Nintendo has released a new dedicated app for mobile devices that is tied entirely to the music of its most popular games. Perhaps more than any other video game publisher, Nintendo is synonymous with the music of its biggest titles. Franchises like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Mario Kart, and Fire Emblem are known just as much for their various soundtracks as they are for their compelling gameplay mechanics. Now, Nintendo is looking to make the music of these games more accessible than ever, but of course, has locked its availability behind a slight paywall.

Downloadable now for iOS and Android devices, the Nintendo Music app has released without any prior warning from the Japanese game publisher. Currently, the app features select scores from some of the most popular Nintendo games ever that span platforms like the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, GameCube, and Switch. To use the Nintendo Music app, however, a Switch Online subscription is required. Any version of Switch Online works with the Nintendo Music app, which means that those on lower tiers won’t need to subscribe to the more costly ones to gain access.

Related: Nintendo Switch System Update Fixes GameCube Controller Issue, Software Downloads, and More

“Kick back and enjoy some Nintendo tunes with Nintendo Music, the exclusive smart-device app for Nintendo Switch Online members that lets you stream or download Nintendo soundtracks, create and share playlists, browse music by different categories, and more!” says the app’s description. “Open up Nintendo’s vault of game music and listen to soundtracks from franchises like The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and Animal Crossing, with many more on the way.”

As Nintendo mentions, today is only the start of the Nintendo Music app. In the weeks and months ahead, Nintendo plans to add more songs and soundtracks from its history to the app. Just which games might be next to see their soundtracks appear on the Nintendo Music app have yet to be given, but we’ll likely start to learn more soon enough.

How do you feel about the new Nintendo Music app that has been released? Are you going to look to check this out for yourself, or do you not have a Switch Online subscription in order to use it? Be sure to let me know over on social media at @MooreMan12.

The post Nintendo Stealth Releases New Music App appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket is now available on iOS and Android devices, giving players a whole new way to collect Pokemon cards. The game is free to play, with players being able to open two in-game card packs every day. However, the game also has some microtransactions that can be made which allow players to obtain cards more quickly. Notably, the game has a Premium Pass, which features some extra benefits in exchange for a monthly fee. Players might be wondering if the pass is worth the extra investment, and it largely depends on how much you plan on putting into the experience.

From the start, players that buy the Premium Pass will be able to open one additional pack of Pokemon Cards each day, for a total of three. Each pack comes with five cards, so you’re looking at a total of fifteen cards per day for Premium Pass subscribers, as opposed to the usual ten (note that some can have doubles, just like real-life card packs). Those extra cards can quickly add up, and there are other benefits as well. This includes premium missions, which will allow players to obtain promo cards and other in-game items, like the coins used in battles with other players and AI opponents. The current items shown as premium mission rewards can also be found in the shop, so players can use the Poke Gold currency instead, if they prefer.

As with any subscription service, the Premium Pass for Pokemon TCG Pocket is only worth it for players that are going to stick to using it. The additional packs don’t carry over, so if players miss their 24 hour window on opening a third pack, they don’t get to open four at the start of the following day. Thankfully, Pokemon TCG Pocket offers Premium Pass subscribers a no-cost trial for two weeks. No cost is incurred as long as the player cancels their subscription “at least 24 hours before the end of the no-cost trial.” That window should be a good amount of time to decide whether the service is right for you, and whether you plan on sticking with the game long enough to get your money’s worth. Plus, if you do it every day during the trial and don’t stick around, you’ll still end up with a bunch of extra cards!

RELATED: Pokemon TCG Pocket vs. Pokemon TCG Live: What’s the Difference?

It appears that the no-cost trial is open to all “first-time subscribers.” Basically, if you try out the Premium Pass and decide to cancel ahead of the charge date, you probably won’t get a second chance to try the service. It’s possible The Pokemon Company could offer the trial again as part of some kind of promotion. However, the developers are going to want to avoid people signing up for these trials repeatedly to get free cards and then quitting before they get charged.

Are you planning to subscribe to Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s Premium Pass? Have you downloaded the game yet? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon TCG Pocket: Is The Premium Pass Worth It? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Over the weekend, Pokemon Go introduced Gigantamax Pokemon to the game, and the results were a predictable disaster. The new six-star Max Raids were nearly impossible for players to overcome, with huge groups of players struggling to defeat these Gigantamax Pokemon. It seems Niantic is well aware that players are frustrated, and there are going to be some changes starting later this week. In a post on the Niantic Support X/Twitter account, the company revealed the specific changes players can expect to see when Gigantamax Gengar Max Raids go live:

• Gigantamax Gengar Max Battles will still be challenging, but we will be slightly reducing the difficulty compared to Gigantamax Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise Max Battles.
• Defeating Gigantamax Gengar will reward participating trainers 25k Stardust each.
• Gigantamax Gengar will be more easy to catch once you have defeated it in a Max Battle.

Gigantamax Gengar Max Raids won’t begin until October 31st, so it will be interesting to see how these differ. “Slightly reducing” the difficulty probably isn’t going to make the kind of difference needed to make six-star Max Raids enjoyable, though. Right now, the problem is that the recommended party size is 10-40 players. Players cannot participate in these Raids remotely, which means you need a huge group of people to complete them locally. On top of that, some players have claimed on social media that they were unable to defeat Gigantamax Pokemon with groups of 30 players. The requirement makes it so that only players that live in areas with large numbers of players even have a chance at catching a Gigantamax Pokemon.

This whole situation has been frustrating, but it’s not terribly surprising; Gigantamax Raids always seemed doomed to fail. Over the last few years, Niantic has been dedicated to getting Pokemon Go fans to play the game outdoors, rather than inside. The developer has made several changes in service to that goal, often to the detriment to the game and its community. Niantic could make Gigantamax Raids more manageable by allowing players to participate remotely, but the company has made no mention of that possibility. It also seems highly unlikely given the steps Niantic has taken to make Remote Raids less appealing to players.

RELATED: Pokemon Leak Reveals Horrifying Mega Jynx Concept Art

It’s a good sign that Niantic is already starting to pivot away from the current Gigantamax requirements, even if the changes don’t go far enough. It shows that the company is at least aware of the problems with the feature, and listening to the Pokemon Go community. That has not always been the case, and it could result in more improvements over time. For now, fans are going to have to keep voicing their frustrations and hope that Gigantamax Raids eventually become an enjoyable part of the game.

Have you tried a Gigantamax Raid in Pokemon Go yet? Do you think that the feature needs to see some improvements? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Go Making Gigantamax Raid Changes Following Player Outcry appeared first on ComicBook.com.

While Wii U was a sales flop, the system played host to a number of truly great games published by Nintendo. The vast majority of those games have gotten a second chance on Nintendo Switch, including titles like Mario Kart 8, Bayonetta 2, and Pikmin 3. One of the more notable omissions has been Xenoblade Chronicles X, but that will change next year. Nintendo announced this morning that Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition will be released on Nintendo Switch on March 20th, 2025. At this time, Nintendo is playing coy about changes from the Wii U version, but the game’s trailer does hint at a mysterious new character.

The first trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition can be found below.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a standalone adventure, which means players don’t need to be familiar with any other entries in the series. The game’s story is set in the year 2054, and centers on humanity’s attempts to build a new civilization on the planet Mira. Humankind is on the brink of extinction following an interplanetary war, and Mira could be our last hope. One of the big highlights is that players can create their own customizable mech to explore the game’s huge open world. Xenoblade Chronicles X also features online multiplayer missions, which will probably be easier to participate in on Switch than they were with the Wii U’s smaller player base.

This is definitely not the Nintendo news people were expecting this morning, but Xenoblade fans are pretty happy about it! With this release, the entirety of the Xenoblade franchise will now be available on one system. That’s great news for those who got into the series in more recent years. The RPG franchise has become an important one for Nintendo, and this should help tide fans over while they wait for the next full entry. Director Tetsuya Takahashi has been vague about the future of the series, but it seems like a safe bet that Xenoblade Chronicles 4 could be released on Nintendo’s next system.

RELATED: Donkey Kong is Overdue for a New 3D Game from Nintendo

With today’s announcement, Nintendo’s plans for 2025 are starting to take greater shape. Thus far, the company has four announced games for Nintendo Switch: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and Metroid Prime 4. Two of those games are now slated for the first half of the year, but we don’t know when Pokemon Legends: Z-A or Metroid Prime 4 will arrive. There’s also the big mystery surrounding Nintendo’s new console, and when we can expect that to come out. Assuming the system will be released in 2025, it seems like current Switch owners will still have plenty to enjoy!

Are you planning to check out Xenoblade Chronicles X when it releases on Nintendo Switch? Did you play the game when it released on Wii U? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Xenoblade Chronicles X Finally Coming to Nintendo Switch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new update is now live on Nintendo Switch, bringing the system up to version 19.0.1. Over the last few years, the vast majority of updates for the system have focused on stability improvements, and fans can expect some of that with this new update, as well. However, this one also fixes a couple notable issues, including a problem related to GameCube controllers. Apparently, some users were having issues with the GameCube controller adapter not being recognized, as well as the controllers themselves. Full patch notes from Nintendo’s official website can be found below.

Ver. 19.0.1 (Released October 29, 2024)

• Fixed an issue with the Nintendo GameCube Controller Adapter and Nintendo GameCube Controller(s) not being recognized.
• Fixed an issue where some network processes, like downloading software, weren’t working as expected during sleep mode.
• General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

It’s always difficult to say how common these issues are, and how many users will actually notice an impact from these updates. That having been said, I personally encountered an issue with software not downloading when the system was in sleep mode, so it’s nice to see that particular issue resolved. Given the length of time some game updates can take, it’s fortunate this issue has now been resolved. The GameCube controller issue is a little more niche, and probably wouldn’t have been noticed by as many people. However, it could have been irritating for the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate community, given how many players still regularly use GameCube controllers.

At this point in Switch’s lifespan, we probably shouldn’t expect any significant changes via future system updates. The reality is, Switch has gotten up there in age, and a lot of Nintendo’s resources are probably starting to shift towards the company’s next platform. While we can expect to see a lot more updates targeting specific issues, new features are pretty unlikely. For example, fans spent the last seven years asking Nintendo to add various home screen themes, as we saw on 3DS. For whatever reason, Nintendo simply stuck to the white and dark screen options, largely ignoring those pleas. Considering the sheer number of themes that were available for purchase on 3DS, it seems like money was left on the table!

RELATED: All the GameCube Games on Nintendo Switch

It’s possible that themed backgrounds will be an option on Nintendo’s Switch successor, which is expected to release sometime in 2025. At this time, Nintendo has been very quiet about the new platform, only confirming a couple of small details. We know that the system will be fully revealed sometime before the company’s fiscal year comes to an end in March 2025, and that the system will carry over current Nintendo Accounts. Details beyond that are pretty slim!

Did you encounter either of these issues on Nintendo Switch? Are there any new features or changes you want to see on the system? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Switch System Update Fixes GameCube Controller Issue, Software Downloads, and More appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Next month will mark the 10th anniversary of Nintendo’s amiibo line, which has far outlasted anyone’s expectations. Over the last decade, Nintendo has produced a vast number of the toys, and some of those figures have become pretty rare, and expensive on the secondary market. Thankfully, Nintendo has spent the last few years bringing many of these toys back into print. On November 21st, three hard to obtain amiibo will be making a comeback: Boo, Goomba, and Koopa Troopa. Pre-orders are now live for all three through GameStop and can be found at the links below:

All three of these amiibo usually command at least twice their asking price on sites like eBay, and have been out-of-print for years now. Nintendo often connects these reprints with a new piece of software; last month saw two Zelda amiibo brought back alongside The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. It probably would have made more sense to bring back Boo, Goomba, and Koopa Troopa alongside Super Mario Party Jamboree, but Nintendo might have wanted to give a little more space between the Zelda reissues and the recently released Splatoon two-packs. There’s really no way of knowing for sure, but collectors will be happy to see some of these figures offered again!

It’s unclear if these reprints will be exclusive to GameStop (as is sometimes the case), or if they’ll be offered through additional retailers like Target or Walmart. These three amiibo are compatible with a number of different Switch games, most notably Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Mario Party, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. The actual compatibility is kind of on the weaker side, but many amiibo collectors seek out these figures as reasonably priced display pieces, as opposed to functional items. For those that do enjoy having amiibo for display, Boo is one of the cooler options, as it can glow in the dark.

RELATED: Super Mario Bros. Movie Sequel Will Feature Characters That are “Really Deep Cuts”

At this time, the future of the amiibo line is somewhat in question. It doesn’t sound like Nintendo has plans to end the line anytime soon, but there are currently no new figures slated for release. The release of Echoes of Wisdom seemed like the perfect opportunity to offer a new version of Zelda, but Nintendo instead reprinted a version based on the character’s appearance in The Wind Waker. It’s possible Nintendo is holding off on making new figures to coincide with some Switch 2 games next year, and that we could see designs based on the rumored 3D Mario game in development. That would be in keeping with what we saw with Super Mario Odyssey, which received a trio of figures based on Mario, Peach, and Bowser.

Are you planning to buy any of these amiibo reprints? Which amiibo figures would you like to see brought back next? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Bringing Back Rare Amiibo After Several Years appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the great Wii U games may be getting a remaster very soon. The Wii U was undoubtedly a low point for Nintendo. Not only is it the worst-selling Nintendo console to date, but it was complete and utter financial disaster for the company. It wasn’t just a low point, it was rock bottom. If the Wii U was rock bottom, what followed was its sky high moment. And makes the Wii U all the more peculiar as it is sandwiched between Nintendo’s second best-selling console, the Wii, and its best-selling console, the Nintendo Switch.

While the Wii U was a complete and utter flop, it did have some great software. Its catalog of games is no doubt the weakest of any Nintendo machine, but even at a low point for Nintendo it was still pumping out some great games.

One example of a great Wii U game hails from 2015. In 2015, most RPG fans were busy with Bloodborne, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Fallout 4. Those on Wii U though were busy playing Xenoblade Chronicles X, the second game in the Xenoblade Chronicles series that began during the Wii era and has continued during the current Nintendo Switch era.

Nine years later, a Nintendo leaker may be teasing its return. Over on social media platform X, user Samus Hunter recently teased that there are plenty more Nintendo Switch games releasing before the Nintendo Switch, which itself is rumored to release in 2025.

