The original Survival Kids on the Game Boy Color didn’t play around. I should know, as I beat it repeatedly in hopes of getting the best ending. There’s nothing like being a teenager and spending dozens of hours on a game to watch your avatar die on a makeshift raft because you didn’t prepare enough food for your  attempt to sail home. Survival Kids is one of the few original Switch 2 games debuting alongside the new console as Konami and Unity’s revival of the IP. While it is fine and clearly designed to be a kid-friendly game for actual children enamored by games like Raft with Tomb Raider mystique, it bears no resemblance to the past Survival Kids or Lost in Blue series.

While the original Survival Kids and Lost in Blue games involved children and teens in extraordinary situations attempting to survive and find a way home, Unity and Konami took a far different approach. This isn’t a pure survival sim with adventure elements and choices that matter. The kid, or kids if you are playing with a group, found a treasure map. They willingly headed out to the island chain represented there. The raft broke apart. After rebuilding it on the first island and going through the tutorial, it’s off to go island hopping, completing relatively simple puzzles to progress through areas, search for treasure, and find the Harmony Stones to let you return home. 

This time around, realism is abandoned for an idealized fantasy. I could absolutely see Square Enix going with a similar kind of premise for something like “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Kids.” These one to four pre-teens found a map, built a sea-worthy vessel, found islands on the back of giant turtle-like beings called Whurtles, somehow uncovered ruins nobody else saw before, and are also going to undo a supernatural storm. I do think it is very good for smaller children, as it plays in the types of fantasies they might have and can be empowering. However, it’s not all that entertaining or good at engaging an older audience.

Gameplay is also incredibly simple in Survival Kids and, while there is crafting and food creation, it’s nowhere near as complex or critical as in games like the original or ensuing Lost in Blue installments. In those games, you needed to eat and stay hydrated to survive, crafting meant experimenting, item maintenance could be an issue due to durability, and actions strongly influenced if you died or how the story ended. Here, eating means greater strength when engaging in tasks or stamina for climbing, and you can cap that out at 10 easily and be fine. Food prep? Toss a bunch of fruits in a pot, no need for recipes, and you’re fine. Actual item or structure creation? Again, just toss logs, stones, or gathered materials into the right place and you’re good. Platforming? Literally not an issue or challenge. 

Survival Kids is an incredibly easy Switch 2 game, and it is all very surface level. While there are optional collectibles on islands, I felt no reason to go back to it. If you do falter when making jumps, as I had the Pro Controller battery die during one section, it’s absolutely fine. If your stamina does run out, food is so plentiful and the campsite hubs are always nearby, so it is easy to get a snack. If not, you’ll just be slower than usual. The crafting and switch toggling puzzles aren’t difficult. If you can find the pieces you need and get them to the place, you tend to be fine. Also, it’s executed in a way in which there are no complicated controls or need to manage any inventory. Again, all of this is fine for the intended audience, and young enough children will probably dig it. But people of any age more experienced with games will very likely get bored. It’s so repetitive.

Probably the main selling point is that this Konami and Unity Survival Kids game does act as a showcase for each Switch 2 multiplayer options. I did play with another person with split-screen local multiplayer and briefly online. In each case, it was absolutely fine. Since this is a game that could honestly be played alone or with others, cooperation didn’t feel super critical. It wasn’t like there was scaling difficulty or an of the actions were so taxing that I really needed assistance. It was more that things got done faster with another person. Local worked great. Online ended up being totally fine too. I didn’t get to test out GameShare, the most interesting option that involves other local people playing on their own Switch 2 systems while I shared the game. 

Survival Kids feels really generic on the Switch 2, and it features none of the personality of the Lost in Blue series. I think I might have enjoyed it more had it not been burdened by that pedigree. Had Konami and Unity released this as, say, “Treasure Kids: Search for Harmony Stones,” I think I’d maybe appreciated it more. I’d go in understanding it is a new IP made for kids who like the idea of survival games or puzzle adventures, but might not be ready for titles with greater challenges and in-game consequences. But here, we go in expecting a certain type of storytelling and adventure, then wind up with a repetitious, uncomplicated routine.

Survival Kids is available for the Switch 2.

The post Review: Survival Kids Switch 2 Doesn’t Feel Like Lost in Blue appeared first on Siliconera.

The original Bravely Default and Bravely Second left me awestruck. The gameplay called to mind Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light and more classic entries in that series, and the story’s direction grabbed hold of me in a way that nearly felt unhealthy. I spent hours getting every job, exploring every sidequest, and building up my characters as stayed until the very end. 11 years later, even though I did all this before, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster triggered the same response on the Switch 2,  and this Square Enix game remains a fantastic JRPG.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster begins with Agnes Oblige calling out for help, asking for warriors of light for salvation as the world crumbles around her and she falls into the cracks. Across the world, we see shepherd Tiz Arrior tending his flock with his little brother Til when the Great Chasm swallows up their village of Norende, leaving him the only survivor. When he returns to the ruins, he finds the Wind Vestal Agnes and the Cryst-fairy Airy who are on a journey to awaken the four crystals of the world to save it. The two end up ed by an amnesiac named Ringabel, who holds a book called D’s Journal that sometimes seems to predict the future, and the Eternian defector Edea Lee who is disgusted by the behavior of the Sky Knights.

