Update today!
Nintendo showed off Splatoon 3‘s new Expansion Pass earlier today. It’s made up of two waves – including an all-new single-player campaign.
The game’s now received an update – bumping it up to Version 2.1.1. Here are the full patch notes, courtesy of Nintendo’s support page:
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Is the Nintendo Switch too old? Can Nintendo’s wildly successful handheld, now in its sixth year, maintain its momentum amid concerns about horsepower and a potentially barren release schedule in the second half of 2023? Is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom really worth $70?
These were some of the questions being asked heading into the first Nintendo Direct of 2023 — a show that Nintendo typically uses to set the agenda for the rest of the year. There was excitement among Nintendo fans, but wariness as well. Coming off a year marred by releases with notable technical problems, and with the long-rumored Switch Pro failing to materialize, the calls for a next-gen Switch have become difficult to ignore.
In the end, Nintendo fans didn’t get their Switch 2, or even much in the way of new information on The Legend of the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. They did, however, get to see several prominent rumors come to fruition, including the long-awaited arrival of Game Boy and GBA games on Switch. The heavily-rumored Baten Kaitos collection also made the cut, and Advance Wars got a release date at last. Even Mario Kart 8 got a little love with a new character and track.
In a sign of the Nintendo Switch’s increasingly advanced age, many of the announcements were more about looking back than looking forward. Retro Studios’ Metroid Prime remaster — rumored since seemingly the dawn of the Switch — was a big part of the Direct, even receiving a shadow drop after the show was over. It’s a release that’s been loudly requested by fans over the years, not the least because Metroid Prime is so hard to get these days. Is the remaster enough to fill the gap between now and whenever the next Switch is released? It’ll have to be.
Of course, Nintendo fans know that it can always be worse. Much worse. The Wii U saw fewer than 20 games released at retail in 2016. The GameCube fared little better, but both consoles effectively withered on the vine in their final years as third-party developers fled to other platforms and new releases were pushed to next-generation successors.
The Nintendo Switch feels strikingly robust by comparison, handily surpassing the PS4 to become the third highest selling platform in history. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, for all of their technical problems, still managed to move some 18 million units combined last year. With a mix of sequels, indie releases, and remasters, Nintendo has maintained a steady drumbeat of new releases on the platform. Add in the occasional tentpole release, and the Switch has managed to remain relevant — even essential — despite being multiple generations behind in tech.
That sense was heightened by the anticipation for today’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailer. Ever since its brief reveal in 2019, the long-awaited sequel to Breath of the Wild has stood on the horizon like a glittering treasure for Switch owners. Its predecessor has grown in esteem to the point that many fans regard it as the best game in the series, if not the best game ever made. Tears of the Kingdom has come to symbolize the hope and anticipation that has defined so much of the Switch’s run, which has fueled endless speculation around the next Nintendo Direct, the next Smash Bros. reveal, the next remaster, the next sequel.
Nintendo was content to let that speculation go on a little longer with today’s trailer, teasing Zelda fans with around two minutes of new footage. It wasn’t much, but it was seemingly enough to overcome some of the discontent over its $70 price point, which feels especially high on an older system like the Nintendo Switch. It hardly seems possible that Tears of the Kingdom will live up to its sky high expectations fueled by years of waiting, but Nintendo has made a habit of matching and exceeding the hype with Zelda.
After Tears of the Kingdom, though, Nintendo faces plenty of questions. Most of the anticipated sequels are out now; the well of remasters is almost dry. With so few future titles highlighted during the Direct, it’s hard to know what the rest of 2023 holds for Nintendo Switch. Even now, there’s a growing consensus among fans and observers that it’s time for Nintendo to move on from the Switch.
That won’t be easy for Nintendo. The Switch has been easily the most successful Nintendo platform in two 25 years, surpassing even the highs of the Wii. It has seen the company enjoy a creative and cultural renaissance that will be difficult — if not impossible — to replicate. A new Switch will garner plenty of excitement, but it’s hard to imagine another moment like Animal Crossing: New Horizon.
Nintendo fulfilled many long-held rumors and dreams with the first Direct of 2023. After today, there won’t be many left. More than ever, the end is in sight.
Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
Metroid Prime Remastered is already availble on the Nintendo eShop, but it’s coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch in physical form on February 22. It’s starting to trickle out to retailers now. It’s currently only avialable at Best Buy for $39.99. You can preorder it here.
The physical version is currently only available at Best Buy, but it should be going up at other retailers shortly.
If you enjoy having your games in digital format (to say nothing of getting access to it immediately), you can buy it on the Nintendo eShop right now.