When asked for specifics, the leaker teased that the app, X, is a tease itself. This could be a tease for a few games, but considering Xenoblade Chornicles X has both X in its name and was in development under the codename X, a Xenoblade Chronicles X remaster on Nintendo Switch seems the most likely candidate.

That said, take both the tease and the speculation it has created with a grain of salt. The source in question has proven reliable in the past, but they’ve also been off the mark plenty of times as well. Right now, there is no way to know which camp this new rumor falls into.

At the moment of publishing, Nintendo has not commented on this rumor and speculation in any capacity. It very rarely comments on rumors and speculation so we don’t expect this to change, but if it does we will update the story accordingly.

The post One of the Great Wii U Games May Get a Nintendo Switch Remaster Very Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Pokemon Trading Card Game promotion is set to go live next month. Fans that spend $15 on qualifying Pokemon cards at participating retailers will receive two free promo cards. The cards include Pokemon that debuted in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, including Sprigatito, Fuecoco, Quaxly, and Terapagos. All four Pokemon cards also have a Pokemon Horizons: The Series stamp. Getting all four cards will require about $45 or more in purchases, as each of the Paldean starter cards has been paired with Terapagos. The card two-packs will be found at the following retailers in North America:

The promotion for these cards will begin on November 8th, which happens to be the same day that the Surging Sparks expansion is released in North America. That timing works out pretty nicely, as Pokemon TCG fans will have plenty of new products to spend money on that day. That should make it more worthwhile to obtain these promo cards, as opposed to releasing them when there isn’t anything new. For those unfamiliar with the expansion, Surging Sparks will feature cards from multiple sets that have been released in Japan, including SuperCharged Breaker, which just debuted in the region earlier this month. In total, the expansion will feature more than 250 cards.

Unfortunately, it’s not clear if the GameStop and Best Buy promotions will be available to those who purchase the cards online, or only at physical store locations. We also don’t know if this will apply to those that have already preordered any of the Surging Sparks products. As of this writing, neither company’s website has any information about the promotion. With Surging Sparks and these promo cards set to be released in less than two weeks, we should get more information sometime in the near future. Fans planning to make a purchase through Pokemon Center should note that the retailer has free shipping for orders over $20, which is just $5 more than the limit needed to get the Quaxly and Terapagos promo pack.

RELATED: Pokemon PSA: Pokemon Vending Machines May Be Rolling Out Near You

It’s not really clear why the promo cards were given a Pokemon Horizons stamp, other than the fact that these four Pokemon all play major roles in the animated series. The show’s cast does not appear alongside these Pokemon, and the artwork doesn’t seem to be designed to look like it does on the show. The only explanation is that The Pokemon Company wants to continue building awareness around the show, which will be getting its next batch of episodes on November 22nd. The series is currently streaming on Netflix, and features a cast of new characters in the lead following the departure of Ash Ketchum.

Do you plan on grabbing any of these Pokemon TCG promo cards? Were you already planning on buying some Surging Sparks cards? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon TCG Reveals How to Get Exclusive Surging Sparks Promo Cards appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus made significant changes to traditional Pokemon battles, but it seems things were almost drastically different. According to a recent leak, the game nearly featured a system where Pokemon would have auto battled one another by default, with an option where the trainer could command which moves it used. As noted by Centro Leaks, rumors about this option were circulating online in 2021, but the recent leaks from Game Freak have now confirmed that the developers were at least experimenting with the option. We also now have footage, showing how these battles would have played out in the game.

Footage of these in-game battles was shared on YouTube by user DaBomb772, and can be found in the video below.

While the change would have been an interesting one, it’s possible these auto-battles would have made Pokemon Legends: Arceus a lot less strategic and less enjoyable. The game offered some of the most challenging battles in the mainline franchise, and it would have been a shame if we lost that. A lot of RPG franchises have abandoned turn-based systems over the last few years, but Pokemon has remained one of the most notable holdouts. It’s possible the auto-battle system would have proven enjoyable, but it could have turned off a lot of diehard fans of the series. Over the last few years, Pokemon Legends: Arceus has become one of the most highly-regarded games of the Switch era, so it seems things worked out for the best!

It’s worth noting that Game Freak continued to experiment with auto-battles in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. However, auto-battles in that game became something of an extra, as opposed to replacing the classic turn-based system. It’s possible that the auto-battles from Legends: Arceus evolved into the Scarlet and Violet option, but it’s hard to say for sure. Regardless, it will be interesting to see if Game Freak continues to experiment with the concept in Pokemon Legends: Z-A and the next full Pokemon generation.

RELATED: Pokemon Leak Reveals Horrifying Mega Jynx Concept Art

Game Freak tends to be a very secretive company, offering little information about the development process; we’ve actually heard nothing official in about a year regarding Pokemon Legends: Z-A. However, a recent leak offered fans an unprecedented amount of information about existing and cancelled Pokemon games, as well as concept designs that didn’t end up used. The Pokemon Company has publicly acknowledged that the leak happened, but it has avoided discussion or acknowledgement of any leak in particular. That’s par for the course with these types of leaks, and it makes sense for Game Freak; the company often repurposes cut content in subsequent games. Sometimes, an unused Pokemon design evolves into another, or a feature gets fine-tuned and added in a future game.

Are you happy that this auto-battle system was scrapped from Pokemon Legends: Arceus? Do you think it was a smart move to keep the traditional battle system? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Legends: Arceus Nearly Made a Massive Change to Pokemon Battles appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Over the weekend, the latest Splatfest event was held in Splatoon 3. This time around, the game featured a Halloween theme, with players choosing what they would be if they lived in a fantasy world: a Wizard, a Knight, or a Ninja. The results have now been tallied, and Team Ninja brought home the win with an impressive 500 points! This marks another win for Big Man, who repped Team Ninja, while Shiver was Team Wizard and Frye was on Team Knight.

Players that missed out on the Halloween festivities over the weekend can still celebrate the holiday in Splatoon 3 thanks to some free in-game avatar options. Nintendo has added a few Halloween inspired items that might look familiar. Players can get the free avatar items by accessing the “News” section on the Switch home menu and launching Splatoon 3 from the link. By going to the lobby terminal from there, players will receive a Hockey Mask, Anglerfish Mask, Kyonshi Hat, and Li’l Devil Horns. These items were originally given out during a Splatoon 2 Splatoween event, and are now available free to all Splatoon 3 players. An image of the free avatar items can be found below.

At this time, we don’t know when the next Splatfest will take place, or what theme we can expect. Following the conclusion of the Grand Festival last month, Nintendo confirmed that content for Splatoon 3 is starting to wind down. Unlike the original Splatoon (which went offline earlier this year), Splatoon 3 isn’t going anywhere; fans can continue to enjoy the existing single-player and multiplayer options for the foreseeable future. However, it’s likely that Nintendo’s focus has started to shift towards the future of the series. Nothing has been confirmed at this time, but there’s a lot of speculation that Splatoon 4 is in development for Nintendo’s next console.

RELATED: New Nintendo Switch 2 Game Confirmed

The tentatively titled “Switch 2” does not have a set release window yet, but we know the console will be revealed at some point before the end of March 2025. Assuming the new system will launch at some point next year, it’s a safe bet that a new Splatoon won’t be too far behind. The series has become a major one for Nintendo, and a new Splatoon could help move Switch 2 consoles in Japan, where the series has a large following. Splatoon 2 played a big role in the current Switch console’s success, arriving just a few months after Switch launch. It’s very possible that history could repeat with Splatoon 4. On top of all that, 2025 happens to be the 10th anniversary of the series, so we could see Nintendo make an effort to celebrate the occasion. Much of this is just speculation, so fans will have to keep spending time with the current game until we hear something official!

Did you participate in the Splatfest over the weekend? Did your team win it all this time? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Splatoon 3 Reveals Halloween Splatfest Results appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Back in August, Nintendo announced plans to end support for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, its free-to-play mobile game. To the relief of many, the company confirmed that the game would be replaced by a paid version, though details were slim at the time. Nintendo has now fully pulled back the curtain on Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete, which will be released on December 3rd. This version of the game will remove all of the microtransactions that appeared in the original version of Pocket Camp, and will give players a complete Animal Crossing game that can be enjoyed on mobile for a set price.

The initial price point for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete will be $9.99. However, this is only an introductory price, and the full cost will go up to $19.99 on Friday, January 31st, 2025. Pre-orders for the game are live now, and a trailer can be found below.

As previously revealed, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete will allow existing players to transfer some of their save data to the new game. In the trailer, Nintendo outlines how this will work, and what will carry over. Users will have to link Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp to their Nintendo Account if they haven’t already. When the new app launches, players will be prompted to bring over any existing data through the Nintendo Account. Following the switch to a paid version, some features will be going away, including paid elements like Leaf Tickets and Pocket Camp Club. Players will also no longer be able to play with friends online, as the new app does not use a constant data connection. This means elements like sending gifts and selling items will no longer be available.

While these friend elements are being removed, a new interactive feature is being added called Camper Cards. Players can create their own customized Camper Cards, which show the player’s information, their in-game style, and even their favorite Animal Crossing Villager. The result looks like an Animal Crossing amiibo card, and it has a QR code that can be shared. Players can “collect” these digital Camper Cards and build up a collection. A new location has been added to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete called Whistle Pass. In this area, players will encounter Campers based on the ones they’ve exchanged Cards with, and will sometimes receive free gifts from them. Each night at 7 p.m., K.K. Slider will put on an in-game concert at Whistle Pass. Existing players can also see their friends show up in Whistle Pass, as long as both players launch the current version (6.0.0) of Pocket Camp before the app shuts down on November 29th.

RELATED: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Aquarium Tour Announced

In Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete, there is a full year cycle of events. The new game will also be adding some new mystery events that were not in the previous version. Seasonal items will return from the current version, but in a new change, players will be able to get items that they missed using Complete Tickets. Complete Tickets are earned by playing the game, and can be exchanged for items without having to wait for the corresponding season to return.

All in all, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete looks like it could be interesting for both existing Pocket Camp players, as well as those that never tried out the previous version. By removing all the microtransactions and offering a complete experience for one set price, the game might have an easier time attracting fans used to playing the series on console. We’ll have a better idea how the new version plays when it launches later this year!

Are you a fan of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp? What do you think of this new version of the game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete Announced appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A major Nintendo Switch 2 game has potentially leaked ahead of the console’s rumored reveal. The next Nintendo console is going to be — according to the latest batch of rumors — announced either today, October 28, or tomorrow October 29. Ahead of this though, one of its major software announcements may have been outed first.

The expectation is a new 3D Mario, a new Mario Kart, and more first-party Nintendo games will soon be announced alongside the Nintendo Switch 2. These early Nintendo Switch 2 games could includes new installments not just in Mario though, but Fire Emblem, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Splatoon, and other major Nintendo franchises.

The current Nintendo Switch lives and dies on its first-party games. Many of those, if not a majority of those, planning on picking up the next Nintendo console will be doing so to chiefly play the games Nintendo itself makes, which will be exclusive to the platform.

There will be third-party support though. As we have seen with the current Switch, over the generation this third-party support will likely slow down to a trickle, however, at launch we suspect Nintendo will be making lots of deals to get third-party games on the Switch 2. More than this, we suspect third-party developers eager to be at or near the release of the new console.

To this end, perhaps it should come as no surprise that a new rumor is claiming that developer FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco are reportedly porting Elden Ring to the Nintendo Switch alongside a “Definitive Edition” of the game that will release on all platforms.

The report comes the way of Nintendo leaker, Nash Weedle, who claims the port is not being handled by FromSoftware itself, but by Virtuos, a well-known porting studio. Adding to this, it is noted the port of 2022’s biggest game could arrive by the end of next year, 2025.

This is the extent of the report, which of course should be taken with a grain of salt. The source in question has proven reliable in the past, but they are fairly new to the gaming industry’s roster of leakers and don’t possess the longest or most bulletproof track record.

At the moment of publishing, none of the implicated parties — Nintendo nor FromSoftware nor Bandai Namco nor Virtuous — have commented on this Nintendo Switch 2 rumor in any capacity. We don’t suspect this will change for a variety of reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

For more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

The post Major Nintendo Switch 2 Game Leaks Before Console Reveal appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A Nintendo GameCube game that launched almost 20 years ago has surprisingly received a new update. Over the past decade, a number of GameCube games that were at one point stranded on the platform have been remastered or ported to new hardware. Games like Metroid Prime, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Beyond Good & Evil, Super Mario Sunshine, Resident Evil 4, and Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 have all been brought to new platforms at one time or another in recent years. Now, a game that was ported to PC back in 2018 has received a new patch without any warning whatsoever.

Within recent days, a new update for Killer7 on Steam went live. Originally released on Nintendo GameCube in 2005, Killer7 is a cult-classic action-adventure game from Grasshopper Manufacture and its famed director Suda51. It was later brought over to PC, which is the primary manner in which it has remained accessible in recent years. Prior to this new patch going live, though, the game’s most recent update occurred all the way back in January 2019. As such, this new patch was truly random as most assumed that Killer7 was a finished product on PC.

The bad news about this update for Killer7 is that it seems to have negatively impacted the game. Since going live, recent reviews for the title on Steam have fallen to “Mostly Negative” with many players taking issue with the AI-upscaled textures that have been implemented. This change to the textures was said to be done as a way of improving the performance of Killer7 and bringing the cutscenes more in line with what was seen on GameCube. Clearly, though, Grasshopper and publisher NIS America missed the mark if these reviews from players are to be trusted.

Moving forward, it’s not known if any further updates for Killer7 will be coming about. Given the problems that players now seem to have with the game, a new patch to try to resolve some of these complaints could go live in the coming days. Regardless of whether a new update is released, though, you might want to consider picking up Killer7 for yourself now as it’s currently on sale for only $4.99 in a deal that will last until November 8th.

If interested, you can check out the extensive patch notes for this update to Killer7 attached below.

Killer7 Update Patch Notes

Remastered Videos

• The videos of Killer7 have been updated based on the GameCube videos and updated so that they hopefully play smoother!
• remastered all videos based on the original GameCube videos
• all videos now use webm instead of ogv

Graphic Improvements

• Various changes have been made in order to improve the general graphic performance to give you all a better visual experience.
• more reload animations now use 60fps
• added MSAA support (it can be enabled in the config tool)
• added framerate limiter support (it can be configured in the config tool)
• upscaled more fonts
• upscaled more textures
• added BC7 texture support
• enabled DPI awareness to allow proper 4K resolutions (please disable custom DPI overrides!)