I’m not going to say anything more about the story. I don’t want to spoil anything. But it is great, the characters are fantastic, and it holds up over 10 years later.

Like Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a turn-based JRPG with a job system. As you defeat Asterisk holder bosses, you gain new roles for of your party to undertake. You can then, in turn, combine them by equipping a second command category and an ability that offers some sort of extra feature of buff or bonus. For example, you can make someone a Black Mage who also has the White Magic class of spells and equipped the Angelic Ward ability that might halve damage or a Ninja with Thief command and Raid ability that could increase everyone’s BP when a battle starts. 

Speaking of BP, that’s the element that sets Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster apart as a JRPG. You can either stock up on action points (Default), making a character defend against attacks in the process, or act up to four times in a single turn (Brave) by forgoing attacking the next three turns after that. Think of it as being both a strategic and quality of life gameplay element. In more standard encounters, you could direct all four characters to each use Brave four times in a row to attack (or create an “Auto” preset with that) to quickly grind for levels and job points to level up roles to get access to more abilities. That lets you wipe everything out in one turn. In the case of a boss fight or more difficult challenge, you could use Default to defend and stockpile turns or prepare for guards to drop, then respond with multiple attacks at once. You can gain greater control of a battle’s pace. I personally like to have one of my physical attackers (Edea or Tiz) Brave all at once, then have Agnes and Ringabel perform more nuanced attacks responding to situations ASAP. 

As in Final Fantasy or other Square Enix JRPG games, the adventure in Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster sends us around the world. There is the main campaign, as well as sidequest stories to follow. For the sake of clarity, Airy appears in the in-game menu to offer suggestions. There are party talk moments when the four discuss what’s going on or offer insight into the world. Campaign quest objectives are highlighted with orange markers, while sidequests use blue ones. The UI, redone for this release, is easy to parse. Not to mention the towns we visit are even more stunning in this version, thanks to enhanced textures that make the pop-up, fairytale designs really, well, pop. In general, every main character, major opponent, and enemy looks wonderful in HD with the updated models and textures. The opening movie and new voice acting is also wonderful and adds to the experience. 

The other changes to Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster on the Switch 2 feel like appropriate quality of life additions. While newcomers might not use the fast forward auto-play option as much, I it to using it a few times early on to see how it worked and get to a full party faster. It’s a great option! The 50% to 200% encounter rate is handy for grinding, and I love being able to have four possible presets for the auto-battle function that carries over when fights start. Because of the way I play, I didn’t need the “recommended level” for dungeons, but I expect that will be quite handy for others. I also think the way Souls appear every 24 hours in-town is helpful, since getting folks to help rebuild Norende or allies for attacks would be as easy as it was in the 3DS years. 

While the two new minigames are fun enough, rebuilding Norende still feels like the most valuable optional activity. The souls you gather from towns from other players allow you to assign those “townsfolk” to unlocking and upgrading tasks in the fledgeling village following the devastation at the beginning of the game. This adds more to a shop, additional Special Moves, and sometimes bonuses for just stopping by. It’s great to load up folks on a task to bring the timing down to 15-30 minutes when you’re active, then spread them out when you’ll be sleeping or away for 12-24 hours. 

I will say that I sort of feel like the Luxencheer Rhythm Catch and Ringabel’s Panic Cruise minigames in
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster are better introductions to the Switch 2 Joy-Con mouse controls than Nintendo's Welcome Tour. In Ringabel’s Panic Cruise, you’re actually using the left and right controllers in mouse mode to steer the ship, perform certain controls to hit altitudes, manage folks’ requests, swat flies, and maintain speeds. It’s interesting and a great showcase of the new feature! Luxencheer Rhythm Catch is a more typical type of rhythm game, with the mouse controls tasking you with catching note indicators with the energy line between your two lightsticks or moving in time with the (ittedly great) songs from the game’s soundtrack. Both can be genuinely fun and show what the console can do.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a remarkable Switch 2 JRPG, and the core gameplay, mechanics, and story remain fresh and relevant. It looks beautiful and runs wonderfully on the Switch 2. I’d even say the new gameplay additions serve as a better introduction to mouse controls for the hardware than the actual tech demo minigame collection Nintendo created. Anyone who picks it up to go with their new system won’t be disappointed.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is available on the Switch 2. 

The post Review: Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster Is a Joy to Play on Switch 2 appeared first on Siliconera.

Back in 2023, Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless showed up on the PS4, PS5, Switch, and PC, and now in Fall 2025 Disgaea 7 Complete will debut on the Switch 2. As with pasts releases, it includes all DLC, and this version will also include some new challenges and Asagi. Rakshasa Baal will also be present to fight. A first trailer showed everything off.

