N e w s C e n t r a l

What will happen to TikTok? A look at the potential buyers.

TikTok may be back online and in app stores, but its future in the United States is still far from certain. President Donald Trump’s executive order <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/trump-delays-tiktok-ban-for-at-least-75-days-via-executive-order-014523110.html">delaying enforcement</a> of the ban was only a temporary reprieve for the company and the clock is once again <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/tiktoks-ban-deadline-is-coming-what-happens-next-162420478.html">running out</a> on a potential ban. While ByteDance was once resistant to the idea of selling TikTok’s US business, that seems to have changed since Trump took office. A ByteDance investor <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/22/bytedance-tiktok-ban-deal-china-us-davos">said</a> early this year that striking a deal to keep TikTok in the US is “in everybody's interest." Officials in China also suggested they were “open” to a deal, <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/china-signals-it-wont-block-a-deal-to-keep-tiktok-in-the-u-s-54c4d1e8">according to</a> The Wall Street Journal. A number of people and companies have signaled some interest in TikTok. Trump himself <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g3z55zz7xo">has said</a> he would like to see a “bidding war” for the app and that the US government should own <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=34e37b9c-8975-48da-aa39-df8bcd5badc3&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=0f967f12-8789-470a-b243-b5d5313dc27c&featureId=text-link&merchantName=CNBC&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jbmJjLmNvbS8yMDI1LzAxLzE5L3RydW1wLXNheXMtaGUtd2lsbC1yZXZpdmUtdGlrdG9rLWJ1dC13YW50cy01MHBlcmNlbnQtdXMtb3duZXJzaGlwLmh0bWwiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjBmOTY3ZjEyLTg3ODktNDcwYS1iMjQzLWI1ZDUzMTNkYzI3YyIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY25iYy5jb20vMjAyNS8wMS8xOS90cnVtcC1zYXlzLWhlLXdpbGwtcmV2aXZlLXRpa3Rvay1idXQtd2FudHMtNTBwZXJjZW50LXVzLW93bmVyc2hpcC5odG1sIn0&signature=AQAAAccczjY0KqB_uaso3KYtwba5dbSaVh36FsS6GzN5E033&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnbc.com%2F2025%2F01%2F19%2Ftrump-says-he-will-revive-tiktok-but-wants-50percent-us-ownership.html">a stake</a> in the company. What an eventual deal may look like, though, is unclear. These are the offers we currently know about. On March 9, Trump said the administration was "dealing with four different groups" on a potential deal, though he didn't name names.  Trump’s executive order gave the company 75 days to come to an agreement, though he has <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5180939-trump-considers-extending-tiktok-ban/">recently said</a> he would "probably" extend the deadline if a deal isn't reached by April 5. <h2 id="jump-link-oracle">Oracle + new US investors</h2> NPR <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.npr.org/2025/01/25/g-s1-44779/tiktok-ban-deal-trump-oracle">reported</a> in January that Oracle was working with Trump Administration officials on “a plan to save TikTok that involves tapping software company Oracle and a group of outside investors to effectively take control of the app's global operations.” Under this arrangement, ByteDance “would retain a minority stake in the company” but Oracle would oversee “the app's algorithm, data collection and software updates.” Recent reports <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/tiktoks-ban-deadline-is-coming-what-happens-next-162420478.html">suggest</a> that a new investors, including Silicon Valley heavyweight Andreesen Horowitz, would join TikTok's existing US investors to form a new entity. It could be called "TikTok America," according to <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/trump-outline-tiktok-deal-proposal-bytedance-retaining-stake">a report</a> in The Information. This option is likely appealing because it wouldn't require a new owner to attempt to re-architect the app's algorithm and because TikTok has an existing partnership with Oracle. The cloud company <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/tiktok-user-data-us-200500287.html">already hosts</a> TikTok’s US user data and the company was <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/can-tiktok-convince-the-us-its-not-a-national-security-threat-173030115.html">a key part</a> of TikTok’s original negotiations to remain operational in the US under a plan called Project Texas. (Those negotiations abruptly <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/05/29/tiktok-cfius-proposal-rejected/">fell apart</a> in 2022.) Trump also previously <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/trump-tentatively-approves-tiktok-oracle-walmart-deal-140805501.html">signed off on a deal</a> for Oracle and Walmart to acquire a 20 percent stake in TikTok in 2020, when the president tried to ban the app during his first term. That deal never materialized. <h2 id="jump-link-microsoft">Microsoft</h2> Microsoft is reportedly also interested in playing a role in TikTok’s future, according to the same NPR story, which said Microsoft was among the “other potential investors” involved in the talks with Oracle. Trump seemingly confirmed this. When asked directly if Microsoft was interested in buying TikTok, Trump <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/28/donald-trump-microsoft-tiktok-purchase-claims">responded</a> “I would say yes.” As with Oracle, this isn’t the first time Microsoft has attempted to acquire the social media company. Microsoft was in talks to buy TikTok <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-tiktok-acquisition-september-trump-001655945.html">in 2020</a> and take over its US business, but the deal <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-not-buying-tiktok-233257859.html">abruptly fell apart</a>. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella later <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/27/microsoft-ceo-calls-trump-tiktok-deal-strangest-thing-worked-on.html">described</a> it as “the strangest thing I’ve ever sort of worked on.” <h2 id="jump-link-perplexity-ai-and-maybe-the-us-government">Perplexity AI </h2> Just before TikTok briefly <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/tiktok-is-no-longer-available-in-the-us-040204115.html">went offline</a>, Perplexity AI threw its hat into the ring, offering <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/perplexity-ai-has-reportedly-submitted-an-11th-hour-bid-to-save-tiktok-in-the-us-215012514.html">a deal</a> to ByteDance that “would “create a new entity combining Perplexity, TikTok US and New Capital Partners.” Since then, Perplexity has tweaked its proposal. The company put out a <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/perplexity-ai-says-it-would-rebuild-tiktoks-algorithm-and-add-community-notes-features-200449390.html">detailed plan</a> outlining how it would rebuild the app's core recommendation algorithm, integrate shortform videos into its search engine and bring a Community Notes-like fact checking feature to the service.  <h2 id="jump-link-project-liberty">Project Liberty</h2> Another set of investors that’s proposed a bid to buy TikTok is a group known as <a href="https://www.projectliberty.io/peoples-bid-for-tiktok/">Project Liberty</a>. Led by investor Frank McCourt, it includes <a href="https://www.projectliberty.io/news/kevin-oleary-joining-the-peoples-bid-for-tiktok/">Kevin O’Leary</a> of Shark Tank fame. The group initially came forward before the ban took effect. In March, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian <a href="https://x.com/alexisohanian/status/1899203761589170198">announced</a> that he was joining the Project Liberty bid to acquire TikTok's assets. "I'd love to see an app where users actually own their data and where creators have real control," he wrote in a short post on X that hinted at a potential tie-in with... the blockchain. "Imagine bringing all those users seamlessly onchain..." An accompanying video referenced the possibility of "decentralized distribution," but didn't offer details. O’Leary previously <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=34e37b9c-8975-48da-aa39-df8bcd5badc3&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=0f967f12-8789-470a-b243-b5d5313dc27c&featureId=text-link&merchantName=CNBC&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jbmJjLmNvbS8yMDI1LzAxLzIyL2tldmluLW9sZWFyeS1zYXlzLWhlLXdpbGwtbG92ZS10by1kby1hLXRpa3Rvay1kZWFsLWJ1dC1sYXctcHJldmVudHMtaXRzLWFjcXVpc2l0aW9uLmh0bWwiLCJjb250ZW50VXVpZCI6IjBmOTY3ZjEyLTg3ODktNDcwYS1iMjQzLWI1ZDUzMTNkYzI3YyIsIm9yaWdpbmFsVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY25iYy5jb20vMjAyNS8wMS8yMi9rZXZpbi1vbGVhcnktc2F5cy1oZS13aWxsLWxvdmUtdG8tZG8tYS10aWt0b2stZGVhbC1idXQtbGF3LXByZXZlbnRzLWl0cy1hY3F1aXNpdGlvbi5odG1sIn0&signature=AQAAAQKINfRiCJCB29cl56S4SPS2SInboy4kiKjWj4Gefend&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnbc.com%2F2025%2F01%2F22%2Fkevin-oleary-says-he-will-love-to-do-a-tiktok-deal-but-law-prevents-its-acquisition.html">told CNBC</a> that deals involving a government stake may not comply with the law. “That 50/50 deal, I would love to work with Trump on, so would every other potential buyer ... But the problem with some of these ideas is they are inconsistent with the ruling of the Supreme Court,” he said. “I would love to do a deal, if the law provided for it, but I don’t have the luxury of breaching the order of Congress.” Later, <a href="https://x.com/kevinolearytv/status/1884710008664764806">he said</a> that the deal "changes by the hour," writing on X that "it's clear to me now that we're going to have to do a dance between the original owners, the founders of ByteDance itself, and interpreting the law of what Congress and Supreme Court has upheld." <h2 id="jump-link-mrbeast">MrBeast</h2> YouTuber MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, joked <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://x.com/MrBeast/status/1878995330731299006">on X</a> about buying TikTok ahead of the initial ban. He later <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://x.com/MrBeast/status/1879224239485808811">said</a> that “so many billionaires” had reached out to him about making an offer that he was going to try to actually pull it off. <div id="6006be01ec7c491db52a777e7eea8d82"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Okay fine, I’ll buy Tik Tok so it doesn’t get banned— MrBeast (@MrBeast) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBeast/status/1878995330731299006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2025</a></blockquote> </div> At least one group has already <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.paulhastings.com/news/paul-hastings-advises-investor-group-on-all-cash-bid-for-tiktoks-u-s-operations">confirmed</a> his involvement, along with other “high-net-worth individuals” looking to make an “all-cash offer.” That group, led by employer.com founder Jesse Tinsley also reportedly includes Roblox CEO David Baszucki. According to Bloomberg, together they have put together “significantly” more than <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-29/tiktok-bidders-to-offer-significantly-more-than-20-billion?sref=10lNAhZ9">$20 billion</a> for a bid, though it’s not clear how seriously their offer is being considered. Bloomberg noted that there’s also a possibility that MrBeast may attach himself to other bids. <h2 id="jump-link-amazon">Amazon</h2> Amazon reportedly made a <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/amazon-reportedly-wants-to-buy-tiktok-now-too-173957102.html">last-ditch bid</a> to buy TikTok, according to reports in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. The online retailer reportedly approached Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the offer, which doesn't seem to be under serious consideration. Amazon declined to comment on the reports. <h2 id="jump-link-applovin">AppLovin</h2> Another company to make a last-minute offer is AppLovin, a Silicon Valley company that makes software for app developers. The Wall Street Journal <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/tiktok-ban-bids-amazon-applovin-62a1d573">reported</a> that the firm also has backing from Steve Wynn, a casino mogul and Trump donor. "AppLovin’s pitch to the Trump administration, which would be funded by Wynn, was that it could solve national security concerns and unleash economic growth as a job creator," The WSJ reported. <h2 id="jump-link-onlyfans-ceo-tim-stokely">OnlyFans CEO Tim Stokely</h2> Yet another eleventh hour bid for TikTok reportedly comes from OnlyFans CEO Tim Stokely. Reuters <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/onlyfans-founder-crypto-foundation-submit-late-stage-bid-buy-tiktok-2025-04-02/">reports</a> that Stokely (via a startup he runs called Zoop) partnered with the Hbar Foundation, a cryptocurrency firm, to bid on TikTok.  "Our bid for TikTok isn't just about changing ownership, it's about creating a new paradigm where both creators and their communities benefit directly from the value they generate," one of Zoop's executives told the publication. <div id="0406cbdc38fe409b983f55b0c68dbc46"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/bQNcWYJ2tD">pic.twitter.com/bQNcWYJ2tD</a>— HBAR Foundation (@HBAR_foundation) <a href="https://twitter.com/HBAR_foundation/status/1907502097156755628?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote> </div> <h2 id="jump-link-whats-next">What’s next?</h2> So where does all this leave TikTok? For now, the company is still in limbo. Even if a tentative deal is announced ahead of the April 5 deadline, ByteDance and Chinese officials would also need to sign off on any agreement in order for it to move forward. Update, March 10, 2025, 6:55PM ET: This story has been updated to add new statements from President Trump, as well as to add details about Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian joining the Project Liberty bid. Update, April 2, 2025, 6:47PM ET: This story has been updated with new information regarding proposals involving Oracle and Perplexity AI. It's also been updated to reflect reported bids from Amazon, AppLovin and OnlyFans CEO Tim Stokely.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/what-will-happen-to-tiktok-a-look-at-the-potential-buyers-000110723.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

The Switch 2's battery life is shorter than the current Switch

The <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-everything-announced-including-a-new-mario-kart-game-new-switch-features-and-more-133105264.html">Switch 2</a> is bigger, more powerful and <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/is-the-450-nintendo-switch-2-too-expensive-195750206.html">more expensive</a> than the original Switch, but the <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.nintendo.com/us/gaming-systems/switch-2/tech-specs/#nintendoswitch2">tech specs</a> for the new console reveal at least one key way it's worse: The Switch 2's battery life is shorter. Nintendo says that battery life on the Switch 2 varies depending on the game you play, but that it estimates the console should last approximately "2 – 6.5 hours." That's notably shorter than the battery life you'll get out of a current Switch or Switch OLED, <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Nintendo-Switch/How-Long-Does-the-Battery-Charge-Last-1630015.html#:~:text=Once%20fully%20charged%2C%20the%20battery,approximately%204.5%20to%209%20hours.">based on the company's support page</a>. Nintendo estimates that a Switch OLED "with a serial number that starts with 'XT'" should last around "4.5 to 9 hours." Non-OLED Switch consoles "with a serial number that starts with 'XK'" are expected to last the same amount of time. Even the original Switch, which has "a serial number that starts with 'XA'," gets a minimum of 2.5 hours of battery life. Apparently, the extra power of the Switch 2 comes with a price. Nintendo's tech specs confirm a few other notable details. The Switch 2 supports Wi-Fi 6, which should mean you'll get faster internet speeds when the console isn't docked and connected over ethernet. Based on Nintendo's guarantee that the console "supports 120 fps when 1920x1080/2560x1440 resolutions are selected," it seems like the Switch 2 won't support HDMI 2.1. As far as controllers are concerned, Amiibo support remains, but if you have special place in your heart for the Wii-esque motion controls you could use on the original Switch, it looks like you're out of luck on the Switch 2. Neither the left or right Joy-Con 2 controllers have an IR sensor, one of the ways Nintendo tracked motion on the Wii and Switch. That doesn't mean you can't use motion controls on the Switch 2, just that Nintendo isn't using IR to make them work. (At least in <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/metroid-prime-4-beyond-gameplay-trailer-shows-off-samus-new-psychic-abilities-143326681.html">Metroid Prime 4: Beyond</a>, it seems like "mouse control" fills the role motion controls used to on older games.)  Do any of these changes dramatically alter the calculus on whether the Switch 2 is worth buying? Maybe not, but it is interesting to see some of the compromises and decisions Nintendo made to offer what is effectively "the Switch, but better."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-switch-2s-battery-life-is-shorter-than-the-current-switch-211753028.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

The Nintendo Switch 2 arrives on June 5 at $450

<div id="4a7d206667f945a297d7584169dcecfd"></div> At last, we have the critical info millions of gamers have awaited for years: the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/everything-revealed-at-the-switch-2-nintendo-direct-133105950.html">Nintendo Switch 2</a> release date, price and other details about the new system. The console will arrive on June 5 and it costs $450. <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/how-to-pre-order-the-nintendo-switch-2-140931639.html">Pre-orders will open on April 9</a>, so you have a week to break open your piggy bank. The June release date confirms the long-standing rumors that had percolated since Nintendo first revealed the details of the new console in January. As suspected, it dovetails with the series of roadshow events Nintendo is holding around the globe to let folks<a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-sign-up-for-the-nintendo-switch-2-experience-170052140.html"> try the Switch 2 for the first time</a>. Those wrap up in early June. It's been reported that Nintendo wanted to have as many units of the console ready to sell out of the gate as possible to mitigate shortages. The Switch 2 is likely to be in high demand, even though Nintendo plans to keep<a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/metroid-prime-4-beyond-gameplay-trailer-shows-off-samus-new-psychic-abilities-143326681.html"> releasing new games</a> for the original Switch (which has sold<a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-sees-sales-dip-as-switch-2-debut-looms-130047928.html"> more than 150 million units)</a> into at least 2026. Still, if the demand is robust enough and reports that Nintendo has between 6 million and 8 million units ready to go hold true, the company is poised to smash sales records with the Switch 2. <h2 id="jump-link-nintendo-switch-2-hardware">Nintendo Switch 2 hardware</h2> <div id="356c0b664762403ca16ca9a0c1ded61d"></div> Nintendo says it redesigned the system from the ground up. As expected, the Nintendo Switch 2 is larger than its predecessor. It measures 7.9 inches, compared with 6.2 inches for the original system, though no thicker than the previous console. The Switch 2 has around double the pixel density of the original Switch, Nintendo says, as it has a 1080p display. In docked mode, you'll be able to play at up to 4K on your TV. There's some great news for frame rate appreciators, as the system will support up to 120Hz gameplay on its own screen. There's HDR support too. Sadly, it's an LCD display rather than an OLED. Nintendo says it improved the speakers to deliver clearer audio, while you'll be able to enjoy 3D audio in select games through compatible surround sound systems or headphones. There's a built-in mic with voice cancelling tech too (more on that in a moment). Some other hardware features had already been revealed, including the multi-angled kickstand and dual USB-C ports, either of which can be used for charging.  Gratefully, Nintendo has given the Switch 2's internal storage a serious upgrade. At 256GB, it has eight times the built-in storage of the Switch. That was a necessary change, as many games already weighed in at over 32GB and required a microSD card to install locally.  To add more storage, you'll need a microSD Express card, which supports higher-speed data transfers. Regular microSD cards won't be supported. As for the physical game cards, they're the same size and shape as the ones for the Nintendo Switch.  