Quick Character Select

• A quick character select option has been added for those using gamepads.
• added a “Quick Character Select” option when playing with the gamepad
  – defaults to Left Trigger
  – configurable in the config tool

Other Gameplay Improvements

• junctions can now be selected faster when using the mouse
• it’s now possible to select all skills in the TV menu when using the mouse
• Kess Bloodysunday’s cutscenes are now skippable
• replaced fixed Xbox button references with dynamic button glyphs
  – properly displays customized buttons
  – added support for keyboard and mouse buttons
• removed references to the “Memory Card” when saving or loading
• the config tool now checks for incorrect duplicate bindings
• added DualShock 4 & DualSense support

Various Bug Fixes

• fixed the rendering of characters at junctions (they no longer appear red)
• various fixes when using a monitor with a refresh rate greater than 60hz
  – mouse aiming was too slow
  – certain animations were too fast
• fixed the Handsomemen death particle effect
• fixed a rare legacy crash during the “Susie in dryer” scene
• fixed text errors in various subtitles and memos
• fixed a legacy bug in the Ulmeyda boss fight
• fixed a graphical bug when quitting the game during the Curtis boss fight
• Hopper7 mode now displays Camelia’s weak spot
• fixed a rare random crash when opening the ingame menu
• fixed an audio bug when (un)plugging headphones
• fixed a legacy graphical glitch when battling using Kevin
• fixed mouse issues when they had a high polling rate
• various optimizations

The post Nintendo GameCube Game Gets Surprise Update Nearly 20 Years After Release appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There’s a lot of effort that goes into the Pokemon franchise behind the scenes, including early design work that fans usually don’t get to see. During the process, a lot of those designs end up on the cutting room floor. As a result of the recent Game Freak links, fans were recently shown an early look at Mega Gengar, and now we have a look at Mega Jynx, as well. While Mega Gengar was slightly tweaked prior to Pokemon X and Y‘s release, Mega Jynx never made it into the game, and we can probably see why it wasn’t selected.

A leaked image of Mega Jynx was shared by Bluesky user Bruno Gato, and can be found embedded below.

In the concept art, we can see how the designers were building off the existing design for Jynx. Mega Jynx has much bigger hair this time, which seems significantly fluffier. It also has a much different body, abandoning the traditional red “dress” for a gown that reflects its Ice-type. The design has drawn a lot of comparisons to Elsa from Frozen, but it’s worth noting that Pokemon X and Y was released about a month prior to the Disney film. Given that, any resemblance between the two characters is likely coincidental.

Keeping in mind that this is a very early piece of concept art, we know that the design would have continued to evolve prior to release. To be frank, it’s not a great look, and that probably played some role in The Pokemon Company’s decision to abandon it. Another reason is the developers probably wanted to avoid any potential controversy surrounding the Pokemon. While Jynx continues to appear in Pokemon games and media, the Ice/Psychic-type was at the center of a major controversy decades ago. Following accusations that Jynx’s design incorporated racist stereotypes, a decision was made to change the Pokemon’s skin tone from black to purple. Mega Jynx clearly kept that change intact, but the game’s developers may have wanted to avoid resurrecting the topic altogether.

RELATED: Pokemon Legends: Z-A Leak Reveals When the Game Takes Place

The design for Mega Jynx was revealed as part of a larger leak of material from The Pokemon Company. Over the last few weeks, social media has been inundated with material that has never been made public. This has included cancelled games, planned Pokemon, and more. For obvious reasons, The Pokemon Company has not discussed these leaks beyond an initial acknowledgement, so fans are left to speculate about context. A lot of scrapped Pokemon designs have been tweaked and made it into later games, so it’s possible we could see Mega Jynx appear in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. For now though, fans will have to settle for a look at what might have been!

What do you think of this concept art for Mega Jynx? Do you think this Mega Evolution will appear in a future game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Leak Reveals Horrifying Mega Jynx Concept Art appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s no secret Donkey Kong has been shorted in the Nintendo Switch era. Despite being one of Nintendo’s most recognizable mascots, the character hasn’t had a starring role in an original game in more than 10 years now. A new Donkey Kong game was planned for Switch by Vicarious Visions, but the project was inevitably cancelled by the developer’s owner Activision. Recently, fans got to see a piece of concept art from the game, which seemed to be a 3D platformer, as opposed to a 2D sidescroller. That would have been a refreshing change, and Nintendo should embrace that path for the next Donkey Kong game.

In the ’90s, Rare released the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy on Super Nintendo. A trio of 2D sidescrolling games, the Donkey Kong Country series helped to breathe new life into the character, introducing new friends, new foes, and a brand-new status quo. The outdated arcade icon suddenly felt fresh again, earning a new generation of fans. When the Nintendo 64 launched a few years later, many of Nintendo’s mascots made the jump from 2D to 3D gaming, in titles like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Donkey Kong was no exception, with Rare releasing Donkey Kong 64 in 1999.

While Mario and Link’s first forays into 3D gaming were massively successful, Donkey Kong’s was more of a mixed bag. Rare managed to carry over a lot of the best elements of the SNES games, from animal companions like Enguarde and Rambi, to the iconic minecart sections. Unfortunately, the game was bogged down with a lot of elements that haven’t aged quite as gracefully; most notably, players were required to obtain a ridiculously large number of items to complete the game. Between the “collectathon” issues, and the oft-ridiculed DK Rap, most people have forgotten the elements that were done right.

After that single 3D game, Donkey Kong went back to mostly starring in 2D sidescrollers like Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat and Donkey Kong Country Returns. One of the few exceptions was Donkey Kong’s appearance in Skylanders SuperChargers, which seemed to be setting the stage for Vicarious Visions’ DK game. Even though that fell through, it feels like it’s past time to give Donkey Kong another shot at 3D. For all its warts, Donkey Kong 64 was a major release for Nintendo, and was one of the company’s biggest games in the 1999 holiday season. While another 2D platformer would still be welcome after years of remakes and remasters, it just doesn’t feel big enough. A new 3D game would truly stand out, and could be a way to help elevate the character once again.

To pull this off, Nintendo needs to boil things down to the elements that work best. Donkey Kong 64‘s big problem is that it was filled with excess. That didn’t just include the in-game collectables, but it even extended to the game’s cast, which featured too many playable characters, with a total of five to control. The problem with having too many characters is that it makes it easy for Donkey Kong himself to get lost in the mix. This is even true of games like Tropical Freeze, where I largely found myself using Dixie and Cranky Kong. Those characters should still remain an important part of the franchise, but the next 3D Donkey Kong game should focus exclusively on Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong. Once it gets beyond those two protagonists, the Donkey Kong name starts to lose its draw. Putting DK firmly in the spotlight will help to firmly establish him as a Nintendo icon again. This is something The Super Mario Bros. Movie did well, as other Kongs did make appearances, but they never took away the spotlight.

Stripping things down means bringing back the stuff that truly worked best, and a good starting point would be the first Donkey Kong Country. There are so many great elements from that game begging for a return, and they’d translate well into 3D. The animal companions and minecart areas should be there, just as they came back in Donkey Kong 64. The music of the series has also been a high point for a long time, which is why it would be smart to bring back composer David Wise. All of these elements would help to keep the spirit of the 2D games alive, even as the game sets out to chart a new future. Marrying the old and new will give fans a reason to have some faith in a new 3D adventure.

The last piece of the puzzle that Donkey Kong needs is an entertaining enemy, which is also why it’s time to bring back the Kremlings and King K. Rool. For whatever reason, Nintendo has largely abandoned those characters outside the Super Smash Bros. series. The Donkey Kong Country games developed by Retro Studios tried to give Donkey Kong new enemies to face, but both the Tiki Tak Tribe and the Snowmads failed to leave a strong impression. These characters felt largely generic, and don’t have the same charm. We already know King K. Rool and the Kremlings can work in 3D, as we’ve seen it once before.

Over the last few years, Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto have made it clear that Donkey Kong remains an important character to the company’s past and future. While we haven’t seen it as much in the world of video games, it’s easy to see how Nintendo is trying to elevate Donkey Kong’s character, through his large role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, to the fact that he has his own dedicated section in Super Nintendo World. There’s never been a better time for Nintendo to make a big, AAA Donkey Kong game. It’s time to make the jungle as fun and exciting to explore as it was in 1994. To pull it off, Nintendo needs to give DK another chance at 3D stardom.

Do you think DK needs a new 3D game? Were you a fan of Donkey Kong 64? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Donkey Kong Is Overdue for a New 3D Game from Nintendo appeared first on ComicBook.com.

An iconic Nintendo 64 game has seen its remastered iteration on Nintendo Switch discounted to a new low price. Since the launch of the Switch back in 2017, a slew of N64 games have made the jump to Nintendo’s latest console. Some of these re-releases have included Super Mario 64, GoldenEye 007, Star Fox 64, Paper Mario, Banjo-Kazooie, Pokemon Stadium, and a slew of others. Most of these N64 games have been available to play exclusively through Nintendo Switch Online, while others have been available for purchase separately on the eShop. Now, one game that fits into this latter category has received a fantastic sale that won’t last long.

From now until Friday, November 1st, Shadow Man Remastered has seen its price slashed by 60% on the Nintendo Switch. Typically, this revamped version of Shadow Man retails for $19.99, but it’s now going for only $7.99. To date, this is the best deal that has ever been seen for the remaster as previous sales on the eShop have only ever brought it down to $8.99 or $9.99.

First released in 1999, Shadow Man launched on the Nintendo 64 in addition to PS1, Sega Dreamcast, and PC. Despite being on so many platforms, Nintendo fans seemed to gravitate most toward the game as it was quite popular on N64. In 2022, Nightdive Studios opted to release a remaster of Shadow Man on Nintendo Switch to make it available to a wider audience on modern hardware. The PS4 version of the remaster also happens to currently be on sale on the PS Store, but that discount isn’t as good as the one on Switch.

One reason why Shadow Man Remastered is particularly great to pick up right now is because the game has major horror themes. In fact, the reason it’s currently on sale in the first place is likely because of Halloween. So if you’re looking for a Switch game to place this week with Halloween on the horizon, Shadow Man Remastered could be exactly what you’re looking for.

Shadow Man Remastered

“He is coming, stalking criminals in the spirit world and the real world. A possessed man is coming, a voodoo mask in his chest and lines of power in his back. Shadow Man is coming, trailing evil from Liveside to Deadside. To stop an apocalypse. To save your soul.

• Stalk Criminals Across Two Worlds: Explore crime scenes in the Louisiana, Swamplands, a New York tenement, a Texas prison, the asylum and many other locales.
• Send Evil Back to Darkness: Go in armed with high-caliber guns or soul-destroying voodoo powers.
• Unravel the Mysteries of Deadside: Gather sinister voodoo artifacts in order to solve puzzles.
• Live the Nightmare: Over 40 immersive cut-scenes and hours of in-game speech.

Shadow Man Remastered is a complete overhaul of the classic game with restored, previously cut content!”

The post Classic Nintendo 64 Game Gets Best Discount Yet for Switch Remaster appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The wait for the Nintendo Switch 2 is almost over, according to a new leak. Since the start of the year, Nintendo fans have suffered through countless rumors about the next Nintendo console, which is believed to be a Nintendo Switch successor based on previous rumors, leaks, and even cryptic teases from Nintendo itself.

Many of these rumors and reports have claimed the new Nintendo console is going to be revealed this year, with Nintendo aiming to release it sometime in 2025, most likely in the first half of the year. The deeper we get into 2024 though with no reveal the more Nintendo fans lose hope. The latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumor is set to restore hope though.

The rumor comes the way of PH Brazil, a fairly well known Nintendo leaker who has proven reliable in the past. According to the leaker, the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to be revealed this coming week, on either Monday or Tuesday. In other words, if this rumor is true, the Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be revealed on either October 28 or October 29, a few days before Halloween.

The rumor gets even more interesting though. An even more well-known Nintendo leaker, with a bulletproof track record, Pyoro, changed their profile name on X to the eyes emoji. This change — which was made today — was accompanied with a new header image featuring the Nintendo Alarmo. Many Nintendo fans have taken this to mean the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal is imminent, which would line up with this new rumor from PH Brazil.

At the moment of publishing, all we have is this new rumor and the speculation Pyoro’s X account changes have created. Where there is smoke, there is usually fire, but right now there is still nothing definitive. To this end, remember to take everything here with a grain of salt.

Nintendo has not commented on any of this in any capacity. We don’t suspect this to change for a variety of reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly. In the meantime, for more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal Date Leaked, And It’s Very Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Nintendo Entertainment System — the NES — released all the way back in 1983, in Japan. It didn’t come west and to the United States until 1985 though. This means, next year the console will officially be in its middle-aged era as far as US gamers are concerned. Meanwhile, since its release there has been the SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii, Wii U, Switch, and soon the Switch 2. And of course there have been various Nintendo handhelds as well, such as the Game Boy and DS machines. It has been a long time since the release of the NES, yet it is getting a new game.

The new NES game comes the way of Retrotainment, who has previously released two other NES games. To this end, the new game, Haunted Halloween ’87, is the third game in this NES trilogy

When the game will release on NES, and whether it will be on other platforms, is currently unclear. Right now, the game is live on Kickstarter, so more details could be coming soon. Those interested in knowing more about this upcoming NES game can read more about it below, courtesy of an official story synopsis:

“Donny and Tami have spent the last year honing their combat skills, eating cheeseburgers and planning for the return of Harry on Halloween night. In ’85 they were just unsuspecting kids who managed to survive the horrors of Halloween night. In ’86 they were blindsided by Harry, but persevered as they found parts of an old map that aided them in powering up their combat moves. This Halloween they won’t be caught off guard – they’ll be ready to kick the bits out of Harry when he strikes. Only one problem… The Witch.”

“In ’87 Donny and Tami will be fighting their way through all new parts of their beloved (albeit cursed) town of Possum Hollow,” further adds the game’s official pitch. ‘They’ll have to brave places like the sewage plant, junkyard, trailer park, and many more; including parts of Olde Opossum Hollow thought to be lost to time.”