In Disgaea 7 Complete, we follow a rich otaku named Pirilika who wants the full Hinomoto Netherworld experience. However, when she gets there she finds it is nothing like she expected. So she hired Fuji, tricking him into a contract, to help her restore the region and bushido code. 

Here’s the first trailer confirming Disgaea 7 Complete will show up on the Switch 2. While it initially started with standard gameplay footage, by the halfway point we get teasers for the included DLC, Asagi, and Rakshasa Baal. Hell Mode for everyone is confirmed, if you “Freely Use Infernal Treasures,” and the previous stat cap can be lifted if you “Take Me Beyond the Limits.” The official site also confirmed the DLC bonus stories and characters, Pleinair, glasses costumes, special weapons set, Disgaea costumes, and generic unit costumes will all be part of this.

Initial screenshots also appeared:

Disgaea 7 Complete is coming to the Switch 2 in Fall 2025, and the main game is already on the PS4, PS5, Switch, and PC.

The post Disgaea 7 Complete Will Be a Switch 2 Exclusive appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix announced the re-release in Japan of the FFVII Remake Static Arts figure of Cloud Strife. Pre-orders are open on the Japanese Square Enix online e-store, where it costs 19,580 yen (or approximately $135,82.) The release date is set for November 8, 2025.

Meanwhile, the figure is still available in the North American and European Square Enix online storefronts, where it costs $189.99/€169.99‎. The Static Arts figure depicts Cloud standing, while holding his Buster Sword on his right hand and resting on his shoulder. The pose slightly mirrors Cloud’s pose in his key art for the original Final Fantasy VII. The Buster Sword comes equipped with a green magic materia, and a purple independent materia.

You can check out the FFVII Remake Static Arts Cloud figure in more detail here:

As a reminder, the FFVII Rebirth version of the Static Arts figure released in late 2024 and it shows Cloud in a battle-ready pose. The original FFVII Remake figure was announced in June 2022 and released later in November 2023.

The Final Fantasy VII Remake Static Arts Cloud figure is now available for pre-order and will release in Japan on November 8, 2025. FFVII Remake and Rebirth are readily available on the PS5 and PC, with FFVII Remake heading to the Xbox Series X and Switch 2.

The post FFVII Remake Cloud Static Arts Figure Returns appeared first on Siliconera.

When Nintendo announced Splatoon Raiders spin-off game, it also confirmed a Splatoon 3 Switch 2 update with new weapons. Ahead of those debuting on June 12, 2025, the company took to the official social media for the game to share videos and teasers for each of the new pieces of equipment. While there’s no in-battle footage, we do get an idea of how each one looks and found out about their sub-weapons and specials. 

First, here’s a list of all the new Splatoon 3 weapons and their subs and specials coming to the Switch 2 in 10.0.0 so far.

• Bulbz Tri-Stringer - Angle Shooter - Inkjet
• Carbon Roller ANG-L - Fizzy Bombs - Super Chump 
• Clawz .96 Gal - Angle Shooter - Tacticooler
• Colorz Aerospray - Burst Bombs - Splattercolor Screen
• Cometz Octobrush - Autobombs - Kraken Royale
• Dapple Dualies NOC-T - Splat Bombs - Killer Wail 5.1
• Glamorz Splattershot - Burst Bombs - Kraken Royale
• Gleamz Blaster - Squid Beakon - Crab Tank
• Glitterz L-3 Nozzlenose - Splat Bombs - Inkjet
• H-3 Nozzlenose VIP-R - Suction Bombs - Triple Inkstrike
• Hoofz Dualie Squelchers - Point Sensor - Splattercolor Screen
• Hornz Dread Wringer - Curling Bombs - Crab Tank
• Jet Squelcher COB-R - Burst Bombs - Triple Splashdown
• Mini Splatling RTL-R - Squid Beakon - Trizooka
• Paintbrush BRN-Z - Splash Wall - Trizooka
• Patternz Undercover Brella - Curling Bombs - Killer Wail 5.1
• Planetz Big Swig Roller - Torpedo - Triple Splashdown
• Rapid Blaster Pro WNT-R - Suction Bombs - Tacticooler
• REEF-LUX 450 MIL-K - Torpedo - Booyah Bomb
• Splash-o-matic GCK-O - Toxic Mist - Ink Storm
• Splat Charger CAM-O - Sprinkler - Crab Tank
• Splatana Wiper RUS-T - Curling Bombs - Trizooka
• Splatterscope CAM-O - No sub or special was mentioned for this weapon.
• Splattershot Pro FRZ-N - Splat Bombs - Tenta Missiles
• Starz Dynamo Roller - Point Sensor - Killer Wail 5.1
• Stickerz Splatana Stamper - Autobombs - Booyah Bomb
• Tenta Brella CRE-M - Toxic Mist - Super Chump
• Torrentz Hydra Splatling - Sprinkler - Big Bubbler
• Tri-Slosher ASH-N - Splat Bombs - Splattercolor Screen
• Twinklez Splat Dualies - Fizzy Bombs - Big Bubbler

And here are all the trailers for them:

Splatoon 3 is available for the Switch and playable on the Switch 2, and the new weapons and Urchin Under map will appear alongside the 10.0.0 update on June 12, 2025. 