As is usually the case, Nintendo isn't saying much about the processor or graphics processing hardware. The company simply notes that the "Nintendo Switch 2 has significantly improved CPU and GPU performance over Nintendo Switch, resulting in faster processing speed and enabling new visually advanced gameplay. It also makes it possible to achieve more detailed graphics and faster loading times." Unfortunately, battery performance isn't anything to write home about. Nintendo says the Switch 2 will get between 2 and 6.5 hours of playtime, depending of course on what games you're using and if you're using online features. Speaking of online, the Switch 2 has been upgraded to Wi-Fi 6. The new dock has a built-in fan to keep the console cool and maintain stable performance. That's something that might come in handy if you're playing, say, Elden Ring on the Switch 2 — which is something you'll actually be able to do. Nintendo is promising a swatch of new accessibility features on the Switch 2. These include the option to change the font size, a speech-to-text function in GameChat (which we'll get to momentarily) and a screen reader. To help you get to grips with all of the new features of this console, you'll be able to check out tech demos, minigames and more in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. This will be a day-one paid launch title for the system. <div id="5c462bc23969406c8c9406f81267f4df"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Explore the new system through tech demos, minigames, and quizzes with Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a paid downloadable launch title for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NintendoSwitch2?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NintendoSwitch2</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NintendoDirect?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NintendoDirect</a> <a href="https://t.co/doZVYS0wjV">pic.twitter.com/doZVYS0wjV</a>— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) <a href="https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1907424168351568146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote> </div> <h2 id="jump-link-joy-con-2">Joy-Con 2</h2> The rumors were true, the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-switch-2s-joy-cons-can-double-as-mouse-like-controllers-133355339.html">Joy-Con 2 includes a mouse control feature</a>. Each controller can be used as a mouse, so you can maybe expect more strategy games (oh hi, <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/prepare-for-world-domination-when-civilization-vii-arrives-in-february-2025-213051202.html">Civilization VII</a>) and even first-person shooters — Nintendo is adding this feature just in time for Microsoft to <a href="https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-makes-its-10-year-call-of-duty-pact-with-nintendo-official-091655095.html">start bringing Call of Duty games to its systems</a>. A new 3 vs. 3 sports game called Drag x Drive, which will arrive this summer, uses the mouse controls of both Joy-Cons. <div id="c77945782f1649c4ae4cc4f5e0e56d24"></div> The controllers attach to the main unit magnetically. To detach them, you need to press release buttons on the rear. The control sticks are larger, as are the SL and SR buttons. The latter are made of steel, and these are what the magnets built into the system attach to, seemingly electromagnetically. It is not yet clear if the Joy-Cons from the Switch will be compatible with the Switch 2 or, if so, how they'd attach. So if you have a large collection of Joy-Cons, they may soon be gathering dust. Elsewhere, a new Pro controller with rear, assignable buttons will also be available. It has an audio jack and, like the Joy-Con 2, it has a C button. About that... <h2 id="jump-link-c-button-and-gamechat">C button and GameChat</h2> <div id="06406415710a46629af80e54e5391ba7"></div> The much-discussed new C button on the right Joy-Con 2 (and the new Pro controller) can control <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-nintendo-switch-2-offers-built-in-voice-chat-and-screensharing-133334225.html">a new feature called GameChat</a>. For one thing, it can activate voice chat with up to 12 people.  The microphone that's built into the main Switch 2 unit can pick up your voice from across a room when the console is in docked mode, Nintendo says. Through GameChat, the option to share your gameplay with up to four friends, so you can all see what each other is doing (though these friend streams seemed to be running at a low frame rate in Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct). A camera accessory will allow you to jump into video chat with up to four buds. You can choose to superimpose your camera feed over your gameplay. The camera will be available on the Switch 2 launch day. GameChat will require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription in the long run, but access will be free until March 31, 2026. Parents and guardians can set GameChat restrictions through the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app. The company says it has safety features in place for GameChat. <h2 id="jump-link-nintendo-switch-2-games">Nintendo