For more Nintendo coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo news, all of the latest Nintendo rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo deals — click here.

The post Nintendo Fans Surprised After New NES Game Announced appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A couple popular Nintendo Switch horror games are on sale for just $1.99 thanks to the new Halloween Sale on the Nintendo eShop. That said, the pair of Nintendo Switch deals extend beyond Halloween and are actually available all the way until November 7. And if the deals don’t tickle your fancy, they aren’t the only popular Nintendo Switch horror games on sale for a couple of dollars.

The highlight of these Nintendo Switch Halloween deals are for 2016’s Oxenfree and its much newer 2023 sequel, Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals. The former normally costs $9.99 on the Nintendo eShop, while the latter normally costs $19.99. In other words, these new deals are courtesy of an 80 percent discount and a 90 percent discount, respectively.

Developed by Night School Studio, Oxenfree released back in the day to an 87 on Metacritic and won a couple awards at the time.. Meanwhile, its sequel debuted to an 85 on Metacritic, and unfortunately for Night School Studio, didn’t cultivate the same level of attention or award season praise as its predecessor.

Nintendo Switch Horror/Spooky Games on Sale for $5 or Less

• Oxenfree – $1.99
• Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals – $1.99
• Afterparty – $1.99
• Flipping Death – $1.99
• Stories Untold – $1.99
• Layers of Fear: Legacy – $2.99
• The Coma: Recut – $2.99
• The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters – $2.99
• Castlevania Anniversary Collection – $3.99
• Crypt of the NecroDancer – $3.99
• Metro 2033 Redux – $3.99
• Metro: Last Light Redux – $3.99
• Carrion – $4.99
• West of Dead – $4.99
• BioShock 2 Remastered – $4.99

Oxenfree

About: “Oxenfree is a supernatural thriller about a group of friends who unwittingly open a ghostly rift. Play as Alex, a bright, rebellious teenager who brings her new stepbrother Jonas to an overnight party on an old military island. The night takes a terrifying turn when you unwittingly open a ghostly gate spawned from the island’s cryptic past. How you deal with these events, your peers, and the ominous creatures you’ve unleashed is up to you. You determine every aspect of Alex’s story while exploring Edwards Island, uncovering the base’s dark past, and changing the course of your friends’ lives.”

Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals

About: “TVs turn on and off. Planes lose radar. Radio stations can’t broadcast through the static. In the small coastal town of Camena, unnaturally occurring electromagnetic waves are suddenly causing interference with electrical and radio equipment. Reluctantly, Riley Poverly returns to her hometown to investigate the mystery, but what she finds is more than she bargained for.”

For more Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch deals like the ones above — click here.

The post Popular Nintendo Switch Horror Games Only $1.99 for Halloween appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new console exclusive for the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED has been revealed, and it is coming soon. The game in question has been available on PC since October of last year, however, it never came to any console. And right now, there is no word of it coming to any console other than the Nintendo Switch on February 20, 2025. This could change over time, but for now it means the game is a Nintendo Switch console exclusive.

As for the game, it comes out of Japan via publisher TOHO Games and developer Nukenin, and it is a Godzilla game. More specifically, it is called Godzilla Voxel Wars, and according to user reviews for the game it is pretty good.

On Steam, 96 percent of 90 user reviews for the game are positive, giving the game a “Very Positive” rating. The game’s Steam listing also reveals it costs $14.99, which is presumably how much it will cost on the Nintendo eShop.

“Control Toho monsters as you save the world by repelling the invasion of the Fungoid mushroom menace,” reads an official blurb about the game for those unfamiliar with it. “Progress through the stages to discover the truth behind these monster mushrooms!”

“Really good puzzle game. Plays similar to Into the Breach but uses level based puzzles instead,” reads one of the aforementioned user reviews on Steam for the game. “Consistently adds new elements, enemies, and other Toho monsters to control which keeps it fresh. Does a good job of having the pieces reflect their respective monsters. Even has a level editor and community maps.”

While Godzilla Voxel Wars is coming fairly early in 2025, it is actually not going to be the first Nintendo Switch exclusive of 2025. That honor belongs to Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, which is coming to Nintendo Switch on January 16.

For more Nintendo Switch coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch deals — click here. Meanwhile, and as always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. Will you be picking this Nintendo Switch game up when it releases in February?

The post New Nintendo Switch Exclusive Revealed, And It’s Coming Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is the third Mario Party game on Nintendo Switch, and according to Metacritic, the best one yet. In 2018, Super Mario Party debuted the series on Nintendo Switch, releasing to a 76 on Metacritic. Then in 2021, Mario Party Superstars released to an 81 on Metacritic. And now three years Super Mario Party Jamboree is out to an 82 on Metacritic. That said, while the new game is good, some of the associated products releasing alongside it aren’t so good. In fact, they are so bad those who make them are telling customers not to use them.

More specifically, anyone who bought the Super Mushroom frying pan should not use it according to manufacturer of said frying pan. Why? Well, according to the manufacturer it discolors the oil when heated. It is unclear what color it makes the oil, or if there any related health concerns, but the manufacturer says customers should stop using it and await further information.

The frying pan was only released in Japan, so it is unlikely this will impact many outside of Japan. However, for anyone who imported it or was looking into importing it, this is relevant information.

Of course, as the situation develops and evolves, we will be sure to update the story accordingly. In the meantime don’t buy this Super Mario Party Jamboree frying pan because nobody knows what is wrong with it.

For more Super Mario Party Jamboree — including all of the latest Super Mario Party Jamboree news, Super Mario Party Jamboree rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Super Mario Party Jamboree deals — click here.

“Join the latest Mario Party, a jamboree of seven boards and over 110 minigames,” reads an official blurb about the game for those unfamiliar with it. “From running through merry-go-rounds to motion-control minigolf, this jamboree is jam-packed with more minigames than any Mario Party game to date. With seven boards in all, you can go with the flow in Goomba Lagoon, search the mall for stars in Rainbow Galleria, or revisit the classics of Western Land and Mario’s Rainbow Castle.”

H/T, Oatmeal Dome.

The post Super Mario Party Jamboree Fans Warned to Stop Using New Product appeared first on ComicBook.com.

According to a new report, not one, but two Game Boy classics are getting remastered and released on the Nintendo Switch, where they will be exclusives for the platform. One of these Game Boy games is specifically a Game Boy Color game, while the other, its sequel, is a Game Boy Advance game.

The first of these two games released all the way back in 1999. In the final year of the 20th century, Nintendo fans were likely busy playing Super Smash Bros, Pokemon Gold and Silver, Donkey Kong 64, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Mario Golf, Beetle Adventure Racing, Rayman 2: The Great Escape, Resident Evil 2, or still playing 1998’s The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The late 90s was a great time for Nintendo fans.

A game that also came out that year was Driver, from Reflections Interactive and GT Interactive. However, in 1999 it was only available via PS1. It wasn’t until a year later it came to Game Boy Color. Likewise, its sequel, Driver 2 released in 2000, but only on PS1. Nintendo fans couldn’t play it until 2002, when it was ported to Game Boy Advance.

For those that know nothing about the action-driving games, the first one was one of the best games of 1999. Unfortunately, the sequel wasn’t nearly as good, not at least according to critics, which gave the second game a 62 on Metacritic, down considerably from the 87 the first game received.

The Driver series — which got five more releases — has been dormant since 2011, when Ubisoft, who now owns the series, released Driver: Renegade 3D on the 3DS. And it was not very good, as evident by its terrible 48 on Metacritic.

While the more modern games don’t have a place in the heart of many, the older PS1 and Game Boy games do. To this end, many are going to be excited if the aforementioned report is true.

According to PH Brazil, Nintendo and Ubisoft have come together to remaster both Driver and Driver 2 for the Nintendo Switch. More than this, the pair of remasters are apparently close. More specifically, they are said to be scheduled to release sometime in 2025 before the Nintendo Switch 2.

Whether this is true or not, only time will tell, but PH Brazil has proven reliable in the past. Likewise, he has also been off the mark in the past as well, so remember to take this information with a grain of salt.

At the moment of publishing, neither Nintendo nor Ubisoft have commented on this rumor in any capacity. We don’t suspect this to change for a couple different reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story with whatever is provided.

The post Two Game Boy Classics Reportedly Getting Remastered on Nintendo Switch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When it comes to Pokemon Go, it always feels like there’s a major disconnect between the people who make the game, and those who actually play it. While developer Niantic has managed to create a mobile game that’s still thriving after eight years (which is no easy task), the company continues to make choices that don’t make sense to the player community. Gigantamax battles are the latest example of this phenomenon; the feature will be added to the game on October 26th, when six-star Max Raids begin to appear. However, the challenge will apparently be so high that “groups of 10 to 40 Trainers” are recommended.

As a Pokemon Go player since 2016, let me tell you that this sounds completely absurd. Max Battles in Pokemon Go cannot be accessed remotely, which means that people need to find local groups of at least 10 other people if they want a chance of catching a Gigantamax Charizard, Venusaur, or Blastoise (Gengar is coming on October 31st). As a player with more than 100 in-game friends, I find that it’s a challenge getting just four to six people to challenge a Mega Pokemon Raid remotely, let alone in person. I understand Gigantamax Pokemon are meant to be rare (they were in Pokemon Sword and Shield, after all), but this feature will result in only a small percentage of Pokemon Go players having them.

I wish I could say that this is surprising, but it’s very much in keeping with how Niantic has handled most things related to Pokemon Go lately. This is the same thought process that has led to controversial decisions like the Remote Raid changes in 2023. The company is desperate to recapture the magic of 2016, when Pokemon Go got people to leave the house and explore the outside world. There was something unquestionably magical about those first few months; I have fond memories of playing at the Buffalo Canalside that summer, where hundreds of people were outdoors enjoying Pokemon Go together. It’s one of my fondest memories of the game, but Pokemon has always been about evolution, and Niantic continues to cling to a model that just isn’t realistic all the time. For one thing, the winter months are nearly here, when daylight is at a premium. Second, the task of getting the recommended number of players for a six-star Max Raid in person would be difficult even in perfect weather.

Niantic wants people playing Pokemon Go outdoors and in groups. That’s been the whole directive of the game over the last few years, and has led to new features like Routes and Party Play. Niantic has also tried to get people to connect through the game with its Campfire app, encouraging people to make friends they can enjoy Pokemon Go with locally. To the company’s credit, it’s trying to make it easier for people to play the game the way it envisions. It would just be a lot more preferable if the company took things like time and weather into consideration, as well as players that might have disabilities that prevent them from actively playing the game outside.

What’s frustrating about these Gigantamax requirements is that Niantic has done a pretty nice job pulling off Max Raids up to this point. While I long assumed Niantic had plans to adapt Dynamax and Gigantamax into Pokemon Go, I wondered how effectively the feature could be pulled off. After all, the concept first originated in Pokemon Sword and Shield, and was meant to take advantage of TV mode on Switch; the idea being that big Pokemon could take advantage of a larger screen than we had seen with previous Pokemon generations. Niantic not only pulled it off, but the company animated Max Battles beautifully. The scale looks great, and the graphics are the best I’ve seen from Pokemon Go so far.

I’ll be very interested to see how Pokemon Go players react to Gigantamax battles when they actually go live in the game. On social media, it seems a lot of Pokemon Go players feel the same way that I do, and want Niantic to make these Gigantamax Raids more accessible. Maybe the high cost of entry will keep Gigantamax Pokemon a special part of the game, and players will come to accept the high requirements. It’s also possible Niantic is slightly exaggerating how many players will be needed, and Gigantamax Raids will be more manageable than the company claims. However, this already feels like when Mega Evolution was first introduced to the game. Niantic’s initial rollout of Mega Evolution was pretty terrible, and the company eventually came up with a solution that was a lot more enjoyable.

At some point, Niantic is going to have to realize that the player community it wants and the community it has are not the same. Pokemon Go players want to enjoy the game in ways that are easy and accessible, whether that means playing actively, or being able to enjoy the game from the comfort of their homes. The more Niantic tries to box players into a set experience, the more fans are going to be driven away. These competing visions for the game’s future have been a problem for years now, and it remains to be seen whether the two sides will be able to meet somewhere in the middle.

How do you feel about the Gigantamax requirements in Pokemon Go? Will you be able to find enough friends to complete these Max Raids? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Go’s New Gigantamax Feature Seems Doomed to Fail appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Over the last few weeks, Pokemon fans have gotten an unprecedented look behind the curtain. A major leak at Game Freak has revealed a lot of information that was never made available to the public, including actual Pokemon designs. Interestingly enough, we’ve gotten to see some concepts that later got modified, including one for Mega Gengar. While many of the final aspects of Mega Gengar’s design were present in the early version, there were some notable tweaks made before the release of Pokemon X and Y. To put it bluntly, we kind of dodged a bullet!

A leaked image of Mega Gengar’s original design was shared on Bluesky by user Raichu Noticias, and can be found in the post embedded below.

As we can see from the image, Mega Gengar’s third eye was present from the early stages, and didn’t change in any noticeable ways. The purple and pinkish red color scheme was also present. However, the initial design is far too close to Gengar’s standard appearance; it barely would have changed! Notably, its hands lack the spikiness of the final design, and Mega Gengar would have remained on its feet, rather than moving on its hands. Presumably the tail would have also been less spiky, but the image makes it hard to tell, as the Pokemon’s back can’t be seen. On the whole, the design is also a lot less intimidating, with eyes and teeth that don’t appear nearly as foreboding as they do in the game itself.

Mega Gengar is often held up as one of the best Mega Evolutions in the franchise, and that likely would not be the case had Game Freak gone with its initial design. It’s unclear what made them go back to the drawing table on this one; there are actually plenty of Mega Evolutions that don’t look much different from their normal designs (Mega Ampharos springs to mind). Whatever the case might be, it was definitely the right call, and Pokemon X and Y was all the better for it.

It’s been more than a decade since Pokemon X and Y‘s release. In that time, Mega Evolution has largely taken a backseat to other features, including Z-Moves, Dynamax, and Terastallization. However, Mega Evolution remains incredibly popular with the Pokemon fan base, arguably more so than any other mainline “gimmick.” A big part of that comes down to the strength of the designs, and that popularity is probably what prompted The Pokemon Company to bring the feature back in games like Pokemon Sun and Moon and Pokemon: Let’s Go. Mega Evolutions will once again return when Pokemon Legends: Z-A launches, but we don’t know in what capacity. Hopefully the game will feature some compelling new designs on par with Mega Gengar!