The post See Teasers for the New Splatoon 3 Weapons in 10.0.0 appeared first on Siliconera.

Whenever a new system launches, debates also ensue about if it’s worth buying right away. Partially due to the quality of the console itself. But the titles that launch alongside it can also make or break a debut. While the Switch 2 launch library might not seem as exciting in some ways, I think it ended up being a really solid collection of games you can play for weeks, months, and in the case of some years to come. 

One criticism going in to the Switch 2 is the flagship launch title is Mario Kart World. As of March 31, 2025, the Nintendo IR site noted Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold over 68.2 million units on Switch 2, Mario Kart 8 sold 8.46 million on Wii U, Mario Kart Wii sold 37.38 million on Wii, Mario Kart 7 sold 18.99 million on 3DS, and Mario Kart DS ended up at 23.6 million on DS. Financially, it makes sense. Over multiple console and handheld generations, we see the demand at a glance. Also, given what happened with the Switch installment and room for growth, I think we’ll absolutely see a Booster Course or some other sort of ongoing update schedule. This is the company coming in with a title that will be huge at launch, enjoyed alone or with others, and probably ed for a few years.

Next is that we actually do have some entirely “new” launch window games for the Switch 2 that add incredibly lengthy experiences to the library. I played Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma. That could easily be a 30-40 hour game just from the campaign and before you get into the daily life, find a partner and settle down, enjoy the post-game with a virtual family experience. Moreover, the Switch 2 experience even without the upgrade pack is making me reconsider only giving it an 8 when I wrote the Switch review, because it’s closer to a 9 on the new system. Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4 is something I’m going through now, and it’s also a solid commitment. FAST Fusion ended up being a great budget racer in the series with a lot of replayability and, honestly, the kind of challenge is that is sort of missing in Mario Kart World single-player sometimes. While I’m sure it won’t be game of the year material, Tamagotchi Plaza is going to fill that launch minigame collection hole that folks invest in when they want something silly and short to play with others. Even though Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time came out on other platforms a bit ahead of Switch 2, this is a 10/10 game that makes you feel like you’re only scratching the surface after 100 hours. It’s a huge “get” for a new console.

Besides, we also need to consider the value of the HD remasters and definitive editions of games coming to the Switch 2 at launch. While these are returning titles, I think three are exceptionally valuable here. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is an updated release of one of the most creative JRPGs Square Enix released in the last 10 years, and it is still absolutely captivating. It looks fantastic with the updated graphics. The single-screen version works great! Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut’s extra story and multiplayer modes are pleasant extras for what I consider my favorite entry in the series. (The story is so much fun.) Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is going to bring an underrated Shin Megami Tensei spin-off to modern systems for the first time so soon and, as I said in my preview, it’s a wonderful game that deserves this second change at a wider audience.

Even the bad games in the Switch 2 launch library offer their own type of value. Survival Kids isn’t a good Lost in Blue installment, but it is the type of title adults or older kids could play with younger children to get them adjusted to the console. It’s also one of the first examples of the GameShare mechanic, offering a bit of a proof of concept to show how sharing one game among multiple local consoles could work in a low-stress, no-consequence environment. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour isn’t all that much fun and should have been either $5 or free, but it does offer a lot of insights into why the company made certain design decisions via quizzes and tech demo minigame examples. 

As for the ports, they represent a really well-rounded bunch of genres. Whenever a new Nintendo console or handheld’s shown up, it’s often been accompanied by versions of titles that past systems couldn’t. With the Switch 2 launch games, we are both seeing that and getting titles that might’ve had issues on other handhelds like a Steam Deck getting a specific version tailored to this type of experience. Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition does that! It looks fantastic, even with compromises. Plus, it involved the motion control mode that could provide a workout. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is something of a wonder. It runs way better than I expected. Sid Meier's Civilization VII - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition fits the bill with integrated mouse controls. And, like many of the new titles, they’re lengthy games that take up dozens of hours. 

I’d even consider all of the upgrade pack games valuable of the Switch 2 launch library. In each case, titles are running better than ever. For those who might’ve skipped the Switch 2, it’s a wealth of proven games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Super Mario Odyssey, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 that will work better than before. With paid expansions for Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario Party Jamboree, it’s adding major content updates with more to do. These are opportunities to maybe see how great games become even more wonderful with added power and adjustments behind them. 

The Switch 2 launch library is packed with great games. There might not be as many first-party endeavors immediately available, beyond Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, but every other element is filled with lengthy, well-executed, and meaningful games that showcase the system’s capabilities and could keep us occupied for hundreds of hours.

The Switch 2 is available now worldwide. 

