Julius

Upcoming fixes look like a step in the right direction from what I've heard about the release: I do wish Konami would try their best to sort these out ahead of launch and not have the mindset of fixing things post-launch, like they also did with MGS Master Collection Vol. 1 (especially in the case of Suikoden which went quiet for ages after announcement), but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't simultaneously shocked and impressed that they're actually putting the effort in to clean up any shortcomings of their remastered collections.

All story expansions are now released! Chapter of Marisa Chapter of Seign Chapter of Markus

Huh, just had an email from ShopTo to say that they've reduced my Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle to £421.25. Neat. Doesn't really impact me as I'll be cancelling it in an attempt to get it Day 1, and it takes some nerve to suggest I'd want a digital code and change my backorder to that by default with how many physical copies I buy from them, but whatever

2026, apparently!

What we thinking, British Racing Green? Or a gaudy colour way inspired by the Union Jack?

Hell, I'd pay more for that

The tariff situation is a mess and terrifying in its own way, but this is what genuinely pissed me off. Thanks for sharing

FYI, no changes expected to the pre-order process in the UK – per Eurogamer.

No current plans to adjust the preorder process here in the UK, FYI - per Eurogamer. Oh, yeah, then I agree. I do think there's the potential for a price increase after launch in other territories, but that really depends on the impact of the tariffs, and I think being able to evidence some of its impacts. I think it just hurts them too much PR-wise to increase the costs everywhere all at once. The region locking thing really isn't a bad shout considering they're doing it in Japan anyways, honestly. I hope it doesn't have to come to that, though.

I'd be shocked if Nintendo are going to take this out on the rest of the world by having us collectively subsidise tariffs in the US – at least at launch. I feel like they can paper over the cracks in the US somewhat for a limited time, but they'll face an unreal level of backlash if every market is made to pay in a similar fashion. I mean, the Switch 2 is going to sell out everywhere this year anyways; I think it's much more likely fewer shipments are allocated to the US for launch, with a number of shipments to be reallocated elsewhere. I think a pivot like this or something similar is their best bet, but it's Nintendo, goodness knows what they and other businesses are thinking right now. For some context for anyone a bit lost (as I am, so I'm reading up on it a bit), this got kicked off because of the 46% tariff applied to goods exported from Vietnam – where Nintendo have some of their production facilities. This still seems to be pending some additional tariff discussion of the trade of semiconductors, from what I understand; while Taiwan-produced semiconductors have been awarded an exemption from what I've read so far, China is another big player in the space, and they've already been hit hard by tariffs (and in fact have retaliated). What a silly, weak little man. This is going to impact everyone (beyond the reach of gaming and the Switch 2), but I'm gutted for people in the US in particular given all they've had to put up with politically. Well, and Vietnam and other countries too, honestly, who are having their markets toyed with by a cheeto-faced bully.

Relevant to our US members looking to pre-order:

The five people in chat yesterday who were spamming "RAISE THE PRICE" are going to be hunted down after today

Holy playable cow in Mario Kart, it's being reported that pre-orders of the Switch 2 in the US will NOT start 9th April as originally planned due to the ongoing and ever-evolving tariff situation. No change to planned launch of 5th June. From the linked article on GameSpot: Crazy. UPDATE: corroborated by Brian Altano of IGN. UPDATE 2: from IGN, same statement. Welp.

Just enough to fund the one copy of Mario Kart World

Just to add onto @Glen-i's timely reminder (thanks Glen – I'm still out of reactions so I'll just say it here ), if anyone was curious about what's being shown on this second and final day of Treehouse:

I've always read it as an implied connection, be it a crossover, an "and" or just a stylised way of splitting words up. You don't pronounce the "x" in most cases I've come across (i.e. the anime and manga 'Hunter x Hunter' is pronounced as "Hunter Hunter") But yeah, I agree – think they should've called it Drag 'n' Drive and left it at that, honestly

So apparently the interview is up on English sites, too: Part 1: Blood by Dusk, Part 2: Superhuman abilities and opportunistic behaviours, Part 3: Playing roles and altering fates. Maybe the 5th was for Nintendo AU or something? Ah well, still reading through anyways I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed this isn't single-player, because unless an Armored Core releases by the end of next year (which is very possible, but it's also completely MIA) we're looking at 2027 at the earliest for From's next single-player game (5 years from the initial launch of their last Soulsborne-adjacent project in Elden Ring, and 4 years since Armored Core VI). It was hinted at a bit in the trailer - all those different characters - but those also easily could've been NPCs or bosses, so On the other hand, it's still directed by Miyazaki (whereas Nightreign is not), and this seems like something he wanted to from what I've read of the interview so far. Seems it has some super intriguing mechanic ideas for multiplayer. Plus, having played Nightreign, that game was surprisingly fun and moreish – I'd imagine a Miyazaki-directed multiplayer-focused game would be even more so. I guess more concerning to me is that this is From, who don't offer the greatest or easiest to access multiplayer experiences, teaming up with Nintendo...who don't necessarily have the greatest history of online games. Could change with the Switch 2, of course, but that combo in particular is what's giving me most reason to pause for now.

According to NoA, they will be produced until Fall 2025 and be available while stocks last: Hope that helps

Rather than update every relevant thread with a "coming soon" sort of update, I'll just post it here: Nintendo have confirmed the upcoming batch of Creator's Voice interviews for Switch 2 titles on the official Japanese site. The games confirmed to be getting a Creator's Voice interview in the coming weeks are: Going to read through The Duskbloods interview now, but think I'm most curious about Cyberpunk 2077 (apparently they've only been developing the Switch 2 version for 7 weeks or something at this point?), Age of Imprisonment, Hades II, and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade!

Creator's Voice interview with Hidetaka Miyazaki now up on the Japanese Nintendo site – official English translation seems to be coming tomorrow. I'll have a scan through and grab and and share any juicier bits shortly!

If I'm remembering right, we didn't know about said idiocy until Age of Calamity launched. So it's still very much on the table

On the one hand, they got my PS5 to me on launch day. So that was great. On the other, they advertised Royal Mail tracked delivery the entire pre-order period, before updating a bunch of orders (including my own) to Yodel (of all couriers) closer to release, and after pre-orders had been gone everywhere else for months. So yeah, chance you'll get it at launch, but more than enough reason to be wary of them in my experience

The film will be titled The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender, and releases 20th January 2026: Exciting times probably get a trailer over the summer?

...was not aware of this, I'll be right back EDIT: well, it shows the deduction, but then removes it when I go to checkout EDIT 2: ah, okay, tested to see if paying now rather than delaying payment applied it and that worked – saved me a tenner. Got the money put aside anyway so that'll do me! You're a legend @Ike

Mario Kart World bundle up at EE - LINK. Currys – apparently emails went out to those who registered interested, and are for in-store pick-ups only. Interesting approach. Amazon - apparently the first wave of invites went out earlier this morning? I wouldn't know, as I didn't get one Still just a Smyths pre-order so far for me without a backup, but got all my accessories and Mario Kart World pre-ordered with ShopTo in (forgot to add a case/screen protector to my earlier totting up, so grabbed one of those too!). Going to try my luck with the Nintendo Store when they open to the wider audience on Tuesday/Wednesday after the invite-onlys but from what I've read I seem to be in a decent enough position with Smyths as it is, so worst cast – I think I've got everything sorted? Other than the GCN NSO controller!