Switch 2 games</h2> Of course, Nintendo unveiled several Switch 2 games, including <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/mario-kart-world-features-24-player-races-off-roading-and-sick-grinds-134117381.html">Mario Kart World</a>, the new title it teased in the console's announcement video. That will be a Switch 2 launch title. Expect more details about that during a dedicated Direct on April 17. I'm very excited about <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/donkey-kong-bananza-is-a-brand-new-3d-platformer-for-switch-2-143108835.html">Donkey Kong Bananza</a>, a 3D platformer that will hit Switch 2 on July 17. A Donkey Kong game with destructible environments just feels right. On top of that, Kirby Air Riders, a racing game from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai, is coming later this year. A wave of major third-party games are <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/cyberpunk-2077-and-split-fiction-are-third-party-launch-titles-for-nintendo-switch-2-135648661.html">coming to Switch 2 on launch day</a>, including Cyberpunk 2077, Split Fiction, Hitman World of Assassination and Street Fighter 6. Also coming to Switch 2 at some point are Hades II, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, Borderlands 4, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition (an ironically very funny name for a game that's being ported to a lass-powerful console), EA Sports FC, Project 007 and <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/tony-hawks-pro-skater-3--4-arrives-on-july-11-180029571.html">Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4</a>. <div id="0911f0e6ceaf4f05827acdcacc7afed8"></div> We got an update on a little game called Hollow Knight: Silksong, which now has <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/hollow-knight-silksong-purportedly-arrives-this-year-144515332.html">a 2025 release window</a>. Grand Theft Auto 6 better watch its back.  In a major surprise, Nintendo revealed a brand new FromSoftware game that's coming exclusively to the Switch 2 in 2026. It's called <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/fromsoftware-the-duskbloods-switch-2-2026-release-142025792.html">The Duskbloods</a> and it looks very much like a spiritual successor to Bloodborne. <div id="2fbb7202405949958ea8f8188a8ab8c7"></div> Meanwhile, the Switch 2 version of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will include <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-nintendo-switch-2-will-play-gamecube-games-141025334.html">a library of GameCube games</a>, such as F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and SoulCalibur II. A version of the GameCube controller will soon be available. And yes, it has a C button for GameChat. In addition, several first-party Switch games will be <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-announces-upgraded-switch-2-editions-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-and-tears-of-the-kingdom-134039778.html">enhanced on the Switch 2</a> — but only if you shell out for a paid upgrade. These include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land, as well as the upcoming Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A. <div id="b9125f5365ff4d6988a26ee8cc181fe3"></div> <h2 id="jump-link-transitioning-from-the-switch">Transitioning from the Switch</h2> Players will be able to carry over most of their purchased Switch games, Nintendo Switch Online memberships and so on to the new console thanks to the<a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/youll-be-able-to-play-your-nintendo-switch-games-on-its-successor-045657774.html"> Switch 2's backward compatibility.</a> A new system that will also be available on the upcoming hybrid aims to make it easier for people to lend digital Switch games to friends and family but, as is<a href="https://www.engadget.com/2017-09-13-nintendo-switch-voice-chat-app.html"> so often</a> the case with Nintendo, the company made things<a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendos-digital-switch-game-sharing-plan-could-be-so-much-simpler-190353732.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky"> more complicated than they ought to be</a>. Thankfully, Nintendo is looking to make it easy to transition from a Switch to a Switch 2. You'll be able to transfer your games, save data and so on directly to the new console. A <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-lets-switch-2-players-share-their-games-132431186.html">GameShare feature</a> will allow people to play the same Switch 2 game locally on multiple systems without having to purchase it more than once. That's a really nice quality of life upgrade for families and friends who like to play games together. Switch 2 owners can invite those using a Switch to play GameShare titles with them too. On the downside, GameShare will only be available for select games, including Super Mario Odyssey for those who really want to play as Kappy on their own device. Naturally, it'll also work on some Switch 2-exclusive gamesThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-nintendo-switch-2-arrives-on-june-5-at-450-140642208.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Nintendo Switch 2: Everything announced including a new Mario Kart game, new Switch features and more