The post There’s Nothing Wrong With the Switch 2 Launch Games Library appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo used its Nintendo Today app to announce a new Splatoon Raiders spin-off game and Splatoon 3 update for the Switch 2. While there’s no release date for the new title, the patch that adds upgrades is 10.0.0 and debuts on June 12, 2025. This comes after the company ended new events and additions in September 2024 for Splatoon 3.

In the case of Splatoon 3, this will be one of the free Switch 2 patches to enhance the game. Of course it will run better on the new system and look better there. There will also be crossplay between folks on the Switch and Switch 2. Urchin Under will debut as a stage, 30 weapon kits will be part of a Splatlands weapon collection, more Badges will appear, Freshness caps will be higher. Finally, Anarchy Battle will use Series Weapon Power to ensure even weapons you’re trying for the first time or learning will be as powerful as ones you’ve mastered. 

In the case of Splatoon Raiders, the first trailer teased players as a pilot and mechanic heading to Spirhalite Islands alongside Shiver, Frye, and Big Man from Deep Cut. The trio learned about potential treasure there. Following a crash, it looks like we’ll explore areas alongside a robot. Other segments also showed our avatar fishing and hanging out with characters at a camp. That segment closed on a teaser of a major beam of light emerging from the ground and unusual storm brewing around it.

Here’s the official trailer for both the new game and Switch 2 upgrade. 

The post Splatoon Raiders and Splatoon 3 Update Head to Switch 2 appeared first on Siliconera.

Astro’s Playroom on the PS5 set something of a standard for console “tech demo” launch games and showpieces. It educated while also acting as a genuinely pleasant and compelling platformer. Especially since it ended up being a free pack-in for the system. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is the equivalent for Nintendo’s newest console generation and, while it is education and enlightening, it is nowhere near as enjoyable. Especially since it comes with a $9.99 price tag.

The setup for Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is one of the things I genuinely appreciate about this application. It’s set up in the same way as the sort of console experiences for this system ahead of launch. You pick an avatar for yourself out of a line of pre-generated folks waiting to get into a Nintendo Exhibit. Once your time comes, you head out onto a show floor organized on top of a giant Switch 2 and its peripherals. So the experience begins on Joy-Con 2 (L) Area, with more opening up as you collect stamps and unlock new difficulty levels for the minigame tech demos or additional locations. You can also chat with other attendees. The concept is sound, the design is great, and I love the style.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is broken down into two types of experiences. One involves short quizzes taken after reading an article describing either an element of the console or its one of its peripherals’ design. The other involves an interactive display of some feature tied to the device. So in Joy-Con 2 (L) Area, you can take quizzes about the construction of the controller, play Dodge the Spiked Balls: Survival Mode, and play Find the Strongest Rumble: Along a Line. The quizzes there cover things like the new rumble feature, while the activities show off the mouse-based elements of the new controller and HD Rumble 2. Once you do enough there to earn its stamps, you unlock Area B, which is Nintendo Switch 2 Console Area. 

The execution of everything is fine too. There’s a fast travel option that comes up after you reach Area B. The UI is clear, so it is easy to see how many stamps you collected. Since the minigames are all essentially tech demos, there are ample explanations and they’re usually quite educational. The quality isn’t something I’d call into question.

I’m just not a big fan of how Nintendo handled the content presented here. The information for the quiz sections is fascinating. I did feel like I understood the console, controllers, dock, and camera much better after going through them. They aren’t challenging either, so long as you pay attention. But while they’re novel, I would probably never gone through them if I didn’t need some easy stamps. They weren’t so interesting that I consider them required reading.

Likewise, the minigames present in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour are nowhere near as joyful and fun as Astro’s Playroom. I think I might have had more fun with 1-2-Switch. I know I liked Nintendo Land better. None of the minigames here are memorable, and they all feel like tech demos manned by overly enthusiastic staff trying to manufacture a “good time” while nudging you along like, “Hey, see how this works here? Try this! Neat, right? Right?” Some are incredibly bland, like HDR Fireworks designed to show the difference between brightness in SDR and HDR. At worst, I felt like I did the thing and at least got a stamp out of it. At best, I thought the educational element of it ended up being worthwhile. Especially in Super Mario Bros 4K, which helped show how many pixels the original Super Mario Bros 1-1 level took up, the way HD Rumble 2 mimics sensations in Maracas Physics, and appreciated how Open the GL/GR Locks got me used to using the new buttons on the Switch 2 Pro Controller. 

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour works fine. It’s totally functional and educational. It just isn’t fun in the same way games like Nintendo Land and Astro’s Playroom are. Considering this is a product that costs real money, I feel like there needed to be more to it in order to make it worthwhile. If it was even $4.99, rather than $9.99, I might consider recommending it for the insights and experiences that can sometimes be fascinating. As-is, you’ll probably pick out the more novel elements and upgrades to the new system while playing better games like Mario Kart World. 

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is available for the Switch 2. 

The post Review: Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour Is Disappointing appeared first on Siliconera.