Metroid Prime Remastered is a souped-up version of a game that originally came out on GameCube in 2002. This version has revamped dual-stick controls, but old-school gamers can opt to play with controls that mimic the non-dual-stick feel of the original.
You can check out our original Metroid Prime review for more details and to see what our critic thought of it at the time.
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed or on Mastodon @chrislreed.
Get splashing.
Sabotage Studios’ long awaited RPG Sea Of Stars finally has a release date. The classically-inspired adventure, and prequel to The Messenger, will be launching on 29th August.
But if you can’t wait until the tail end of summer to play this absolute stunner, then you don’t have to. Nintendo announced during today’s Direct that a demo will be available to download on the eShop today.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Kirby’s Return To Dream Land originally came out in 2011, right at the tail end of the Wii’s incandescent lifespan. It aimed to be Kirby in its purest, SNES-aping form; a bright, side-scrolling beat-em-up laden with digestible power-ups, airy platforming, and a flat difficulty curve. (In other words, it wasn’t a kart racer, or a pinball machine.) Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, which hits the Switch later this month, is effectively the same game with some notable bells and whistles tacked on. If Kirby’s recent foray into the Forgotten Land has you hungry for more of his trademark dayglo hijinks, then Nintendo will gladly let us explore the fairly recent past.
Return to Dream Land was built around the chaos of four-player co-op, which translates nicely to the Switch’s flexibility. I played the game using a single Joy-Con on its side, and given how Kirby has never been the most mechanically dexterous series on the planet, I had no trouble chowing down on the many hapless Waddle Doos in my reign of terror. If Kirby doesn’t resonate with you, players can also strap into either Meta-Knight or King Dedede — both of whom have apparently defected to the side of righteousness for this adventure — to aid in the campaign. The controls are eerily similar to what you might find in Super Smash Bros., with distinct attack abilities mapped to the directional tilt of the joystick. Yes, Kirby has an up-B, a down-B, and even a bubble shield in Return to Dream Land. All that’s missing is a grapple.
Hal Laboratories has added a few new enemies (and their corresponding morph suits) to the campaign to spice up the action for returning Dream Land residents. I encountered one who, upon consumption, turned Kirby into a mechanized gundam warrior. He reigned hellfire down on his enemies with hilarious splendor. There are also a few “ultimate” transformations to find, which as the name implies, can clear the screen in a hurry. After snagging one, I was able to expand into a giant runaway snowball, rolling up everything — yes, even my teammates — in my wake. It wouldn’t be a multiplayer Nintendo game without a bit of anarchy.
Our squad breezed through the gauntlet and the corresponding boss battle, so if you’re expecting a foreboding challenge — the prophesied Dark Souls of Kirby — you won’t find it here. What you will find are a number of mini-games that are siloed off in a different mode called Merry Magoland. We played one, called, adorably, Kirby on the Draw, which was a standard shooting gallery affixed to Joy-Con motion controls. If you tire of the story missions, it appears that Return to Dream Land can easily double as a party game.
But the most interesting new wrinkle is what Nintendo is describing as an epilogue attached to the end of Return to Dream Land’s story. In it, we play as the ostensible final boss — Magolor — who finds themselves bereft of their powers and left for dead. At the start of the chapter, the only character functionality you’ll have access to is a floaty jump and a wimpy pea shooter. However, as you and up to three friends blast through the enemies (and maintain Devil May Cry-style combos), you’ll be able to purchase upgrades to your arsenal, as if you were outfitting a League of Legends Champion. After going under the hood, suddenly Magolor’s energy beam covers more ground, and he’s able to drop bombs from the sky. I wasn’t able to see the full depths of Magolor’s journey, but structurally, it does appear to pack more of a punch than the effervescent levity that has defined the Kirby series for decades. I doubt it’ll match the daunting challenge of, say, Metroid Dread, but it’s still an interesting direction.
Will that be enough for Return to Dream Land to leave a dent on the release schedule? It’s difficult to say. There are certainly more auspicious re-releases lingering in Nintendo’s back-catalog, and a deluxe version of a tasteful but featherweight Kirby game can’t hope to match the same megaton appeal of a remastered take on Skyward Sword or Link’s Awakening — both of which recently made their way to the Switch. Still, this is a surprisingly generous package for a game that could’ve easily been saddled with the standard HD up-res and a few quality of life improvements. Kirby’s Return To Dream Land wants to be regarded as a brand new game. We’ll see if gamers agree.
Nintendo has announced that it is adding Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, and they’re coming later today.
Revealed as part of today’s Nintendo Direct event, Nintendo said that classic Game Boy games will be available as part of the basic Nintendo Switch Online subscription, while Game Boy Advance games are coming as part of the premium Expansion Pack upgrade for Switch Online.