How do you feel about this early design for Mega Gengar? Do you think The Pokemon Company made the right call retooling this one? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Fans Dodged a Bullet With Early Mega Gengar Design appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For the last few months, Nintendo fans have been eagerly awaiting an announcement for the company’s new video game console. While the successor to the Nintendo Switch still hasn’t been announced, we now seem to have a new game confirmed for the platform. This morning, developer Playtonic announced that Yooka-Replaylee is coming to “PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo platforms.” If the game were simply coming to Switch, the press release from Playtonic would have said just that, given Playtonic specifically listed Sony and Microsoft’s current systems. Basically, we now have confirmation of a Switch 2 game, even if Nintendo hasn’t given us the console’s name just yet!

Yooka-Replaylee was announced earlier this year, but no platforms were confirmed at the time. The game is being billed as an “updated version” of Yooka-Laylee, with several improvements over the original game. Players can expect to see overhauled visuals, additional characters, improved controls, and more. A console announcement trailer was also released today, which notably does not feature the Switch logo; at the end of the trailer, viewers can see the classic Nintendo logo placed alongside the logos for other platforms.

All in all, it’s not surprising that Yooka-Replaylee will be released on Switch 2. Yooka-Laylee is available on the current console, and the game is meant as a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie, a game that holds a special place in the hearts of Nintendo fans. With the developers putting a big focus on improving the graphics and technical aspects of the original game, Yooka-Replaylee always seemed like the kind of game that would have to come out on Nintendo’s next system, as opposed to Switch. Now we know that’s exactly the case, but there is no release window for Yooka-Replaylee at the moment.

With third-party developers starting to confirm games that will come out on Switch 2 (or whatever the system is going to be called), hopefully we’ll see a full reveal from Nintendo in the not too distant future. Everyone is wondering what the system is going to be named, what the design will be, and what games will be offered. There have been a whole lot of rumors, but we’ve gotten little in the way of full news. Hopefully today’s announcement is a sign that the dam is starting to break, and we’ll get a lot more info soon!

As of this writing, Nintendo has been quiet about when the new console will be revealed. We know a reveal will happen before the company’s current fiscal year ends in March 2025. That could mean any point over the next five months, but with pundits speculating that the system will be released in the first half of 2025, it seems increasingly likely that we’ll see it sooner, rather than later.

Are you happy that Yooka-Replaylee will be coming to Nintendo’s next system? When do you think the new system will actually be revealed? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post New Nintendo Switch 2 Game Confirmed appeared first on ComicBook.com.

According to a new report, a Nintendo GameCube game, and at one point, a Nintendo GameCube exclusive, is getting a Nintendo Switch remaster in 2025. Back in 2003, the likes of Call of Duty, Tony Hawk’s Underground, Mario Kart: Double Dash, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Beyond Good & Evil, Manhunt, Final Fantasy X-2, Mario Party 5, Enter the Matrix, Project Gotham Racing 2, SSX 3, Viewtiful Joe, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, NBA Street Vol. 2, Jak II, Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising, Drakengard, Trackmania, True Crime: Streets of LA, Sonic Heroes, and much more released.

2003 was a jam packed year, as evident by just the list of games above, which is just the tip of the iceberg. There were plenty of other games released in 2003 beyond this list, including many noteworthy ones. A game that falls into both of these categories is Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc.

As the name suggests, the Ubisoft game is the third major installment in the Rayman series. The game ended up being a multi-platform release, also coming to the Xbox, PS2, and PC, but at launch it was notably an exclusive for Nintendo, releasing on both the GameCube and Game Boy Advance.

At release it garnered a positive critical reception, as evident by its its 82 on Metacritic. And it coupled this with commercial success, selling more than a million copies in one month on the market, a decent return in the modern era, but a great return back in 2003.

All of that said, this 2003 gem is apparently coming back next year with a Nintendo Switch remaster. A recent report leaked that in 2025 Nintendo Switch fans are going to be treated with a variety of remasters from third-party developers as Nintendo aims to supplement the lack of its first-party output, which is focused on Nintendo Switch 2 development, with remasters of Nintendo games from yesteryear. Rayman 3 is said to be one of these games.

The report comes the way of a well-known Nintendo insider PH Brazil, who has a decent track record with Nintendo scoops. However, they have also been wrong in the past as well, so keep this in mind and remember to take this new information with a grain of salt.

At the moment of publishing, neither Ubisoft nor Nintendo have commented on this new rumor in any capacity. If this changes, we will update the story accordingly. In the meantime, for more Nintendo Switch news, more Nintendo Switch rumors and leaks, more Nintendo Switch deals, and all other types of Nintendo Switch coverage, click here.

The post 2003 GameCube Game Reportedly Getting Nintendo Switch Remaster appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Nintendo Switch report may reveal several remasters coming in 2025 before the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, which is rumored to also release in 2025. With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, much of Nintendo’s first-party output has shifted to Nintendo Switch 2 development, which has led to a dip in not just the number of first-party Switch releases, but a dip in the significance of these games.

With Super Mario Party Jamboree now out, Nintendo fans have Mario & Luigi: Brothership to look forward to, and not much else. To this end, a new report claims Nintendo is planning to compensate the current lack of releases from its internal teams by striking deals with third-party developers to remaster older games for the Nintendo Switch.

Its largest partner in this is supposedly Ubisoft, who is preparing 2013 Wii U game Splinter Cell Blacklist, 2003 GameCube game Rayman 3, 1999 Game Boy Color game Driver, 2000 Game Boy Advance game Driver 2, and two other games which have not been disclosed yet for release on Nintendo Switch.

Electronic Arts — EA — has also reportedly been looped in to re-release some of its Wii games, though which ones exactly the rumor does not say. Meanwhile, it has also supposedly tapped Bandai Namco for “multiple projects.” What these projects are, or what platform they are for, is not disclosed. Lastly, the report teases two releases from “big” western publishers.

Beyond 2025, there are no further specifics for when any of these remasters — the named ones, and the unnamed ones — will release. If they are supposed to release before the Nintendo Switch 2 though, then they will presumably come sooner rather than later, unless this is indicative of a release in the second half of 2025 for the Switch 2, which is certainly possible. However, the majority of rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 so far have suggested a release in the first half of 2025.

And this is the extent of the report, which comes the way of PH Brazil, a well known Nintendo source with a decent track record. Despite this, everything here should be taken with a grain of salt.

At the moment of publishing, Nintendo has not commented on this rumor in any capacity. If this changes, we will be sure to update the story accordingly. That said, Nintendo rarely comments on rumors and speculation, so we don’t suspect the situation to change.

For more Nintendo Switch coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch deals — click here.

The post Nintendo Switch Report Reveals Multiple Remasters Releasing in 2025 (And Fans Are Going to Be Excited) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Pokemon cards remain incredibly hot among both younger fans and older collectors, and some stores have a new way to purchase them. Officially licensed Pokemon automated vending machines have started to appear at various retailers around the U.S., and they’ve been stocked with booster packs, Elite Trainer boxes, and more. While these have existed for a while, it seems a lot more have been rolled out recently. Hundreds of the vending machines can now be found at retailers like Frys, Albertsons, Food 4 Less, Smith’s, and more. Unfortunately, these are still limited to just 14 states at the moment. Information was recently updated about these machines on Pokemon’s official website, where readers can find a full list of locations.

As these vending machines have become more common, Pokemon fans have been sharing images of them out in the wild. The designs are pretty sleek, and feature a neon red and white Poke Ball at the top. There are unofficial Pokemon vending machines that can be found in various locations, but those tend to be a little less fancy, offering up loose cards to users, as opposed to new products. An image of one of the vending machines was shared by Bluesky user Mari and can be found in the post below.

One of the biggest problems with Pokemon cards is that there are a lot of knock-offs that circulate. This has been a problem since the TCG first became popular, and continues to persist. Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference, especially for newcomers as well as parents that might be less familiar with the series. It should be noted that all of these vending machines are owned and operated by The Pokemon Company, and not any of the retailers. That means buyers can rest assured that all of the products found in these machines are officially licensed. That should give buyers a little more confidence!

It will be interesting to see if these machines become more common, and if they end up embraced by additional retail chains around the world. Over the last few years, theft of Pokemon cards has become something of a problem, and selling the product through vending machines will make that a lot more difficult. It also makes it more likely that a location will stock Pokemon products; since the machines are owned and operated by The Pokemon Company, it takes any potential liability out of the retailer’s hands. That’s kind of a win-win situation, and Pokemon fans seem to like them a lot, too. On top of those advantages for retailers and The Pokemon Company, there’s probably less chance of packs getting damaged or wrecked, compared to having them on store shelves. That’s definitely a good thing!

Have you encountered one of these Pokemon vending machines out in the wild yet? Do you like the idea of these being in retail locations? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon PSA: Pokemon Vending Machines May Be Rolling Out Near You appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that a Donkey Kong video game was once in the planning stages from developer Vicarious Visions. The Activision owned studio might have seemed like an unusual pick to helm a new Donkey Kong game, but it made sense given the timeframe; Vicarious Visions had recently made Donkey Kong a playable character in the Nintendo versions of Skylanders SuperChargers. Unfortunately, the game got cancelled by Activision before getting far into production. It took years before we started to learn details about the project, but now a new piece of concept art has seemingly surfaced, showing DK standing in front of some ruins.

The concept art originally appeared in a thread on Reddit, and was shared on Bluesky by user Geemu. It can be found in the post embedded below.

Very few details about this cancelled Donkey Kong game have surfaced so far. One aspect previously revealed by Did You Know Gaming is that DK would have had the ability to grind on vines. DK creator Shigeru Miyamoto expressed concerns that the big ape could burn his feet, so the developers would have had DK use banana peels like shoes during these segments. The character Pauline was slated to make an appearance in the game, where she would have gotten a revamp and redesign, which was inspired by the real-life primatologist Jane Goodall. 

It’s interesting to get a glimpse at what might have been! One of the biggest complaints of the Switch era is that Donkey Kong has not received as much focus as Nintendo’s other icons. It seems Nintendo had plans for the big ape on Switch, but when the Vicarious Visions game got cancelled, it left a vacuum. That vacuum has been filled with remakes and remasters like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Mario vs. Donkey Kong, as well as the upcoming Donkey Kong Country Returns HD. However, none of those have been nearly as exciting as an original game, and fans have clearly been hungry for something more substantial.

Hopefully Nintendo will have a lot more for Donkey Kong fans to celebrate in the company’s next console era. While Nintendo has yet to officially announce its Switch successor, we know that the new system will be announced at some point before the company’s fiscal year ends in March 2025. Fans have been waiting with bated breath for the console’s announcement, but it remains to be seen whether it will take place before the end of 2024. We don’t know what games will be announced for the new system, but a new Donkey Kong seems like a safe bet. As one of Nintendo’s oldest icons, it’s possible we could even see it within the system’s first few years. Hopefully Nintendo won’t keep fans waiting too long!

How do you feel about this piece of Donkey Kong concept art? Do you think a new DK game will get announced soon for Switch 2? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Donkey Kong Concept Art From Cancelled Switch Game Leaked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Halloween is still more than a week away, but Pokemon Go players can get started on the festivities with a two-part in-game event. Part 1 is officially underway, and it marks the Pokemon Go debut of Morpeko. Morpeko is the first Pokemon in the game that will be able to change its form mid-battle. After using the Charged Attack Aura Wheel against Team Rocket or in the Go Battle League, Morpeko will change from “Full Belly” mode to its “Hangry” mode. The Pokemon will not be found in the wild, but will be appearing through reward encounters in Go Battle League.

It wouldn’t be a Pokemon Go Halloween event without any Ghost-types, and players can expect to see a whole bunch in the wild, including Shuppet, Misdreavus, Drifloon, Litwick, and more. In addition to Ghosts, Dark-type Pokemon will also appear prominently. Players can expect a lot of Zorua encounters in the wild, and there will be an increased chance of finding a Shiny! Note that Zorua does not appear on the map like other Pokemon do; it will appear as whatever Pokemon is your current Buddy. Players will also have an increased chance of finding Shiny Umbreon when they battle it in three-star Raids. During both parts of the event, players will receive double Candy on Catches.

Gastly is getting a pretty big focus during Part 1, as the Pokemon is currently appearing in one-star Max Battles. If players are able to successfully obtain one, that will mean that Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar can use Dynamax, and be used in other Max Raids. Gigantamax Gengar will also start to appear in six-star Max Battles, but those won’t begin until October 31st at 10 a.m., and will run through November 3rd at 8 p.m. local time.

Part 2 of Pokemon Go‘s Halloween event will begin on Monday, October 28th at 10 a.m., and will run through November 3rd at 8 p.m. local time. Many of the bonuses will be the same during the second half, but costumed Pokemon will start to appear in the wild and in Raids. Players can expect to see returning costumed Pokemon like Pumpkaboo and Vulpix wearing their Spooky Festival costumes, as well as Pikachu wearing a Witch Hat, and Piplup wearing a Halloween Mischief costume. Both Froakie and Rowlet will be getting in on the action this year, alongside their evolutionary forms. Froakie and Rowlet wearing Halloween costumes will appear in the Wild, in one-star Raids, and can also be obtained from Egg Hatches. The latter will give players an increased chance of finding a Shiny!

As of right now, special Timed Research is available, which is focused on the Ghost-type Spiritomb. That Research will be available through the end of Halloween Part 2. Players can also check out Paid Timed Research. For $1.99, the Costume Party Premium Timed Research includes encounters with costumed Pokemon, including early access to Rowlet and Froakie ahead of their debuts on October 28th. There’s also the Morpeko Onesie Premium Timed Research ticket for $5.00. This includes everything in the Costume Party Timed Research as well as triple Candy on Catches and an encounter with Morpeko. Last but not least, those who purchase the ticket will also be able to get one of the two new Morpeko avatar items: a onesie based on Full-Belly mode, or a onesie based on Hangry mode. These items can also be obtained through the Shop without purchase of a ticket, where they are individually priced at 400 PokeCoins.