Dash Food is one of the more fun surprises in Mario Kart World. Grab a meal, get a speed boost and maybe a costume! I have sacrificed first or second place in a race to ensure someone gets a snack when I know I’m missing one of their outfits. But there’s one tragedy here. You can’t dress up Cow in costumes in Mario Kart World, and it’s one of Nintendo’s greatest failings in an otherwise exemplary game. 

For my first full day with the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World, I only used Cow. Cow is wonderful. I love everything about her. But I also know I missed so many opportunities when I did. Lots of other characters can get variants with new outfits via Dash Food, and it might be fun to use this early unlocking push to also get those costumes. 

I had fun doing it! Especially with characters such as Peach, Daisy, and Rosalina, as I knew all three had pretty decent wardrobes to start. However, as I did so, I also started to feel bad. Why?

Because Cow deserves costumes in Mario Kart World. 

Nintendo knew ahead of time Cow is a standout. Cow is the reason NPCs and certain enemies got to be playable characters in Mario Kart World. From the moment Cow ended up being confirmed, she’s been the talk of the town. Her not getting her own outfits is a travesty.

I found it especially disheartening once I started unlocking costumes for other Mario Kart World characters who are enemies or weren’t drivers before. Lakitu? He’s got two costumes. King Boo gets three extra variants. Poor Cow gets nothing. 

Now, I know there could be excuses (bad ones) for Cow being neglected and denied costumes in Mario Kart World. She’s a cow. Sure. But again, that doesn’t stop King Boo. There could be cute collars for her or a hat. 

Especially since we know Cow can wear a hat. She will don a crown, just like everyone else, once you come in first in Grand Prix or Knockout Tour to show your achievement for getting first place. Give her a straw farmer hat similar to Peach’s! Let her get a cute bow like Birdo! Give her a permanent tiara like the queen she is! 

Cow deserves to dress up and be pretty in Mario Kart World, and Nintendo should acknowledge that by giving her costumes in an update. Let her wear fun hats! Give her necklaces! Maybe she could wear a cape! Don’t limit her and those of us who love her!

Mario Kart World is available for the Switch 2. 

The post Give Cow Costumes in Mario Kart World, Nintendo! appeared first on Siliconera.

Mario Kart World feels not only influenced by entries that came before it, but what Nintendo always wanted the game to be. There are clear cues from mainline installments, in of course influences, modes, and vehicles. Mario Kart Tour feels equally important, given the idea of going around a whole region and the inclusion of so many character costumes. But it also feels like a type of title that highlights exactly what the company wants the Switch 2 to be, and that’s a powerhouse that encourages as many people as possible to come together. After spending four days essentially dedicating my life to racing, it feels like the ideal title to welcome in a new console generation.

Mario Kart World pairs staples with innovation. The hallmarks of the series are here. Grand Prix works as usual, with a person selecting a Cup that consists of four courses played one after another at 50cc, 100cc, or 150cc. It feels very much like the base version of Mario Kart 8 at times. Some of these might feature entirely new tracks, such as the Mushroom Cup with the original Mario Bros Circuit, Crown City, Whistletop Summit, and DK Spaceport, or may consist of ones that are “inspired” by past tracks like Flower Cup with Desert Hills, Shy Guy Bazaar, Wario Stadium, and Airship Fortress. The gimmick this time around is that after a race at one course is done, you actually drive along roadways and the map to the next, with that part of the trip being a part of the experience. It’s genuinely novel and I love the distinction between biomes. 

This design decision means the different courses in Mario Kart World tend to feel like real-world roadways, instead of manufactured tracks designed specifically for races. This is when I first started to feel the Mario Kart Tour influences, since I always felt those tracks seemed to sometimes feel like standard streets. This doesn’t mean whimsy is abandoned. There’s a lot of opportunity to do fun things here! Lots of jumps are available for tricks. It’s possible to drive along walls or grind along rails. Boosts appear. Item boxes and coins are plentiful. Roadsite dinners with food that provide a boost and maybe a costume are great. Plenty of secrets are strewn about as shortcuts, which can be investigated in Free Roam. 

Because everything is interconnected and there’s an effort to make tracks more exhaustive and expressive, that means returning  courses in Mario Kart World feel incredibly different. I’d say it is more like they are “inspired” by the classic tracks than 1:1 recreations as in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Mario Circuit, Moo Moo Meadows, and Choco Mountain felt the most different to me while I went through them, while Shy Guy Bazaar and DK perhaps seemed most familiar. I consider this more of a positive. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is wonderful and feels fantastic on the Switch 2, so someone in search of more traditional courses could go for that. Mario Kart World’s takes on tracks is much more inventive and interesting.

My one complaint is that the only challenge I experienced in Mario Kart World stemmed from the chaos of racing alongside 24 other people in Knockout Tour. The actual courses here never felt as challenging as any I experienced in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Kart Double Dash, or other installments. I’m not asking for something as broken as Super Mario Kart. I do think the tracks here can be incredibly creative and visually stunning. They’re a joy to explore in Free Roam. They just are too easy. I suppose the best example I can give is this incarnation of Rainbow Road. Typically, I might actually attempt to avoid item boxes as I race, for fear of getting a Mushroom or Golden Mushroom that will send me careening off the course. Here? There’s no fear. There’s no danger. That paired with Smart Steering on by default and 200cc’s absence made me wonder if Nintendo put too much effort into courting a younger or amateur audience this time around.

