For some time now, we've been hearing rumors and reports that claim Nintendo will launch a less expensive Switch and offer it alongside the current model. Nintendo still hasn't said anything official about its plans, but today another report is making these claims once again. Most surprising, though, is that this new report says Nintendo will launch two new Switch models this year.
In just a few days, Nintendo will be rolling out an update to two of the Nintendo Switch's most iconic games. That update will bring a new mode to Super Mario Odyssey and Zelda: Breath of the Wild. a mode that will let users see them in a different way. And what better way to see those new worlds, or at least Hyrule, than with a VR headset. Nintendo just recently unveiled a cardboard one. Fortunately, one eager beaver set out to modify that plain DIY box and make it an almost true VR headset.
Though the Nintendo Switch has been selling well in many parts of the world, there's one major market where it hasn't officially launched yet: China. It looks like that'll be changing soon, as Nintendo has confirmed a partnership with Tencent to distribute the console in the country. Beyond that, it seems Tencent has been given permission to distribute a test version of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, which launched in other parts of the world earlier this year.
Nintendo has detailed the next round of releases for the Switch eShop, and the week ahead might just be the biggest week of the year for the eShop thus far. Most of the attention today is on the version 3.0 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate update and the release of the game's first DLC fighter, Joker, but even if you aren't a Smash Bros. fan, there's still plenty to look forward to.
Nintendo struck gold with the Switch and while the portable console has some shortcomings, it seems that Nintendo isn't completely ready to move on just yet. Even if it means continuing to produce Nintendo Switch with hardware exploits that allow them to be rooted and flashed. There are, of course, rumors of a new and improved Nintendo Switch but, according to a Japanese news report, that isn't what the next generation will be.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate players have been waiting on details for the game's 3.0 update for a long time. They've also been waiting for news on when Joker, who hails from Persona 5 and is the first DLC fighter for Ultimate, would drop. Late last night, Nintendo finally answered all of the questions fans have in a 15-minute video that appeared with no warning at all.
Back in December, Nintendo revealed that the Marvel Ultimate Alliance series will be revived on Switch with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order. The new game is a Switch exclusive with Nintendo handling the publishing duties, which probably came as something of a surprise to most people. Today, Nintendo announced the release date for Ultimate Alliance 3, and it's landing right in the middle of summer.
After a few weeks of teases, Nintendo is launching the fourth Toy-Con Kit for Nintendo Labo today, and it's a big one. The Nintendo Labo VR Kit is available now, and with it, players can make their own Switch-powered VR headsets out of cardboard. There are, of course, a number of games to play and cardboard accessories to go along with that VR headset.
It was only a couple of months ago that Nintendo premiered the latest Direct centered around upcoming Switch games, but if a new report is accurate, the next one might be right around the corner. Apparently, Nintendo is plotting another Direct for this week, and though today's report doesn't really give us any idea of what it will cover, we can certainly take a few educated guesses.
The tragedy of the Virtual Boy may have traumatized Nintendo for a time but now it seems to be giving virtual reality another shot, just from a different angle. Last month, it introduced its latest Labo kit that turned the Switch into a makeshift machine. Now it is announcing that its cardboard-based VR Goggles won't be limited to just small games and experiments, it will also open new experiences to two of the Switch's most popular games.
Another work week is beginning to wind down, which means that Nintendo is back today with a new slate of games headed to the eShop. The company detailed all of the games hitting the eShop over the course of the next week, and this time around, we've only got Switch games to look to forward to. It seems that our old pal the 3DS is being left out in the cold once more, so spare a thought for the little machine as you read the list below.
If you've owned a Switch for any amount of time, you're likely aware that in-game voice chat needs some attention. Nintendo's solution has been to offload voice chat onto a smartphone application, which certainly isn't the most elegant or straightforward approach. Slowly but surely, however, third-party companies are taking it upon themselves to fix the voice chat experience on Switch, with peripheral maker PDP tossing its hat into the ring today.