Game Boy games included at launch include Tetris, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, Gargoyle’s Quest, Game & Watch Gallery 3, Alonme in the Dark: The New Nightmare, Metroid II: Return of Samus, Wario Land 3, and Kirby’s Dream Land. You can use the Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, and Game Boy Color filters.
The launch lineup for Game Boy Advance includes Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, WarioWare Inc.: Mega MicroGames, Kuru Kuru Kuruin, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. More games are coming in the future for both platforms.
The Expansion Pack for Nintendo Switch Online launched last October, and made N64 and Sega Genesis games available for subscribers. Its launch wasn’t the smoothest in gaming history with players reporting lag while playing the classic games, but those games did at least play at 60Hz in all territories.
Improvements have since been made, and the library has also expanded to include The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Game Boy games only add to the library of nostalgia.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
Microsoft has been putting out new Xbox controller designs at a steady clip for years now. The latest is an eye-catching entry called Xbox Wireless Controller – Stellar Shift Special Edition. It continues the Shift line that includes the Aqua Shift and Lunar Shift designs, and it looks pretty great. It costs $69.99 and you can order it now at Best Buy and the Microsoft Store.
The controller is a somewhat shiny kind of purple-blue color that shifts hues as you turn it. You can see the color-changing effect in a video in the official announcement. Xbox PR says it has “deep space vibes.” It also has marbled purple and black textured grips on the handles that goes well with the overall somewhat trippy design of the device.
Textured grips are also in place on the triggers, bumpers, and back case, meaning your fingers shouldn’t be slipping off this thing no matter how intense your gaming session gets. Most of the rest of the features are pretty standard for Xbox controllers. Xbox makes the best controller of them all, in my opinion.
One other bonus you get for picking up the Stellar Shift controller is that it comes with a dynamic deep-space purple and blue Xbox background that’s unlocked when you connect the controller to your Xbox Series X or S. You can select this from the settings screen.
These Shift controllers do seem to be available in somewhat limited quantities. The Aqua Shift one seems to have sold out everywhere, though the Lunar Shift one is available for the discounted price of $49.99. So who knows what will happen to this one. It looks pretty cool though.
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed or on Mastodon @chrislreed.
Leaked on SteamDB.
The gorgeous action-adventure RPG Eastward, developed by Shanghai studio Pixpil, might just be getting some DLC in the near future — if SteamDB is anything to go by!
A brand new listing, titled Eastward – Octopia, was last updated on SteamDB on 2nd February and spotted yesterday by u/cloudsheep0 on the GamingLeaksAndRumours subreddit. This will be the first major update to the game since its release on Switch in October 2021, where it was a timed console exclusive.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Forge your path and create a legacy in Season 2 of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. In addition to a new map that will be featured in Resurgence and DMZ game modes, the new season brings Ranked Play, additional Multiplayer maps, and a handful of franchise-favorite game modes like Infected, Gun Game, and Grind.
Unlock five new free functional weapons, test your skills in the Path of the Ronin Challenges, and dominate with the new Operator, Ronin.
Season 2 launches on PlayStation on February 15.
Ashika Island is a centuries-old village under siege by Shadow Company forces. Navigate an ancient shipwreck and ruins, a modern town center, a beach club, a port, an organic farm, or the fortified castle standing over the island. Ashika Island has its own secrets to uncover, often rewarding intrepid explorers. Its points of interest include:
Ōganikku Farms – The majority of the northwestern sector of Ashika Island is comprised of mixed agricultural, residential, and industrial use, along with old shoreline defenses.
Town Center – Impressive sea wall defenses, a Ferry Terminal, tourist facilities, a semi-circular City Hall structure and more highlight this point of interest.
Beach Club – Further southwest of the Town Center, and east of the Port is an aquarium and Beach Club and open-air swimming within the southwestern ocean beach.
Tsuki Castle – The higher ground in the center of Ashika Island is dominated by an ancient castle with multiple fortifications, cherry blossoms in bloom, and a natural defensive hill along the southwestern side of the structure.
Port Ashika – The southwestern edge is dominated by rocky bluffs, and a port named after the island. Expect a variety of industrial warehouses, offices, a comms tower as you venture towards the ocean.
Residential – On the lower ground below the castle battlements to the north, and east of the Farms and allotments sits some residential housing between a couple of industrial structures.
Shipwreck – The inclement weather and hazardous shoreline spelled doom for two cargo tankers. Both vessels have run aground here, and the Shipment containers they were carrying have been mostly saved and stacked in a pleasing manner.