After months of anticipation and years of speculation, Nintendo is finally spilling all the beans about the Switch 2. In a Nintendo Direct presentation, the company is filling in questions we've had about the console since it was first officially revealed in a short teaser <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-is-official-with-more-details-coming-on-april-2-2025-131325484.html">this past January</a>. <h2 id="jump-link-switch-2-launch-date-and-pricing">Switch 2 launch date and pricing</h2> We finally know when the console will be available: June 5, 2025. It'll cost $450 at launch, and pre-orders start on April 9. <figure><img alt="Switch versus Switch 2" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/9b12f780-0fc9-11f0-affb-1aa479d1cdab" style="height: 1080px; width: 1920px;" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <h2 id="jump-link-switch-2-hardware">Switch 2 hardware</h2> The Switch 2 console has the same thickness but has a much larger display — 7.9 inches at a 1080p resolution, versus the 6.2-inch 720p screen on the old console. And it runs at up to 120fps. It is an LCD display, rather than OLED, but it supports HDR at least.  As expected, the new Joy-Con controllers attach magnetically and have much bigger SL and SR buttons for when you're playing on a single Joy-Con controller. The sticks are also bigger, and each Joy-Con can be used as a mouse on compatible games.  The built-in stand looks much better than the ones on older Switch systems, and there are two USB-C ports on the console as well. Nintendo also highlighted 3D audio when using compatible headphones, and the speakers on the console itself should be a lot better as well. The console has 256GB of storage, far surpassing the 32GB on the original model. The Switch 2 dock outputs at up to 4K with compatible games and the dock has a built-in fan to keep things cool when running at higher resolutions. <figure><img alt="Switch 2 dock" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/f873cd60-0fc8-11f0-bf9e-e35b4afb496c" style="height: 720px; width: 1280px;" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure> Switch 2 is using similar game cards to the original Switch, but Nintendo notes that they're faster; you'll have to use microSD Express cards for extra storage this time though. Standard microSD ones won't be compatible with the new hardware. A new Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller will also be available with the C button to activate GameChat, and it also has GL and GR buttons on the back that you can assign to any specific actions. There's also a headphone jack, too. One of the most important specs on a portable console is battery life — and unfortunately, the Switch 2 might not be great in that department. Nintendo's spec sheet says it is <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2025/250402.html">rated between 2 and 6.5 hours of gameplay</a>, depending of course on the game. Even the original Switch promised a slightly better 2.5 to 6.5 hours of battery life. Either way, it's far beyond what the current Switch models offer. As for networking, the Switch 2 has been upgraded to Wi-Fi 6. <h2 id="jump-link-voice-and-video-chat">Voice and video chat</h2> The first new feature Nintendo highlighted on its updated Joy-Con controllers was the C button. The C button lets you enter the new GameChat features. You can voice chat while playing using a built-in microphone, even when the console is docked. It's the first time that a Nintendo system has had voice chat, and you can also share your game screen with friends as you play as well. For example, in Mario Kart this gives you more of a feel like you're all playing connected to a TV even though you're remote, because you can see everything that your friends are doing as well.  And the chat and screen-share features work even if you're all playing different games, so you can just get a group together to hang out while playing different titles. There's also a Switch 2 camera that enables video chat that'll show you on screen while you're playing. These features will require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, but Nintendo will offer it for free to everyone until March 31, 2026. <figure><img alt="Mario Kart World" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/d88a6630-0fc8-11f0-a7ff-68c73caffd1d" style="height: 720px; width: 1280px;" /><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <h2 id="jump-link-mario-kart-world">Mario Kart World</h2> As expected, we're finally getting a new entry in the venerable Mario Kart series, Mario Kart World. It looks looks familiar while also showing off some wild new tricks, like skateboard-style grinds on rails and wall jumps. The courses also look much larger and wider than any we've ever seen before. For the first time, it looks like there's an open world connecting all the various courses, and weather and time of day will change. Nintendo also says that you can go off-course and drive "virtually everywhere." And fitting those huge tracks, the Grand Prix will have 24 competitors in one race. Overall, it's a massive update which feels appropriate — the last Mario Kart game arrived way back in 2014 for the Wii U