara is designed for audiophiles who will enjoy a range of different musical genres, so I grab my iPad with Apple Music and switch to the hi-fi cable that is also included in the box. I start with the bouncing bass of Billie Eilish on Bad Guy, powered by an iFi Go Link Max DAC with a balanced 4mm connector.

The deep electronic bass that opens the track is firm and precise, but the rhythm is relaxed enough to bounce along like a playful puppy, and it immediately gets my feet tapping. The bass isn’t overwhelming, though, and there’s a really crisp sound to the finger-snaps that lead through the chorus, and a smooth, whispery quality on Billie’s vocals. Planar-magnetic headphones are sometimes criticized for weak bass, but the Kithara can hold its head up with planar-magnetic rivals such as the Audeze Maxwell 2, as it lands the final section of the song with a slow, juddering bass pulse that hits like a pile-driver.

A new high-res mix of Queen’s Seven Seas Of Rhye recently turned up on Apple Music, and the Kithara proves that it can match the power and precision of traditional hi-fi headphones such as the Sennheiser HDB 630 as it really lets rip on Brian May’s swooping power chords. It can handle Queen’s multi-tracked harmonies too, catching all the different layers of sound, and making room for Roger Taylor’s shrieking falsetto as it leads into the guitar break.

The old-school approach of the Kithara won’t suit everyone, and the lack of Bluetooth and noise-cancellation features means that it will mainly appeal to wired-only purists. But, if you’re an audiophile who really prefers the quality of traditional wired headphones, then the clarity, precision and spacious sound of the Kithara are hard to beat at this price.

Should you buy the Asus ROG Kithara?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

If the Asus ROG Kithara might not be quite for you, then check out these fine alternatives as excellent audiophile options.

How I tested the Asus ROG Kithara

• Tested over two weeks, gaming and streaming audio
• Used on PC, Mac and mobile devices, on a variety of games and listening to high-res music on Apple Music
• Compared directly with the Master & Dynamic MG20 and Sennheiser HDB 630, as well as other gaming headsets and headphones

I’m lucky enough to test hi-fi quality headphones on a fairly regular basis, so I was able to compare the Asus Kithara with gaming headsets such as the Master & Dynamic MG20, as well as more conventional headphones from Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins.

As mentioned, I was eager to test the Kithara by jumping into the new season of Diablo 4 on my Alienware gaming laptop. Diablo has taken up most of my gaming time in recent weeks, but I also paid a return visit to Doom: The Dark Ages. And, believe it or not, I also spend a fair amount of time reviewing games on the Mac, allowing me to revisit Baldur’s Gate 3 and the zombie hordes of Resident Evil 3. And I was able to cover both bases with Death Stranding, which has a wonderfully eerie and atmospheric ambient soundtrack, alongside the beautiful, melancholy song-writing of Low Roar.

I also use a Mac for work all day long, so the Kithara was often plugged into my Mac mini in order to stream music from Apple Music, ranging from the high-res bombast of Queen to the classical elegance of Max Richter.

First reviewed March 2026

Read more about how we test

• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream won't support the Nintendo Switch 2's new Handheld Mode Boost
• Nintendo says players can play at 1080p on the Switch 2
• Handheld Mode Boost can be tested in the demo, but it won't be available at launch

Nintendo has confirmed that Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream won't support the Nintendo Switch 2's new resolution boost feature.

Last month, the Switch 2 received a huge hardware update that introduced Handheld Mode Boost, a highly requested feature from users that boosts original Nintendo Switch software.

The update essentially runs the Switch game with its docked 1080p graphics preset, rather than its 720p one, giving players the option to play these games in higher resolution on the Switch 2.

Now, in a FAQ post, Nintendo has addressed whether Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is compatible with Handheld Mode Boost on Nintendo Switch 2, its first new game release since the feature was implemented.

"When playing Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream in handheld mode on the Nintendo Switch 2, you can play at a higher resolution (1080p) than using handheld mode on Nintendo Switch, regardless of whether Handheld Mode Boost is enabled or disabled," Nintendo said.

"For that reason, this game does not support Handheld Mode Boost."

The company explained that players can enable the mode while playing the Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream – Welcome Version demo, which is available now, "but you will not be able to use the touch screen."

"We recommend playing the demo version with Handheld Mode Boost disabled, as you will still be able to play at the higher resolution and use the touch screen," Nintendo added. "After the next system update, Handheld Mode Boost will no longer be applied to the demo version."

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream launches on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on April 16, 2026.

It doesn't seem like the game is getting a separate, upgraded version for Switch 2 at the moment or any particular enhancements, but it is compatible with the latest console.

Recently, Nintendo dropped a firmware update for the Nintendo Switch 2. In System Update 22.0.0, players were treated to a range of small improvements to features like GameChat and Airplane Mode.