Resurgence Returns: Available for all squad sizes – Solos, Duos, Trios, and Quads – within regular Playlist updates throughout the season, Resurgence Mode allows for multiple respawns, as long as one squad member is still standing. If a squad member is eliminated while one or more squad members are still alive, a countdown will appear beside their name. When this countdown hits zero, they will redeploy to the Drop Zone.
This countdown can be shortened by your squadmates performing specific in-game actions such as eliminating enemies. This countdown grows longer with each circle collapse until the final few circles — where all redeploys, save for those bought through a Buy Station — are disabled. The last squad standing wins.
Restore Honor (Launch, Resurgence): Every Operator on Ashika Island will drop a dog tag upon death, which can either be picked up by a squadmate or themselves after redeploying. Doing so grants a small Cash reward and a single UAV ping that marks both enemy threats and nearby Supply Boxes.
Search and Seizure (In-Season, Resurgence): Reclaim a stolen vehicle from Shadow Company forces on the island. Operators must neutralize any guards near the vehicle, then grab the dropped key and get the vehicle to its designated drop-off point. Expect heavy resistance en route to your destination.
Data Heist (In-Season, Resurgence): A new Public Event, the Data Heist occurs during the second circle collapse, when three uplink stations come online around the map. Squads can hack into and remain near the uplink station to gain intel. Eliminate incoming Shadow Company forces to speed up the download process.
Enemy Operators can halt progress by contesting the station area directly or by using a DDoS Field Upgrade. Squads that successfully download the intel from two or three uplink stations will receive increased rewards, such as a random Killstreak or even an Advanced UAV.
Redeploy Drones (In-Season, Resurgence): Redeploy Drones are the high-risk, high-reward way to reposition around Ashika Island. Simply hook a cable up to the drone via interaction, then launch up and parachute to a distant location. Drones occasionally change position during the match and can be targeted by lock-on missiles.
New Rusher Combatant (In-Season, Resurgence): What they lack in defense, the Rusher makes up for in agility and a deadly short sword. This adversary also packs a pistol in case a target is unreachable for a melee attack, as well as mini smoke bombs for distraction and repositioning.
As part of the new season, Ashika Island will be a new Exclusion Zone accessible in DMZ. This new area continues the mode’s narrative and other new features like Boss Hideouts.
Available on February 22, the Season 2 Combat Pack grants Hiro “Oni” Wantanabe a new Operator Skin that suits the journey of those living the Samurai Code.
PlayStation Plus members will also receive the following: the “Oni Carver” SMG Blueprint, the “Oni Slasher” Assault Rifle Blueprint, the “Yoroi” Weapon Charm, the “Crimson Oni” Animated Calling Card, the “Golden Dragonfly” Weapon Sticker, and the “Grinning Oni” Emblem.
Ranked Play: Prove your skills in this feature-packed Multiplayer mode using Call of Duty League (CDL)-approved rules, restrictions, maps, and modes. Earn exclusive items and display your public skill rank with pride.
Ranked Play includes seven Skill Divisions — Bronze through the Top 250, where your name will be displayed on a special Top 250 leaderboard. Earn Skill Division Skins based on your highest rank for the Season, including rewards for finishing in the Gold Division or above for the first time, along with other unique rewards given out each season.
Dome (Core Map): Located at the highest point in Al Mazrah, Dome is a recreation of one of Call of Duty’s most iconic Multiplayer maps. This small- to medium-sized map is built for fast-paced combat in and around its three main buildings, including the iconic domed structure.
Zaya Observatory (Battle Map): The Battle Map version of Dome expands to fit the entire mountaintop area.
Al Malik International (Battle Map): This modern airport located at the southern tip of Al Mazrah features traditional and modern architecture. Use the skills you’ve applied here in Battle Royale and DMZ to secure victory.
The other Core map launching at the start of Season 2 is Valderas Museum, returning since first appearing in the Modern Warfare II Beta.
Infected (Launch): Operators must avoid the chosen Infected player at all costs. Eliminated survivors join the Infected until none remain, or the timer runs out.
Gun Game (Launch): Each ranged elimination awards the next weapon, while melee eliminations put your opponent one weapon back on the 18-weapon rotation.
Grind (Launch): Kill Confirmed with a twist: Enemy dog tags are stackable and must be banked at one of two fixed locations. Bank multiple dog tags at once to maximize point gains.
Drop Zone (In-Season): A derivative of Hardpoint, Drop Zone sends a Care Package down into occupied zones every 15 seconds. Perfect for those looking to ramp up their Killstreak elimination numbers or who just love pure chaos.