Are you planning to check out Pokemon Go‘s Halloween festivities? What do you think of this year’s event? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Go’s Halloween Events Include New Max Raids, Costumed Pokemon, and More appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dandadan has become one of the biggest new anime arrivals of 2024, as Science SARU has taken the work of creator Yukinobu Tatsu and animated the idiosyncratic series to perfection. On top of the first three episodes taking the world by storm, perhaps the anime’s intro, Otonoke by Creepy Nuts, has gone viral more times than we can count. Hilariously, keen-eared anime fans believe that the animated story of Okarun and Momo might have something in common with a certain Nintendo franchise. Has Dandadan paid homage to Pikmin in its viral opening theme or is it just a crazy coincidence?

Otonoke by Creepy Nuts feels like the perfect anthem for the story that focuses on extraterrestrials and the supernatural. Momo and Okarun’s story first begins with a high-octane story that might feature an elderly grandma spirit but the “Turbo Granny” is more than willing to sprint in an effort to curse anyone unfortunate enough to get in her way. While Okarun might be “cursed” with a spirit looking to wreak havoc on the world, Momo’s new psychic abilities help him to have some control over the violent ghost. While no video game has been confirmed for Dandadan as of yet, it seems like only a matter of time before players can jump into the roles of Okarun and Momo.

DandaPikmin

There is no official crossover between Dandadan and Pikmin that has been confirmed but that hasn’t stopped anime fans and gamers from seeing the two universes meet. During the intro of the anime adaptation, a unique beat happens to sound quite similar to that of the Pikmin, the alien race from the popular Nintendo series. In the game series, players lead the diminutive extraterrestrials to help them accomplish pint-sized goals, and from their appearance, the video game aliens look like they would fit right into Dandadan.

View on X

DandaDan’s Anime Future

So far, we have three episodes that have seen Okarun struggling with sharing his body and Momo joining him in his quest to free himself of Turbo Granny’s curse. Luckily, the first season will reportedly house around a dozen episodes, meaning that we still have plenty of supernatural fights to come from Science SARU. Since the manga has well over one hundred chapters, hopefully, the anime adaptation has more seasons on the way. In a crowded fall anime season, Dandadan has been able to prove itself as the new series to watch, and here’s to hoping that a season two renewal isn’t too far from being announced.

When it comes to Nintendo in the anime world, there’s no better example than Pokemon to show how the video game company has been able to have an impact on the medium. The Pocket Monster franchise is one that has taken many mediums by storm over the decades though this isn’t the only series that has done the same. While we haven’t seen Super Mario or Link from the Legend of Zelda franchise, the former has appeared in an anime in the past and the latter seems tailor-made to hit the anime world, with a live-action film currently in the works. Thanks to the success of The Super Mario Bros. movie, Nintendo is venturing further into Hollywood and we might see more anime adaptations arrive as a result.

Want to stay up to date on Momo and Okarun’s anime adventures? Want to see if the stars of Dandadan receive their own video game in the future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Dandadan and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

The post Wait, Is Dandadan Hiding a Secret Nod to Pikmin? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Today, the Finale Special of Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games was released on YouTube. The video series offered a unique opportunity for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai to discuss video game development and disclose previously unknown information. In the finale, Sakurai offered some background about how the channel came to be, revealing that he ended up with a rare break between games. According to Sakurai, the pitch for his next game had been approved in October 2021 after development on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate‘s final DLC fighter was finished. However, it would take until April 2022 to assemble the team.

“Up to this point, I had always gone directly from one job to the next. Directors tend to stay involved in projects longer than anyone else. As one job approaches the finish line, you’ll often be getting ready for the next one — so you never get to rest. Yet after all these years, by some miracle… my schedule was wide open for several months straight! My next job was decided and I was done getting ready for it, but the team hadn’t been assembled yet — leading to this longer-than-usual gap,” said Sakurai.

Sakurai went on to say that, while he did consider a trip, he couldn’t leave behind his cat Fukurashi. Though the director says he could have used that time to take a break, he viewed the time off as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” and used that time to plan his YouTube channel instead. This would give him a rare chance to pass down the knowledge he had accumulated in his decades working in the video game industry, and potentially teach a new generation what he had learned.

During those months off, Sakurai went deep into work planning out every episode of the channel, compiling scripts, videos, and footage. By the time the channel launched in August 2022, Sakurai’s mystery game project had already begun production. Even with months of prep work, the director’s typical routine became working on game development until 6:30 p.m. (though sometimes that ran later), eating dinner, and then starting work on his channel at 8 p.m. Sakurai says that between working on this new game proposal and the channel over the last two years, his schedule could become “far too demanding” at times.

For Sakurai, the channel was a lot of work, and did not bring in a profit when all was said and done. However, the director feels that it was an investment in the future of the video game industry, which is something he feels passionately about. Sakurai has “no plans to continue” the series, and is fully focused on his new mystery project. However, he did note that he could “use it to talk about something else down the line.” Perhaps in a few years, he’ll revisit the channel to offer some insight into the making of his current game!

What do you want to see next from Masahiro Sakurai? Do you think it will be a new Smash Bros. entry, or something else? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s Director Is Teasing His Next Game appeared first on ComicBook.com.

October is the perfect time for ghostly things, and that extends to the world of Pokemon. This month, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players can check out a brand-new 5-star Tera Raid event that will be centered around Gengar. During this event, the beloved Ghost/Poison-type will begin appearing in Raids in the Nintendo Switch game. The Gengar that players encounter will have a Ghost Tera type, so players won’t be able to take advantage of its Poison-type weaknesses! The event will begin on October 28th, and will run through October 31st.

When Gengar made its debut in Pokemon Red and Green, it had a lot of negatives attached. While Ghost-type attacks have a type advantage against Psychics, Gengar’s Poison-type makes it susceptible to taking heavy damage from Pokemon like Mewtwo and Alakazam. The beauty of Terastallization in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is that it can help a Pokemon shed some of its weaknesses. In this case, by becoming a pure Ghost-type, Gengar is now harder to type match against (at least while Terastallized). That makes it slightly harder for opponents, but also a lot easier to use in battle! Players that plan on checking out Raids during this event will want to bring in a Dark-type, or a Pokemon that can use Ghost-type moves.

In addition to the Gengar Tera Raids, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players can celebrate spooky season with a mass outbreak event. Starting the same day as the Gengar event, players can expect to see mass outbreaks featuring Gastly, Misdreavus, Shuppet, and Bramblin. These mass outbreaks will all take place throughout Paldea, though nothing seems to be happening in Kitakami or Blueberry Academy. During the event, players will have an increased chance of finding these Ghost-types with the Crafty mark. When that mark is assigned by the player, it will apply the title “the opportunist” when the Pokemon is sent into battle.

All in all, this is a pretty minor event, but it’s nice to see Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is still getting some kind of content to keep players invested. At this point, the game is nearly two years old, and it’s pretty atypical to see Game Freak giving fans a reason to spend any time with an existing game that far into its lifespan. The next mainline game in the franchise is Pokemon Legends: Z-A, but that still does not have a release date at the moment, and we don’t know of any other Pokemon games coming to Switch. Basically, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is going to have to continue to tide fans over for the time being, so even these small events are welcome. As 2025 starts to approach, hopefully we’ll start to get a better idea of when the next Pokemon game can be expected!

Are you planning to check out these Gengar Tera Raid Battles? Are you still spending time with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Announces New Events for Halloween Week appeared first on ComicBook.com.

As part of a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, users are often given the opportunity to play trials of various games. A new trial has been announced for North America, and this time around, subscribers can try out three full games for free. The trial is set to begin on October 23rd at 10 a.m., and will run through October 30th at 11:59 p.m. PT. During that time, subscribers will have access to A Little to the Left, Cursed to Golf, and Vampire Survivors. A similar promotion will be happening in Europe, but with Minecraft Dungeons in place of Vampire Survivors.

For those that have never taken advantage of a Switch game trial, it’s important to note that these are not demos. Demos only give the player access to a limited amount of content from a game. Comparatively, Switch game trials give players access to the entire game for a short window, as if it had been borrow from a friend. In theory, this means that subscribers could even beat the campaigns for these games without having to spend anything extra! Of course, the idea is to get Switch users to try a game they might not have otherwise, and potentially convince them to make a purchase. To that end, all three of these games will be getting discounts this week, allowing users to pick them up for a lower cost of entry. The following discounts will go live this week:

All three of these games have been well-received by audiences and reviewers over the years. On Steam, A Little to the Left currently holds a “very positive” rating, Cursed to Golf has a “mostly positive,” while Vampire Survivors holds the rare “extremely positive” designation. Basically, there’s a pretty good chance Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will find something that appeals to them out of this batch of games.

The timing on this Vampire Survivors trial couldn’t be better! Those that decide to purchase the game following the trial’s conclusion will be happy to know that new DLC will be released on October 31st, offering a new collaboration. The collaboration will feature a ton of new content based on Konami’s Castlevania franchise, including new playable characters, weapons, a new location, and new music. That DLC will require a separate purchase, but for those that end up liking the game enough to buy extra content, it should be worth it.

Are you planning to check out any of these free game trials? Have you been looking for an excuse to try one or all of these games? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Switch Online Users Can Try Three Full Games For Free This Week appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The recent Pokemon leaks have revealed a treasure trove of information about unannounced games, including some that won’t be seeing the light of day. The X/Twitter account Centro Leaks has been sharing images and video from many of these games, including a new one today that was under the working title “Project Swallow.” The game was in development for mobile platforms, and seemed to take a page from Nintendo’s cult favorite WarioWare series. Basically, “Project Swallow” would have featured a number of short micro games that all centered around Pokemon themes. Like WarioWare, some of these micro games would have even used assets from past games.

In a post on X/Twitter by Centro Leaks, four different Pokemon themed micro games can be seen. The first of these features Machoke punching a crack in the moon. To successfully do so, the player has to tap the screen when a meter is within the red area. The second game involves moving lily pads to find the Poliwag hiding underneath. The third involves grabbing a Great Ball as it falls from out of the air. The fourth and final of these micro games uses assets from the champion battle in Pokemon Yellow. However, rather than sending their Pokemon into battle, the Rival tosses a Poke Ball which the trainer then has to hit with a baseball bat!

Videos of these micro games can be found in the post from Centro Leaks embedded below.

Mashing up WarioWare with Pokemon is pretty unexpected, but the results look fantastic! This could have made for a very fun game, and it’s unfortunate that The Pokemon Company decided to cancel this project. It’s unclear exactly why they decided to do so, but it’s possible the team couldn’t come up with enough micro game concepts to fill an entire title. At the end of the day, it’s nice fans at least got a chance to see what could have been. The video game industry is unfortunately inundated with promising games that never made it to market for one reason or another. Unless The Pokemon Company decides to offer some clarification on these leaks (which seems unlikely), we’ll all just have to speculate about what happened.

For anyone that sees these micro games and wants to try something similar, Nintendo’s WarioWare series should help you get your fix. The concept is basically identical, but without the Pokemon factor. The WarioWare series has featured callbacks to other Nintendo franchises, including Mario and Zelda, but Pokemon has never made the cut. Given the relationship between Nintendo and The Pokemon Company, it would be nice to see some of these finished micro games get a second chance at life in a future WarioWare game. That seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened!

Are you disappointed that this Pokemon game never ended up released? Do you think a mash-up of Pokemon and WarioWare would have found an audience? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Leak Reveals Cancelled Game That Looks Like WarioWare appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Prior to Switch, Nintendo would support two systems at a time: a console and a handheld. In those days, some series exclusively appeared on the company’s handhelds, including Mario & Luigi. Debuting on Game Boy Advance, the Mario & Luigi RPG series later saw games on DS and 3DS. While subsequent games took advantage of each platform’s improvements, keeping the games on those systems limited what could be done from a technical standpoint. Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the first game in the series to debut on Switch. After spending some time with the game, it already seems the jump to the platform has been beneficial to the series.

When Mario & Luigi: Brothership begins, our heroes find themselves mysteriously transported to the land of Concordia. Concordia is normally held together by plugs linked to the giant Uni-Tree and the flow of Connectar. However, these tethers have been mysteriously unplugged, which has resulted in Concordia splitting into several islands drifting in the ocean. It’s up to Mario and Luigi to reconnect these plugs and reunite the citizens of Concordia. In an interesting move, it seems players will have some freedom in how they explore Concordia and which islands they visit. Early in the game, Mario and Luigi are given the opportunity to choose between exploring Raynforest or Twistee as they seek out the character Willma’s family members. The game cautions players that “the story might change” depending on that choice, but it’s tough to say how much or how little an impact it will actually have on the narrative. Regardless, that flexibility should be a welcome inclusion, and I hope there’s more as the game continues.

For those new to the series, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an RPG that incorporates action and platforming elements. Unlike Super Mario RPG or the Paper Mario series, players don’t meet a big cast of original party members that fight alongside Mario; Instead, Luigi has a co-starring role, playing an integral part in the story. Players control both characters in the game’s overworld, using their unique skills to solve various puzzles. Sometimes that means jumping, passing items to one another, or using “Luigi Logic” to send the younger brother to complete various tasks.

While exploring Concordia, Mario and Luigi will encounter enemies in the overworld, prompting a turn-based battle. The turn-based system in Mario & Luigi: Brothership also incorporates some rhythm-based elements as Mario and Luigi can inflict more damage on their foes by working together. For example, when attacking as Mario, the player is prompted to hit the ‘A’ button for Mario’s attack and then to press the ‘B’ button to help out as Luigi before ‘A’ one final time as Mario. Getting the timing right isn’t too tough, but the result is a more interactive battle system than some turn-based games, so the combat feels fun and fluid as a result. It also makes the battles a joy to watch as there’s a comedic element to the way the brothers flip through the air, or swing their hammers. Timing is also key when enemies attack as the brothers can avoid most attacks if they can figure out when to jump or dodge.

While stories usually take a backseat to the gameplay in most Mario adventures, the Mario & Luigi series has long been known for its strong writing and sense of humor. A big part of that humor comes from the titular heroes themselves. In classic Mario fashion, the brothers don’t speak all that much, so the developers convey their emotions through their facial expressions. This has been a staple of the series since Superstar Saga, but the developers really seem to be taking advantage of the jump to the Switch with Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Early into the game, Mario and Luigi both seem a lot more expressive than usual with comical exaggerations selling their shock, thoughtfulness, and even physical turmoil. The slapstick expressions look fantastic, far exceeding what we’ve seen from this series in the past, and outdoing any other Mario game on the platform. That includes Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which already felt like a step forward in terms of Mario animation.