However, Nintendo also sneakily added a brand new option called Handheld Mode Boost. While playing your Nintendo Switch 2 handheld, this feature enables you to run Nintendo Switch games as if you were playing them in TV mode. This means you'll get to enjoy improved visuals while playing on-the-go, making Handheld Mode Boost feel as if it should've been more than just a footnote.

But just how good is this new Switch 2 feature? I tested it out myself, and I have to say: I'm seriously impressed. I'll share my experiences across three classic Nintendo Switch titles down below, but first, a quick disclaimer. The screenshots you'll see in this article do not fully represent the visual quality I experienced first-hand. The difference was more drastic on the eye, and so I highly recommend trying the feature out for yourself to see the true power of Handheld Mode Boost.

Oh, also, this mode will drain your Switch 2's battery pretty quickly. Given that the console's battery life is already on the low side, this could be an issue for longer play sessions. However, I've written before about how you can address the Switch 2's battery woes.

Right, with that out of the way, let's dive right into my thoughts on this fancy new mode.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

I've not played Pokémon Legends: Arceus since it released, and although I'm far from this entry's biggest fan, it showed off the capabilities of Handheld Mode Boost to great effect.

As you can see in the above images — and even in the headline snapshot — my Pokémon look cleaner with the new mode active. The likes of Regigigas appeared slightly pixelated on my Switch 2 initially, leaving aspects like its outline and mossy parts looking unrefined. However, after I activated Handheld Mode Boost, those janky edges and obscured details were swept away, and I bore witness to a more rounded, attractive version of my legendary 'mon.

On top of that, background elements looked way better with this new mode active. In the screenshots with my trainer, bricks and windows appear blurry and poorly defined. But not with Handheld Mode Boost, which went a long way in revealing the picture's intricacies.

I thought the game looked much better with this new mode, but I have to say, the next title was even more striking...

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

That's right, I was seriously blown away by the improvements that Handheld Mode Boost applied to Fire Emblem: Three Houses, one of the most beloved tactical JRPGs of the modern era.

When engaging in a conversation with Marianne, I was instantly struck by how jagged her outlines looked without boost mode active, with details like her eyes appearing blurred and less detailed. After activating the new mode, though, it was as if I was playing a totally different title. Individual hairs were more defined, Marianne's pupils and iris were separated more neatly, and the overall picture was vastly improved.

It was a similar story when viewing an interaction between Claude and Hilda, with outlines looking softer and cleaner with Handheld Mode Boost in use. I've actually never finished this game, so this new Switch 2 update has given me a seriously good reason to return.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Last, but certainly not least, we have Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — a phenomenal fighting game with one of the most ambitious character rosters of all time.

And here, the benefits of Handheld Mode Boost were clear for me to see, even if the above screenshots don't fully do it justice. More than anything, I was pleased once more to see outlines looking so much more refined with this new mode, with characters like Sonic appearing slightly rough around the edges before.

The changes were a bit more subtle than they seemed in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but the new mode still made a considerable difference. Especially as some of my absolute favorite fighters, like Mewtwo and Sephiroth, look tidier and more polished now. But it wasn't only the higher-quality outlines and character models that I enjoyed; it was also the more detailed text and icons, which looked far crisper thanks to Handheld Mode Boost.

This update really did help me enjoy some of my go-to Switch games in a new light, so will you be trying it out for yourself? Let me know in the comments!

• Dispatch is finally coming to Xbox this summer
• The game will be available on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox on PC.
• It will feature cross-save and Xbox Play Anywhere support

AdHoc Studios' superhero workplace comedy, Dispatch, is officially coming to Xbox this summer.

As announced during the March 26 Xbox Partner Preview, Dispatch will launch as a full-featured version comparable to the original PC release, complete with Xbox Play Anywhere support. A single purchase of the game grants players access to it on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox on PC.

It will also feature cross-save functionality, allowing players to switch between Xbox platforms and access their save data without interruption. The official date has yet to be confirmed, though.

"Dispatch is ultimately about people - messy, complicated, and just trying their best. Bringing it to Xbox with full Play Anywhere support means more players can experience the complete story however and wherever they want," said Michael Choung, executive producer at AdHoc Studio.

Adhoc Studios' debut game launched in late 2025 for PlayStation 5 and PC, and recently received a Nintendo Switch 2 launch as well.

The game was nominated for several awards last year and also earned a spot in TechRadar Gaming's Game of the Year 2025 list, among other titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Hades 2.

In my review, I praised the game's short episodic structure, compelling characters, and incredible animation style, with impactful decision-making wrapped in a heartfelt story.

"Dispatch is no repeat of the tired, mature superhero story, but rather a heartfelt adventure about former villains looking for a second chance," I wrote.

"With a cast of lovable characters voiced by an all-star cast, impressive interactive gameplay, and all wrapped in a gorgeous animated art style, AdHoc Studio's debut title is the underdog of the year that has reopened the door that I thought was long closed on the episodic, choice-based narrative genre."