All or Nothing (In-Season): Operators start the match with Throwing Knives and a pistol with no ammo, plus additional perks with each elimination starting with Scavenger, granting ammo after each elimination.
One in the Chamber (In-Season): Every Operator gets a handgun with one bullet in the chamber for this Free-for-All variant. Each elimination awards an additional bullet, and Operators have only three respawns.
Atomgrad was just the beginning. Price, Farah, and Gaz will be back later in Season 2 with Episode 2 of the Raid, a continuation of the Modern Warfare II Campaign.
The Path of the Ronin Event presents seven challenges to be completed in Warzone 2.0 or Modern Warfare II based on the themes of Integrity, Respect, Courage, Honor, Compassion, Sincerity, and Loyalty. Complete every challenge to unlock the new Crossbow functional weapon.
Get three of these new weapons through the Season 2 Battle Pass and the other two weapons through seasonal challenges:
ISO Hemlock Assault Rifle (Launch, Battle Pass): This powerful and enhanced rifle from Expedite Firearms is designed to take both 5.56 and subsonic .300 BLK ammunition, providing battlefield-advantage in any situation.
KV Broadside Shotgun (Launch, Battle Pass): Bringing the power of 12 gauge to the Kastov Platform, the KV Broadside is the fastest-firing semi-auto firearm in the shotgun class. Destroys targets at close range with impunity.
Crossbow (Launch Window, Challenges): Silent and agile, this high-performance crossbow fires 20.0” bolts with exceptional lethality. Exclusive customization, distinct functionality, and unique ammunition types put this weapon in a class of its own. Standard 20.0” bolts are recoverable and are undetectable by Trophy Systems. Unlock this new functional weapon by completing The Path of the Ronin challenges.
Also coming to Season 2 is the Dual Kodachis Melee Weapon as part of the Battle Pass, as well as a new Marksman Rifle to be available at midseason.
Complementing the armored Patrol Boat and the midsized RHIB, the Personal Watercraft (PWC) is a nimble seacraft capable of swiftly carrying up to two Operators through waterways.
Daniel “Ronin” Shinoda (Launch): Returning from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), Ronin is an ex–Special Forces fighter known for his mastery of multiple fighting styles. He is an accomplished saboteur who can pick apart defense systems like no other Operator can.
Purchase Modern Warfare II on PlayStation for the premium Warzone 2.0 experience — access up to 14 additional Operators, earn Weapon and Level Progression, and more. As a Modern Warfare II owner, receive bonus XP at the end of each match when you play Warzone 2.0.
Stay frosty.
Following a two-week delay, Activision has fully revealed the Season 2 roadmap for both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and its free-to-play companion game, Warzone 2.0.
The extensive list of updates includes new maps for both games, the return of popular modes, and even a new watercraft vehicle. More importantly, it will add ranked play to multiplayer in Modern Warfare 2, which will offer “plenty of rewards and bragging rights.”
Season 2 is currently slated to launch for both games on February 15 at 9am PT.
The #CODBlog has everything you need to know about Call of Duty #Warzone2 and #MWII Season 02 ? https://t.co/7IPLy2iMju
? Resurgence is back on Ashika Island
? Grind to the top with MP Ranked Play
? Infected and Gun Game return
? Major BR changes including 1v1 Gulag pic.twitter.com/sz7uLLItCC— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) February 8, 2023
In a blog post detailing the updates, Activision laid out the changes while revealing Warzone’s new Japanese-themed Ashika Island map. Here’s the official description.
Developed by High Moon Studios, Ashika Island is a centuries-old village currently under siege by Shadow Company forces. After dropping in through the mist, Operators can navigate an ancient shipwreck and ruins, modern apartments and town center, a sprawling beach club, a bustling port, an organic farm, or the fortified castle that looms over the entire island. They may even discover plenty of rooftop pathways or the underground waterway networks that can be used for stealthier maneuvers.
The island is suited for Resurgence Mode, Activision says — a variant on the traditional battle royale formula built around respawns and smaller maps.
Other additions include:
Originally released last year, Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 both proved popular but also generated lengthy wishlists from fans. The long-awaited Season 2 update was subsequently delayed due to the desire to address “player feedback.”
In our review of Warzone 2 we wrote, “Building on the already rock-solid foundation of the original Warzone, Warzone 2.0 is a positive update to Call of Duty’s battle royale mode, even with few drawbacks of its own.”
Elsewhere, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) released its initial findings on the Activision Blizzard merger earlier today, with the CMA arguing that the deal would ultimately hurt gamers. Nevertheless, Xbox’s Phil Spencer says he remains confident the deal will ultimately go through.
Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
