All articles tagged with #nintendo
Nintendo has announced the return of its Treehouse Live showcase, delivering about 80 minutes of hands-on gameplay for two Switch 2 titles: Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park) and Pokémon Pokopia. The stream, with regional start times and a YouTube/Nintendo Life broadcast, may still surprise fans despite showing plenty from the two games.
A second wave of first-party Nintendo Switch discounts has gone live, led by Best Buy, bringing back several price cuts and adding new ones like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD; the sale covers Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, Princess Peach: Showtime, Splatoon 3, Super Mario Odyssey, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, and Zelda: Link’s Awakening, with both physical and digital versions; the sale lasts about a week and physical copies may sell out, with Amazon price-matching noted.
Nintendo is issuing refunds for the Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Switch 2 Edition upgrade after complaints that the paid visual upgrade looks worse than the original; the patch offered 4K/60fps on TV and 1080p/60fps handheld, but users report mixed results and some have successfully obtained refunds via Nintendo support and the eShop refund form.
An opinion piece argues Nintendo franchises could shine as Warriors-style games, spotlighting Xenoblade Chronicles and Kirby as top picks and citing the Zelda-focused Hyrule Warriors as proof of market appeal, while also noting other potential candidates (Mario, Pokémon, Pikmin, Metroid, Splatoon, Animal Crossing, etc.) that could be explored in future spin-offs.
Nintendo appears to be issuing refunds to players who bought the Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 after reports that the upgrade performs poorly with worse textures and upscaling than the original; the exact studio behind the Switch 2 Edition isn’t confirmed, and affected buyers are advised to contact Nintendo Support.
Despite improvements since the launch period, several studios still report difficulty obtaining Nintendo Switch 2 development kits for 2026. Arkaden’s interviews indicate kits remain largely unavailable, with some developers needing to wait to be tapped by Nintendo. The reasons are speculative—some fans theorize Nintendo is aiming for a curated experience or a phased rollout—though Nintendo hasn’t clarified. Previous reports of a three-phase launch and widening third‑party support contrast with ongoing kit supply constraints for certain teams.
On Zelda's 40th anniversary, Kotaku revisits near-miss sci-fi pitches for the series—from a GDC slide show of an outer-space invasion to Miyamoto's earliest time-travel concept and cyberpunk art for A Link to the Past—arguing Nintendo's iconic fantasy roots have always flirted with sci-fi, even as the company keeps a tighter leash on its IPs, leaving space adventures as distant dreams rather than reality.
Nintendo's $100 Virtual Boy for Switch 2 is a surprisingly faithful but awkward homage that slides a Switch into a red-goggled shell to run seven classic Virtual Boy titles (via Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack); while accurate in look and tweakable for future software, it demands a case-free setup, lacks IPD/focus adjustment, has limited games (with Wario Land the standout), no wired controller, and some app quirks, making it more a history lesson than a practical gaming solution - yet it offers a rare glimpse into the era of early glasses-free 3D.
Celebrating The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary (in Japan), Nintendo Life looks back at its groundbreaking 1986 debut, Koji Kondo's iconic score, and the series' lasting influence. The piece notes Zelda's ongoing availability across generations—from the Famicom Disk System era to Nintendo Switch Online—and invites readers to share where they first played the game via a poll.
Nintendo's Virtual Boy is rebooted as a $100 Switch 2 accessory that slots the console into a red-filter headset on a tripod to run seven of 16 promised retro games; it's a novelty museum piece rather than a serious gaming device, delivering a nostalgic indie vibe but with ergonomic compromises, a need for Switch Online Plus Expansion Pack, and cheaper cardboard goggles as an alternative.
Nintendo released Hello, Mario—a small, interactive app available on Android, iOS, Switch, and Switch 2—that lets players poke and stretch Mario’s face for humorous reactions; after about 12 minutes the plumber goes to sleep, a feature Nintendo says helps curb screen time. The project is part of the My Mario line aimed at young children, with collaborations from partners like Fisher-Price and TOMY, prompting discussion about branding IP to kids early.
Nintendo Switch Online added seven Virtual Boy titles to its library: Teleroboxer, Galactic Pinball, Red Alarm, Golf, Virtual Boy Wario Land 3D, Tetris, and The Mansion of Innsmouth. Nintendo says more Virtual Boy games are on the way in 2026, and previously announced GameCube titles will continue arriving monthly; Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness are expected to roll out around Pokemon Day (Feb. 27).
A Manhattan Pokémon-card shop formerly known as The Poké Court was robbed of over $100,000 in merchandise. Nintendo asked the store to drop Pokémon branding, prompting a rebrand to The Trainer Court. The shop will celebrate the relaunch with a Pokémon Day event on February 27, 2026, while Nintendo NY will also host Pokémon Day activities; the distance between the two venues is about 36 blocks, and there were no injuries.
A Manhattan Pokémon card shop known as Poké Court was robbed at gunpoint in January. Nintendo reportedly reached out with concerns about the store’s name and Poké Ball logo, leading the owners to rename the shop The Trainer Court and swap in a new logo. The business will continue offering cards, events, and tournaments, including a Pokémon Day event on February 27; The Pokémon Company said it wasn’t involved in the branding changes.
To celebrate The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary, Creative Bloq highlights a 24-piece Zelda merch collection with discounts and affiliate links, spanning items from figures and swords to books and accessories, while noting Zelda’s 1986 debut by Miyamoto and Tezuka.