In Knockout Tour, Mario Kart World absolutely feels like a challenge. One that console handles without any issue, which feels like a triumph given 24 people are involved. I didn’t experience any lag. Matches ended up being plentiful. Loading was nonexistent. It’s hectic in a way that still doesn’t feel unfair. Yes, there is some rubberbanding early in a match when there are larger groups of characters. I experienced most of that when trying to get in the top 16 and 12 at the third checkpoints. But once you’re in the top eight, it feels more like a standard race and, if you’re lucky enough to be in the top four, it’s incredible. I managed it only twice, and both times it felt like my opponents were the actual best of the best Mario Kart players. 

I will say the new execution of tracks in Mario Kart World does feel like it favors every mode other than Grand Prix. The design is great for cohesive Knockout Tour rallies. It offers more to explore when evading or collecting in the Balloon Battle and Coin Runners modes. The layouts are exemplary for Free Roam. 

Free Roam is the absolute best, by the way, and I feel it and Knockout Tour are the two options that really sell Mario Kart Tour and it being the poster child for the Switch 2 game everyone needs. Driving through the tracks reveals all of these hidden secrets and challenges that you wouldn’t expect in each area. There are personalities, such as happening upon Nabbit and needing to chase the character down. Most importantly, it can be genuinely relaxing. I love to hop into Free Roam and drive around, exploring nooks and crannies, while listening to some music or putting on a stream or podcast in the background. It is so easy to play around with possible strategies in this mode and do recon on courses. If you’re trying to get extra costumes for characters, finding a spot with Dash Food and camping out is so stress-free here.

I will say I’m a bit split on opinions when it comes to the character costumes in Mario Kart World, some of which are directly lifted from Mario Kart Tour. I do appreciate their inclusion, since discovering them is super fun and the designs are cute. However, I’m a bit disappointed too. There are a lot of costumes from the mobile game omitted, and clear favoritism is shown. Why is Peach’s farmer look here, but Daisy’s isn’t? Why do only babies get their Sailor outfits? None of Pauline’s are present, and she only gets one Aero variant. Cow doesn’t get a costume, but Shy Guy does? The new Super Mario series NPC racers are a fun addition, especially ones like Cow and Dolphin, but all of the Koopalings got left behind in Mario Kart 8. Also, all vehicles are set appearances, though you can customize them with earned stickers, but we can’t adjust parts like body, wheels, and glider for more personal elements.

Mario Kart World is incredible alone or with others online or offline, and it really shows off what might make Switch 2 special. It’s fantastic in more traditional modes like Grand Prix and Battle or new ones such as Knockout Tour and Free Roam. It pays tribute to past games, but feels totally different and innovative in some fun ways. I do wish Grand Prix felt a bit more challenging and perhaps that Koopalings came back, but getting characters like Cow and happening upon new options with Kamek or Dash Food can be a fun surprise during a race. It feels like a must-have game for the new console, while still also leaving a place Mario Kart 8 Deluxe too.

Mario Kart World is available for the Switch 2. 

The post Review: Mario Kart World Is a Perfect Welcome to Switch 2 appeared first on Siliconera.

Years after the release of both Final Fantasy VII Remake and FFVII Rebirth, Square Enix confirmed during the June 2025 Xbox Showcase that we’ll see the game series on the Xbox Series X. It will launch in Winter 2025. It also confirmed FFXVI will show up on the Xbox Series X on June 8, 2025.

As a reminder, this is a trilogy of three games that retell the story of the original FFVII. However, rather than a straightforward remake, there are some additions and alterations. (Someone might even compare the original and remake to Evangelion and Rebuild of Evangelion.) There is also an active combat system, rather than a turn-based one, and characters who were optional in the original are fully integrated into the story here. 

Here’s the official announcement trailer for FFVII Remake: 

As for FFXVI, it is an entirely new mainline entry. It's the journey of Clive Rosfield, the Dominant of the Eikon Ifrit, over the course of years. We see the struggle Dominants go through, as well as what people known as Bearers who can use magic face. There is also continuing corruption of the world due to the Mothercrystals' Blight, and Clive is the one working alongside allies to bring an end to it all to save everyone.

Here’s the official announcement trailer for FFXVI: 

And we can see the full June 2025 Xbox Games Showcase stream below:

This means that this trilogy of games will be available on all of the “big three” systems. The first entry appeared on the PS4, PS5, and PC. Square Enix confirmed a Switch 2 port in the April 2025 Nintendo Direct.  Now, the JRPG is heading to the Xbox Series X as well.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is heading to the Xbox Series X and Switch 2, and both FFVII Remake and Rebirth are on the PS5 and PC now. FFXVI is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

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During Summer Game Fest 2025, Capcom revealed the new cast of characters coming to Street Fighter 6 for the Year 3 DLC. The new season will feature Sagat, C. Viper, Alex, and Ingrid.