• Hades 2 is coming to PS5 and Xbox on April 14
• The PS5 and Xbox Series X editions will run at 120 frames per second
• The new versions will arrive alongside new "bonus content and quality of life improvements"

Supergiant Games has announced that its award-winning roguelike, Hades 2, will finally launch on PlayStation and Xbox next month.

The news comes from the Xbox Partner Preview on March 26, where the studio confirmed that the Hades sequel will be released on PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series S on April 14. It will also be available via Xbox Game Pass.

The PS5 and Xbox launch follows the game's official version 1.0 release last year, which arrived on PC, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

The developer confirmed that the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will run at "an ultrafast 120 frames per second" and launch alongside brand new "bonus content and quality of life improvements."

"If you already have the game, expect these in a patch releasing that the same day, and we'll have full patch notes then," it said in an official post.

The contents of the bonus content patch remain a mystery, but in the new, gorgeously animated trailer, which sees the main character Melinoë gearing up for battle, there are a few hints as to what players can expect.

For instance, it looks like there will be a new scene featuring Heracles at the hot spring, a place where players can further their relationship with several other romance options.

Hades 2 made its way into TechRadar Gaming's Game of the Year 2025 list thanks to its thrilling combat and gameplay loop, striking visual art style, and electric soundtrack, making it a worthy successor to one of the best roguelike games of all time.

"Roguelikes are usually a hit or miss for me, but like the first game, Hades 2 has managed to hold my attention and keep me coming back even after hours of battling through the underworld," I wrote.

"Its unique characters and compelling narrative, inspired by the great Greek myths, and dynamic gameplay accompanied by a diverse replayability structure and challenging boss fights, will keep you on your toes and reward you for your efforts."

• The price of Nintendo Switch 2 games in the US is changing
• Beginning May 2026, Nintendo digital titles will have different prices from their physical counterparts
• Nintendo confirmed "the cost of physical games is not going up" and retail partners will set their own prices

Nintendo has announced that the price of Nintendo Switch 2 games in the US is changing, with digital titles costing less than physical versions.

The news from a new Nintendo post, which confirmed that beginning May 2026, and starting with preorders for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Nintendo digital titles exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 will have an MSRP that is different from physical versions.

"Nintendo games offer the same experiences whether in packaged or digital format, and this change simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format and offers players more choice in how they can buy and play Nintendo games," the company said.

"As always, retail partners set their own prices for physical and digital games, and pricing for each title may vary."

The statement suggests that current Nintendo-published games, like Mario Kart World, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Pokémon Pokopia, won't see any price changes.

Only new titles after May will be affected, starting with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, which was previously announced with a $59.99 digital price tag. With the new changes, this means the physical copy will be $10 more at $69.99.

Nintendo explained that the change "simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format and offers players more choice in how they buy and play Nintendo games."

The Switch company has since clarified its statement after some confusion and confirmed that this does not mean the price of physical counterparts is increasing, but that retail partners will set their own prices for both.

"The cost of physical games is not going up," Nintendo said in a statement to IGN. "This means that when Nintendo sells digital versions of Nintendo published games exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 to consumers in the U.S., those prices will have an MSRP that is lower than their physical counterparts.

"Retail partners set their own prices for physical and digital games, and pricing for each title may vary."

Earlier this week, it was reported that Nintendo is cutting down Switch 2 production following disappointing sales during the holiday season. Bloomberg sources claimed that the company now aims to produce 4 million units instead of 6 million, despite the commercial and critical success of the Switch 2 exclusive Pokémon Pokopia, which sold 2.2 million units globally in its first four days of release.

Nintendo is reportedly waiting for other titles to show consistently strong sales to justify increasing console production.

• CRKD has revealed a new version of its tiny Atom controller called the Atom+
• It's still small and relatively cheap, but now offers TMR thumbsticks
• It's compatible with Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, in addition to PC and mobile

Gaming accessory brand CRKD has announced the Atom+, a new version of its tiny Atom controller.

Despite offering significantly more functionality, the CRKD Atom+ is still extremely compact and wouldn't look out of place on a keychain. Unlike its predecessor, it is now outfitted with two thumbsticks, meaning it should work well with basically any Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 game.

They're premium TMR thumbsticks too, offering enhanced precision and completely eliminating the risk of stick drift. With its Bluetooth connectivity, it's also compatible with PC, mobile phones, and some smart TVs.

The controller even supports vibration feedback and motion controller, which is particularly impressive in something so small. CRKD hasn't made any claims regarding the Atom+'s battery life, but I expect that it will last a good few hours like its predecessor.

"We’ve created a portable gamepad that’s powerful enough for modern gameplay while still being small enough to take anywhere," claimed CRKD global brand manager Jack Guinchard.

The Atom+ costs just $29.99 / £29.99 / AU$54.99, includes a wrist strap and charging cable, and comes in four colorways (Smoke Black, Glacier Blue, Retro Purple, and Pal Grey), all of which are available to pre-order now via the CRKD website.