The character animation isn’t the only area in which the graphics impress. Mario & Luigi: Brothership isn’t on the level of Tears of the Kingdom, but the developers have created a vibrant world and the early islands look impressive thus far. The water effects in particular look great which is vital for a game set in the middle of the ocean. Nearly eight years into the Switch’s lifespan, it’s great to see developers still finding ways to take advantage of the system’s abilities, and it makes me hope that we get to see this series continue when Nintendo’s next console launches. If this series looks this great now, it makes me all the more excited for a system with a little more horsepower.

A few hours in, Mario & Luigi: Brothership feels like a strong new entry in the series. All of the best elements from past games have been retained yet the developers are taking full advantage of the jump to Switch. The game is already funny and well animated, and it just feels great to have this series back after so many years. It remains to be seen whether the game will be able to stack up against the best the series has to offer, but Mario & Luigi: Brothership is off to a great start.

Are you excited to check out Mario & Luigi: Brothership? Have you played any previous games in the series? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Mario & Luigi: Brothership Preview: An Expressive Adventure appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Earlier this month, Nintendo announced a playtest for something new in development. At the time, details were nonexistent, but applications were open exclusively to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass subscribers. Nintendo reached its desired number of testers immediately, and the playtest is currently slated to begin on Wednesday, October 23rd. While the company has yet to reveal any kind of information about the playtest, leakers have already shared a bunch of details online. Apparently, this is a new massively multiplayer game in development from Nintendo. In the game, players must work together to place beacons that heal and purify the land, in order to develop it.

Images of the playtest details were shared on X/Twitter by user @ZikadaPrime and can be found in the post embedded below.

View on X

As the world gets developed, players will uncover new areas, which will have new enemies to encounter, and new resources that can be found. The character designs (which could be a placeholder) seem to be based on cavemen, but it’s hard to say based on the limited number of images. The screenshots also show that the game will have some kind of a hub called the Dev Core. In this area, players will be able to level up their characters, get items that can be used on the planet, and interact with other players.

At this time, additional details are extremely limited, but it’s possible we could learn more once the actual playtest gets underway later this week. We don’t know when Nintendo plans on releasing this game to the public, or how it will be offered. It’s possible that the game will be released as a full-priced Switch game, or it could be some kind of freebie offered to Expansion Pack tier subscribers. That wouldn’t be totally out of the question, as we’ve seen free online games like F-Zero 99 offered to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers over the years. Now that information is already leaking online, hopefully Nintendo will use the opportunity to lay out its plans to the general public.

No one has actually had an opportunity to play this new MMO game yet, so it’s far too early to tell how people feel about it. However, some Nintendo Switch Online subscribers are expressing some disappointment on social media; many were hoping that this playtest would revolve around a new feature for the service, or even a new classic gaming app, like the ones we’ve seen for NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, GBA, and Sega Genesis. Some actually thought Nintendo might be testing out GameCube games for the service. At the moment, Nintendo seems pretty content with focusing instead on remasters and ports of GameCube games, rather than a dedicated app, so fans that want to play those games are just going to have to settle for that!

Are you excited to check out this new game from Nintendo? Were you hoping for something else from this playtest? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program Details Leaked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo has released the second ever The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom update via Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED. Unfortunately, the second update to the new Zelda game doesn’t do much to the September-released Switch exclusive. Meanwhile, what it does do isn’t very noteworthy.

As the official patch notes for Update 1.02 reveal, the new patch does three things, all of which are just fixing issues with the game. There is no new content, new features, or meaningful improvements to the Nintendo Switch game.

While we have the patch notes below, Nintendo has not provided information about the file size of the update. In other words, we have no concrete information about how long The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom will take to download. It is presumably a smaller file size, and thus a quick and easy download, but this is just speculation based on the brevity of the patch notes and the lack of new content, the latter of which usually contributes to larger file sizes for game updates.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Update 1.02 Patch Notes

• Fixed an issue where an invisible wall at the entrance to Goron City would impede progress during a Main Quest at Eldin Volcano.
• Fixed an issue at a particular location where the player could target empty space, then bind to that target and pull in a way that would impede progress.
• Fixed various issues to create a smoother gaming experience.

And that is all The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Update 1.02 does to the new Zelda game. As for when the game’s next update will release, or its first meaningful update, we don’t know. Presumably before the end of the year, but this is just speculation.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is available via the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch only. For more coverage on the latest Zelda game — including all of the Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom news, all of the latest Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom deals — click here.

The post The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Second Update Live With Patch Notes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The current expectation among a majority of Nintendo fans and the Internet at large is that the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal date is around the corner, with the Nintendo Switch 2 release date not far behind it. More specifically, the expectation — primarily based on rumors — is that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be revealed this year, and then release within the first half of 2025, possibly the first quarter of the year. Time is running out for both of these things to happen, especially the latter. Meanwhile, new evidence may actually confirm the latter just isn’t happening at all.

The latest rumor comes from a hidden post on Famiboards, which has been a source for an increasing number of rumors and leaks. Over on the website, user RandomlyRandom67 reveals details on component shipments they believe are for the upcoming Nintendo console. And these shipments seem to reveal that the console did not enter mass production back in August, as many thought it did, and this hasn’t changed. Naturally, this has big implications for a release date.

If the Nintendo Switch 2 has not entered mass production yet, a release in Q1 2025 seems unlikely. Not only would this be a quick turnaround, but could lead to serious supply constraints at launch, which Nintendo won’t want. If the Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t enter mass production very soon, in fact, a release in the first half of 2025 also seems unlikely.

The good news, based on shipments, is it does seem Nintendo Switch 2 production is ramping up, which could indicate mass production is on the horizon, but right now the numbers trickling out do not indicate mass production has commenced yet.

Of course, when a console enters mass production, the chances of it leaking increases. To this end, it has been suggested that Nintendo is currently stockpiling components, preparing to enter mass production when the console is revealed. If this is true, it increases the odds of a Nintendo Switch 2 release date in the first half of 2025, otherwise it is very possible this machine won’t arrive until holiday 2025 at the earliest because Nintendo surely won’t release it too close or during the summer. If it did, it would buck industry norms and standards.

All of that said, take everything here with a grain of salt. Right now, all we have are rumors and speculation. Many Nintendo Switch 2 rumors claim the console is going to be revealed this year, but so many previous Nintendo Switch 2 rumors have been wrong. To this end, it is anyone’s best guess what will happen next.

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date Update Is Not Want Fans Expected appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Recently, Game Freak was hacked. This, in turn, has flooded the Internet with Pokemon leaks. This includes leaks on upcoming Pokemon games, such as Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Gen 10. It also includes leaks on Pokemon games from yesteryear. In totality, it is one of the biggest leaks in gaming history, amplified by the fact Game Freak, The Pokemon Company, and Nintendo have always been very closed off and secretive when it comes to Pokemon and the development that goes behind it. The curtain has been pulled back though.

One leak, in particular, that caught the attention of Pokemon fans involves Pokemon Ruby, Pokemon Sapphire, and Pokemon Emerald. More specifically, one of the many Gen 3 leaks revealed that at one point there was a bunny Pokemon called Warabbit that was set to be one of the three starter Pokemon as the water representation. When this plan was abandoned and the Pokemon replaced with Mudkip, we don’t know, but obviously this happened at some point, but not before Warabbit was designed for the game.

As you would expect, many Pokemon fans were crestfallen to find out the water bunny with a water floatie was scrapped. That said, Mudkip is one of the more popular starters of all time so it seems Game Freak ultimately made the right call. However, some Pokemon fans on Reddit are dreaming of the parallel universe where this replacement never happened.

“I love Mudkip, I really do . But how this guy didn’t make into the final product ,at least as it’s own thing is wild to me,” writes one Pokemon fan. “Bro was discovered four days ago and already became iconic,” reads another comment.

Those who have been paying attention to the leaks will know a metric ton of scrapped Pokemon have leaked, yet none have garnered the attention Warabbit has. Whether this is because Warabbit was a starter or simply because fans like the design that much, is hard to say.

For more Pokemon coverage — including all of the latest Pokemon news, all of the latest Pokemon rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Pokemon speculation — click here.

The post Leaked Pokemon Starter Is “Iconic” Say Fans appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is now available on Nintendo Switch, and it marks the first game in the series that does not feature the voice talents of actor Charles Martinet. After decades of voicing Mario, Martinet stepped away from the franchise in 2023. New Mario voice actor Kevin Afghani took over the role with Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and can be heard once again in the new Mario Party. In a post on X/Twitter, Afghani talked briefly about how much the Mario Party series has meant to him, calling it “surreal” to hear his voice in the newest entry.

“Hearing my voice in a Mario Party game is surreal,” Afghani wrote on X/Twitter. “A pillar of my childhood has a tiny piece of me and that is so special.”

Presumably Afghani is also the voice actor for Wario in the game, as he voiced the character in WarioWare: Move It! last year. In a follow-up post, Afghani confirmed that Super Mario Party Jamboree marks his debut as the new voice actor for Waluigi, another role previously held by Martinet. Afghani notes that voicing Waluigi “was probably the most fun I have ever had in the booth.”

Charles Martinet’s voice work has been heard in some Switch games this year, including the remaster of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. While Martinet will no longer be heard in wholly new Mario games, Nintendo has no plans to record new lines for remasters of existing games. Martnet still seems to have a good relationship with Nintendo, now serving as a “Mario ambassador” for the company. We don’t know exactly what that entails, but he will continue to appear at conventions in an official capacity. No real reason has ever been given for the change from Martinet to Afghani, but the latter actor has largely stuck to the voice Martinet crafted for Nintendo’s characters. While there are some differences that can be heard, fans could be forgiven for assuming that Martinet is still voicing these roles, given the vocal similarities.

While Super Mario Party Jamboree was just released on Friday, it won’t be too long before Mario fans get another chance to hear Afghani as Mario. Mario & Luigi: Brothership is set to be released on Nintendo Switch November 7th, marking the first new game in the RPG series in nine years. As of this writing, that’s the only confirmed Mario game currently in development. However, rumors have been circulating about a successor to Super Mario Odyssey, which will launch alongside Nintendo’s next video game console. We don’t have any specific details at the moment, but the system will be officially revealed at some point before Nintendo’s current fiscal year ends in March 2025. It’s a safe bet that when the system is revealed, a new Mario game won’t be far behind!

Have you played Super Mario Party Jamboree yet? How do you feel about Kevin Afghani’s voice work so far? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Super Mario Party Jamboree Actor Says It’s “Surreal” Hearing His Voice in the Game appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo fans have been warned to be careful with their Wii U consoles, which have been described, by some, as “a ticking time bomb.” Of course, the problem with video game consoles is their components can fail them over time. And as consoles have gotten more complicated, and perhaps as console manufactures increasingly cut corners to save on costs, this has become more and more a problem. To this end, hardware from the 90s and early 2000s actually has a better chance of standing strong over the test of time compared to consoles made in the 2010s and now the 2020s as well.

To this end, Nintendo fans have been warned about Wii U consoles dying, despite the console only releasing roughly a decade ago. The warning doesn’t come directly from Nintendo but owners of the last-gen Nintendo machine. More specifically, it comes from retro specialists, Retro Blast.

According to Retro Blast — and others — the Wii U has a major issue, and that issue rears its ugly head when left without power for too long. More specifically, when left without power for too long, the Wii U runs the risk of dying from memory corruption. When this happens, users will be met with the screen below.

This is a known issue, and apparently it impacts different Wii Us differently depending on what internal chip it has. In the development of the Wii U, Nintendo used a variety of manufactures, including: Toshiba, Hynix, and Samsung. And it is believed that Hynix chips are the most prone to failure. Specific to the Wii U, the black version is also believed to be more prone than other versions because of its use of the Hynix chips.

“The Wii U is a ticking time bomb. I hate to say it. It’s still a great console, despite underperforming…. [but] because of modern gaming hardware and features, modern consoles won’t have the same lifespan,” says Retro Blast.

Those interested in checking if their Wii U lives or not should not simply boot it up, see the main menu loaded, and assume there is nothing wrong. Owners are advised to run games or apps because sometimes the message is delayed and only spawns after doing this. Meanwhile, those interested in seeing what chip their console has can check as much here.

As noted the new black Wii Us are believed to be particularly susceptible to the failure. On the contrary, those with one of the launch white Wii Us will be relieved to hear that is is believed to have fewer issues than the models that came after it.

At the moment of publishing, Nintendo has not commented on any of this in any capacity. We don’t suspect this will change for a variety of reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

The post Nintendo Fans Warned About Their Wii U Consoles: “A Ticking Time Bomb” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Nintendo Switch 2 leak surfaced online this weekend. The leak — a drawing based on a leaked image – supposedly reveals what the console looks like, what the new dock looks like, and what the console’s stand looks like. As you would expect, the console more or less looks just like the current Nintendo Switch. To this end, the dock also looks very similar, though perhaps a bit more rounded than the current dock. What looks different, based on the drawing, is the stand.

Those who bought the original, standard Nintendo Switch will know it has the most dainty little built-in stand of all time. It is far from sufficient, which is why it got an upgrade with the release of the Nintendo Switch OLED, but even this stand left plenty of room for improvement.

To this end, it looks like Nintendo knows this. According to the aforementioned leak, the Nintendo Switch 2 is going to have a stand that is wider and looks a bit more sturdy as well.

Whether it ends up being an upgrade on the Nintendo Switch OLED wide stand, remains to be seen, but it will no doubt be a major upgrade on the standard Nintendo Switch and its world’s smallest support stand.

All of that said, take everything here with a grain of salt. This is just speculation based on a leak that can currently not be verified and that comes from a source with a brief history of reliability.

The rumors are that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be very similar to the current Switch which would lead you to believe it will have a stand. The question is how robust this stand will be. But as alluded to, anything would be an upgrade on the original Nintendo Switch stand.