C. Viper made her debut in Street Fighter 4 and hasn’t appeared since then. Sagat and Alex last appeared as DLC characters for Street Fighter 5. Meanwhile, Ingrid is an original character that first appeared in Capcom Fighting Evolution and made its first appearance in the Street Fighter series in Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX for the PSP.

Here is the release window for each DLC character:

• Sagat - Summer 2025
• C. Viper - Autumn 2025
• Alex - Early Spring 2026
• Ingrid - Late Spring 2026

Additionally, the announcement trailer featured pro wrestler Kenny Omega cosplaying as each of the 4 characters. You can check out the reveal trailer for the Street Fighter 6 Year 3 DLC here:

Elena is the latest DLC character to release for Year 2, and she made her appearance in the game on June 5, 2025.

Street Fighter 6 is currently available for the PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Switch 2, and PC. Additionally, the Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition is now available for the same platforms including all the DLC content for the first two seasons of the game.

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During Summer Game Fest 2025, Sega made a number of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds announcements, including a September 25, 2025 release date for most platforms and character cameos with Hatsune Miku and from games like Persona 5, Like a Dragon, and Minecraft. However, the Switch 2 version doesn’t have a release date yet. There was also a new trailer showing off each of these crossover racers in-game. There will also be online cross-platform matchmaking for multiplayer.

You can see the trailer here. Hatsune Miku is confirmed for Sonic Racing CrossWorlds first, then we see Joker from Persona 5, Ichiban Kasuga from Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and finally Steve from Minecraft. 

Here’s the full Summer Game Fest 2025 showcase, in case you missed it:

We already knew about many of the Sonic the Hedgehog series characters who will be in Sonic Racing CrossWorlds. Here’s the list:

• Amy Rose
• Big the Cat
• Blaze the Cat
• Charmy Bee
• Cream and Cheese
• Dr. Eggman
• E-123 Omega
• Espio the Chameleon
• Jet the Hawk
• Knuckles the Echidna
• Metal Sonic
• Rouge the Bat
• Shadow the Hedgehog
• Silver the Hedgehog
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Sonic the Werehog
• Storm the Albatross
• Tails
• Vector the Crocodile
• Wave the Swallow
• Zavok

We also know the prices.  It will cost $59.99 on the Switch. The Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC versions will be $69.99. 

Sonic Racing Crossworlds will be on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC on September 25, 2025, and it will be on the Switch 2 as well.

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Square Enix shared new concept art on the official Final Fantasy VII Remake social media , and this time it showed the effect of the Toad status on Cait Sith and Red XIII and their unique forms as frogs in FFVII Rebirth. As is common, both amphibians feature traits and accessories inspired by the characters.

In the case of Cait Sith, it features a black and white color scheme like the tuxedo cat. It also wears a crown and red cape, just like the character. The comment noted it almost ended up being two frogs, to represent how the character rides a Moogle. The Red XIII frog is red with accents that mimic his markings, and it features two feathers behind its eyes. It also has a scar over the right eye.

Here are the two pieces of FFVII Rebirth concept art of Cait Sith and Red XIII as frogs after being afflicted by a Toad spell or Frog Song.

This isn’t the first time Square Enix shared concept art of the frog status effect in FFVII Remake and Rebirth, as the characters’ frogs resemble them when the Toad form is in effect. Back in 2022, around the first game in the trilogy’s launch, we got a better look at the Aerith, Cloud, Tifa, and Barret designs. 

Final Fantasy VII Remake is available for the PS4, PS5, and PC, and FFVII Rebirth is on the PS5 and PC. There’s no release window for the third entry in this remake trilogy yet. FFVII Remake will also come to the Switch 2.

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Bandai Namco announced exactly what is different between the Switch and Switch 2 versions of the new Tamagotchi Plaza game coming out later this month. It turns out the one for the new console includes three shops the other doesn’t. This is because all three involve minigames that use the Joy-Con mouse only present on the latest system. There will also be an upgrade pack that adds those three shops to the Switch version if someone eventually gets the new console. 

There are three shops, though one of them is a hybrid of the first two. In the Sushi Shop, you will hold the Joy-Con in mouse mode and press buttons to create the sushi your customers request. The Shuriken Shop involves getting throwing stars and hitting targets with them. However, to throw them you hold the Joy-Con in mouse mode with the sensors pointed up, then swipe your hand across the top after aiming. The Sushi Shuriken Shop combines the two elements, as you make requested sushi, then flip the Joy-Con ever to toss it like a shuriken at the person who wanted it.

Here’s the Tamagotchi Plaza Switch 2 trailer showing the gameplay for those three shops. There is also a picture-in-picture video that shows the Joy-Con controls for each one’s minigame.

Tamagotchi Plaza will come to the Switch and Switch 2 on June 27, 2025, and the Switch 2 version will feature more shops. Both versions work with the Tamagotchi Uni virtual pet, which is available worldwide. 

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