At the moment of publishing, Nintendo has not commented on this leak, nor the speculation it has created, in any capacity. We don’t suspect this to change for a variety of reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly. In the meantime, for more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Leak Reveals a Huge Upgrade on Current Switch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Most of Pokemon Go‘s gameplay can be enjoyed without breaking the bank, but the game can get pretty expensive if players aren’t careful. When completing one of the game’s Dynamax Raids, players are given rewards for completion, and they can double those offerings by spending 200 coins (roughly $2). As a result, the player receives bonuses such as more XP, Golden Razz Berries, and Rare Candies. That’s been the case since Dynamax Raids were introduced a few weeks ago, but players have started to take notice of a recent change. Sometimes, the game will feature a mystery box among these items simply labeled “and more.”

After a little digging, players on The Silph Road subreddit determined that the “and more” box appears when there are more than four rewards, and is usually a placeholder for bonus XL Candy and additional Premier Balls. The game does reveal what items are in the “and more” box if they click the button to spend the coins, and they are given one more chance to get out of the purchase after they see everything offered. Still, players are calling this design choice “predatory” on Niantic’s part, as it could get players (especially younger ones) to spend their PokeCoins due to fear of missing out.

Over the last few years, there has been a lot of attention on microtransactions in mobile games, and the language they use to extract money from players. Regulators in several countries have been cracking down on predatory practices in these games, especially language that makes younger players worry about missing out. As one poster on The Silph Road subreddit notes, Niantic has to be careful with this sort of thing or Pokemon Go “might suffer the same fate as Pokemon Unite” in Belgium and the Netherlands. Pokemon Unite service is set to end in those regions next month, and while The Pokemon Company has not offered a specific reason for that, it’s widely assumed that support is ending as a result of tighter restrictions on gacha mechanics and loot boxes.

Monetization in Pokemon Go has long been a source of controversy, with many fans in the community airing frustrations about how the game tries to wring money out of players. In just the last few years, Niantic has greatly increased the amount of things that can be purchased in the game, from limited time Research, to Dynamax Raid bonuses. While it’s easier for older players to avoid unnecessary spending, the reality is that Pokemon Go has a lot of younger players. Niantic should consider what impact these design choices might have on the player base, and how they can negatively impact the overall enjoyment of the game. With players bringing this to light, hopefully Niantic can make some adjustments so players don’t unnecessarily waste their money!

Have you come across this “mystery box” in Pokemon Go? Do you think the game’s monetization has become a problem? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Go Players Call Out “Predatory” Reward Tactic appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Nintendo Switch 2 leak features what the console looks like, what its new dock look likes, and what its stand looks like, the latter of which is a substantial upgrade on the current Switch stand. Unfortunately, like previous Nintendo Switch 2 leaks, this one comes from slightly dubious sources.

Back on September 18, the world’s first look at the Nintendo Switch 2 supposedly leaked when Chinese sources revealed what is said to be factory prototype images of the Nintendo Switch 2. At the time, some other sources of decent reliability confirmed the images to be real, or at least similar to what they’ve been hearing about the console’s design.

Fast-forward a month, and we have another leak, this time from an anonymous Famiboards leaker who in the past has proven reliable. The leaker did not share any official or even unofficial images of the Nintendo Switch 2, but drawings of what they claim to be the console.

Unfortunately, the drawings are not done by the world’s finest artist, and are more basic sketches than anything. Further, they don’t reveal much of note. As you can see, the Nintendo Switch 2 console and dock look very similar to the current Switch console and dock. The latter looks like it may be a bit more rounded this time around, but this could just be the result of a bad drawing. What is notable is the stand, which looks larger and sturdier than what the current Switch is working with.

View on X

Since the leak went live, a fairly well-known Nintendo insider that goes by Nate the Hate chimed in, collaborating the leak, at least to an extent.

“All I can say is that the dock sketch is similar in design/shape to one I was sent several weeks ago (meaning a drawing of the alleged dock); but I’ve been working to verify it,” said Nate the Hate. “Whether this design has circulated Chinese forums or not, I don’t know; but the general design matches what I was sent in September. Again, haven’t verified the design with any contact/source at this time.”

As always, take this leak with a grain of salt, like any leak. There seems to be some smoke here, suggesting a fire, but none of this is official nor does it come from a bulletproof source. Until this happens, proceed with hesitancy. As for Nintendo, it has not commented on this leak in any capacity. We don’t suspect this will change, for a couple of reasons, but if it does we will update the story accordingly.

For more Nintendo coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 leaks and rumors, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 speculation — click here.

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Leak Reveals New Look at Console and Dock appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED users have been warned by fellow users that a recent update to the console is causing all types of problems. With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, and support for the current Nintendo Switch slowing down as a result, some Switches out there are no doubt collecting dust. However, those still using the Nintendo Switch — whether to play Super Mario Party Jamboree or The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom or any other game — will want to be wary of the recent 19.0.0 firmware update.

Nintendo has not acknowledged any issues with the Nintendo Switch 19.0.0 update, but over on Reddit, more than one Nintendo Switch owner is reporting peculiarities with their unit since the update was downloaded.

According to more than one Switch user, their Nintendo Switch has had issues running warm, even when at full charge and on the dock hours after it has been used. To this end, the battery appears to be draining quicker, probably because it is running hot.

“Since the latest update to 19.0.0, has anyone else found that your Switch remains warm in sleep, even at full charge on the dock hours after any gameplay,” reads the Reddit post. “It’s as if it isn’t able to reliably and consistently go into full sleep mode anymore. Along with the heat, it seems that faster battery drain can be seen when undocked, since it can’t really sleep anymore.”

This issue is not just being reported by many Switch users, but owners of all three. Not only is this an issue on the standard Nintendo Switch, but there are reports of the issue on Nintendo Switch OLED and Nintendo Switch Lite.

“I thought I was going mad. I’ve been resorting to full power offs. I was worried my Switch was giving up on me,” reads one of the comments on the post above. “I thought I was losing my mind, as both my original V1 switch and OLED does not consistently go to sleep correctly (screen off but running) and I come back to find both of them drained within hours,” adds another comment.

While the majority of reports mention noticing the issue after downloading Update 19.0.0, others have claimed this has been going on longer than this. If this is the case, it could be indicative of a much larger problem with Switch hardware or perhaps an earlier update being the issue. Whatever the case, there are enough documented incidents here to suggest this is not an isolated issue.

At the moment of publishing, there has been no comment on the matter by Nintendo. If this changes, we will be sure to update the story accordingly. In the meantime, for more Nintendo Switch coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch deals — click here.

The post Nintendo Switch Users Warned New Update Is Killing the Console appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is out on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED, and according to its 82 Metacritic, it is one of the best Mario Party games to date. Despite this, there are still some frustrating problems with the game that have been frustrating problems since the inception of the Mario series.

For example, the pace of the game can be very slow at times. Whether its all the loading between different screens or just the general pace of the game, Super Mario Party Jamboree feels as slow moving as previous Mario Party games. However, there is one way to speed it up a little bit.

Over on the Mario Party Reddit page, one fan points out that you don’t have to suffer through the slow text in the game. Many Mario Party fans don’t know this, but there are three options for text speed: Normal, Slow, and Fast. The latter of these three options makes text instantly pop up on the screen, saving you precious times throughout the course of an entire run.

To make this happen, all players need to do is talk to Toad in the Party Plaza. Upon doing this, players will be greeted with the screen below. Once changed, the game will save said change. In other words, this only needs to be done once. Meanwhile, if you change the setting and end up not liking the change, all you need to do is pay ol’ Toad a second visit and change it back or to the third option.

“Thank you so much, I looked this up just now because the slow text was doing my head in… the text slowness is one of the biggest issues for me, glad there was a solution,” reads the top comment on the Reddit post.”

Super Mario Party Jamboree is available via the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED. For more coverage on the new Mario Party game — including all of the latest Super Mario Party Jamboree news, all of the latest Super Mario Party Jamboree rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Super Mario Party Jamboree tips — click here.

The post Super Mario Party Jamboree Hidden Option Instantly Makes the Game Better appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the final Nintendo Switch exclusive games is in danger of missing the console entirely after being indefinitely delayed. With the Nintendo Switch 2 release expected to be on the horizon, coming in 2025, not much is coming to the Nintendo Switch over the next few months. Yesterday, Super Mario Party Jamboree released exclusively via the Nintendo Switch. In November, this will be followed up with Mario & Luigi: Brothership. These are notable Nintendo Switch games, but the heavy hitters are no doubt being held for Nintendo Switch 2. This includes the next mainline Zelda game, the next 3D mario, and new mainline installments in series such as Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem, and more.

Until the Nintendo Switch 2 releases, it could be slim pickings for Nintendo fans who will rely on third-party releases. To this end, Nintendo fans looking forward to Valley Peaks may not want to hold their breath.

Back in July, Valley Peaks came to PC and PC only. However, as of April 2024, it has also been scheduled to come to Nintendo Switch. And right now, this is the only console it has been announced for, making it a Nintendo Switch console exclusive. That said, this is now in doubt because the Nintendo Switch version is now indefinitely on hold. Previously, it was scheduled to come to Nintendo Switch sometime this year.

According to publisher Those Awesome Guys, the delay is simply the result of “rough times.” However, options to make the Switch port happen are still being looked into, which is why it has not been announced as a cancellation.

“Like many our peers, we’ve been navigating through some rough times over the past year at Those Awesome Guys too and we’re having to reshift our focus internally,” said the developer. “With that in mind, we’re sorry to announce that they Valley Peaks Nintendo Switch (version) has been put on indefinite hold, though we’re still looking into options to make it happen.”

For those unfamiliar with the game, Valley Peaks debuted back on July 24, 2024 via developer Tub Club and publisher Those Awesome Guys. It is the debut release for the former, and apparently quite good. On Steam, for example, it has 105 user reviews, and every single one of these reviews is positive, giving the game a very rare 100 percent approval rating.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and climb once in a while, you could miss it,” reads an official description of the game for those who know nothing about it. Escape the daily grind and journey to Valley Peaks where you can soak in the serene mountain landscape, set in a miniature open world. Climb Mount Shroom, the tallest point in Valley Peaks, or take a stroll through Roston Ranch where the geese may even let you pet them!”

For more Nintendo Switch coverage — including everything between the latest official new Nintendo Switch news to the latest unofficial Nintendo Switch rumors and leaks — click here.

The post One of the Final Nintendo Switch Exclusive Games Indefinitely Delayed appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Pokemon leak has revealed a feature that would let Pokemon players create their own custom gyms. Recently, Game Freak, the developer behind Pokemon, was subject to a data breach after someone, yet to be identified, who wasn’t supposed to be in there, got into the Game Freak servers. The result of this hack has been a leak of a scale that the Pokemon community has never seen before. Whether it is previous Pokemon games, current Pokemon games, or future Pokemon games, it has all leaked in some capacity on 4chan, Reddit, X, and many other places.

Included in the leaks has been new information on scrapped content from Pokemon X and Y. To this end, Game Freak, at one point, was planning to give players the ability to create their own original gyms and share them online, where other players would be able to compete in said gyms.

If a player were to conquer said gym, an NPC version of their character could then join the gym, presumably as some trainer inside it future players would have to beat. It sounds like the gym leader would have been selected by the individual who created the gym, though this part isn’t exactly clear.

Why this feature was scrapped, we don’t know. Pokemon fans have been gushing about the potential and possibilities of the feature since it was leaked. Of course, the mainline Pokemon games don’t change much from generation to generation, rarely mixing up the formula. This would have been a major, and presumably very popular, addition though. To this end, the work that would require to implement it, and support it, is possibly why it was canned.

What is worth considering though is that while it was ultimately scrapped from Pokemon X and Y, it could, or at least something similar to it, return in a future game. It is clearly a feature Game Freak considers worth exploring in some capacity, though perhaps the fact it has been missing from each mainline game since suggests it is going to stay in the bin now that it has been put there.

At the moment of publishing, neither Game Freak nor Nintendo nor The Pokemon Company has commented on this specific leak. We don’t expect this to change for a variety of reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly. In the meantime, for more Pokemon coverage — including all of the latest Pokemon news, all of the latest Pokemon rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Pokemon deals — click here.

The post Pokemon Leak Reveals Create Your Own Custom Gyms Feature appeared first on ComicBook.com.

More than eight years after the game’s debut, Pokemon Go will be getting officially licensed gift cards. From the start, these gift cards will be sold through Walmart, at both store locations, as well as online. The gift cards will go on sale on October 20th, in four different increments: $10 (1,250 PokeCoins), $25 (3,300 PokeCoins), $50 (7,000 PokeCoins), and $100 (15,000 PokeCoins). With the holiday season quickly approaching, this could make for a good gift for the Pokemon fan in your life! Well… maybe.

The decision to finally offer Pokemon Go gift cards is part of an expanded partnership between Niantic and Walmart, which will also see more PokeStops and Gyms appearing at store locations. According to the developer, 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart location, so this move should make the game a bit more accessible to players that might not otherwise have a lot of PokeStops and Gyms nearby.

For those unfamiliar with how Pokemon Go‘s currency works, PokeCoins can be used to purchase things like Incubators, storage space, and cosmetics. The game is constantly being updated with new cosmetic options, including things like t-shirts, masks, hats, and other accessories. PokeCoins can also be redeemed for things like Remote Raid passes, which can be used to participate in Raids when it’s not practical to do so in person. PokeCoins can be earned in the game for free by players when they place their Pokemon in Gyms, but there’s a limit of 50 per day that can be earned this way. Since most of these items cost hundreds of coins each, it’s beneficial to have a stockpile!

While Pokemon Go gift cards should be helpful in that regard, potential buyers should be cautioned that the nature of the cards will not make them appropriate for the needs of all players. There are several items in the game’s shop that can only be purchased using real currency. For example, a global ticket to next month’s Pokemon Go Wild Area event costs $11.99 in the game’s shop, and PokeCoins cannot be put towards that total. The same holds true for special research for Community Day events, and there are even item bundles that can only be obtained with a credit card. So while these Pokemon Go gift cards are going to be helpful for some players, there are limitations on what they can actually be used for.

Monetization in Pokemon Go has been a source of controversy for several years now, with some fans expressing frustration with Niantic’s pricing structure. On one hand, the game can still be enjoyed by players with minimal spending, but there are a lot of ways in which players feel that they’ve been gouged by the developers. In particular, last year’s price increase on Remote Raid passes remains a source of frustration for players.

Do you think that Pokemon Go gift cards are a good idea? How do you feel about the game’s monetization? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon Go Is Getting Official Gift Cards, But Buyers Should be Cautious appeared first on ComicBook.com.