and was updated for the original Switch. It'll be out the same day as the Switch 2, June 5. <h2 id="jump-link-other-games-coming-to-switch-2">Other games coming to Switch 2</h2> Nintendo ran down a handful of other games coming to the Switch 2, including Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, a new title called Drag x Drive that uses the Switch 2 mouse controls in what looks like an extreme wheelchair sporting event, Hades II, Street Fighter 6, Split Fiction, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 +4, Hitman: World of Assassination and Daemon x Machina. Nintendo is also working on Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, which will be out this winter; it's being developed in with Koei Techmo games and will have the same combat-focused vibes as other Dynasty Warrior-style titles. From Software is also releasing a new game exclusively for the Switch 2 called The Duskbloods in 2026. It feels a lot like Bloodbourne at first glance. Perhaps the biggest first-party game to be revealed today besides Mario Kart World is a new 3D platformer starring Donkey Kong: Donkey Kong Bananza. It definitely has similar vibes to 3D Mario adventures, but in a totally new context. There's a laundry list of games that were mentioned today; Nintendo has helpfully pulled them together in this <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250402229347/en/Nintendo-Switch-2-Launches-June-5-at-%24449.99-Bringing-New-Forms-of-Game-Communication-to-Life">press release</a>. Finally, Nintendo has announced that the Switch Online service will host another classic console, the GameCube. The initial game library includes The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, F-Zero GX and SOULCALIBUR II. For the first time on Nintendo's classic consoles through the Switch Online service, GameCube games will run at higher resolutions than the original titles. <h2 id="jump-link-nintendo-switch-2-edition-games">Nintendo Switch 2 edition games</h2> In addition to games expressly designed for the Switch 2, Nintendo will also be releasing a "Switch 2 edition" for selected titles, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Those titles will have improved resolutions and frame rates as well as new features that'll show up in a companion smartphone app. Nintendo didn't say how much these upgrades would cost yet. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is also getting a Switch 2 edition that adds an additional world to explore, while Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will have both a Switch and Switch 2 edition; the Switch 2 edition can run in 4K at 60fps or up to 120fps at a lower resolution. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-everything-announced-including-a-new-mario-kart-game-new-switch-features-and-more-133105264.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

GameChat is decades late and looks pretty janky

In 2002, Microsoft launched Xbox Live with built-in voice chat as one of the main selling points of the then new service. Now, nearly 25 years later, Nintendo is finally giving its fans an easy way to talk to their friends online over a friendly match of <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/mario-kart-world-headed-to-switch-2-with-24-player-races-and-an-80-price-tag-134117599.html">Mario Kart World</a>. Considering some of the solutions Nintendo has <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2017-06-01-nintendo-switch-splatoon-2-chat-headset-dreams-of-wires.html"><ins>offered in the past</ins></a>, GameChat is surprisingly elegant. A tap of the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-everything-announced-including-a-new-mario-kart-game-new-switch-features-and-more-133105264.html">Switch 2</a>'s new C button, conveniently located below the Home button on the right Joy-Con, brings up a dedicated interface that allows you to quickly start screensharing, mute and unmute your mic and, if you decide to buy the optional <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-official-switch-2-accessories-include-a-camera-a-gamecube-controller-and-more-173912613.html"><ins>Switch 2 Camera</ins></a>, enable video. What's more, the Switch 2 has a built-in mic. We'll need to test the handheld to see how well the microphone performs in a noisy environment; Nintendo touted its noise-reduction features in today's introduction. But if nothing else, kudos to Nintendo for realizing it couldn't release a new console in 2025 without voice chat built-in and making that feature standard on all models. <div id="f5aa3e5f69c34aa3a510d80f13af8742"><div style="width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"></div></div> However, if the demo Nintendo showed off today is any indication of the final product, the company has some work to do. Voice chat looks like it works well enough, with users allowed to invite up to 11 other people to join their conversation. That said, screen sharing and video chat look very rough.  When everyone in the video started streaming their gameplay, it looked like the games were running at less than 30 frames per second, making it difficult to see how it would be possible to use the feature to guide a friend through a tricky section, like Nintendo suggested in the demo. Video chat was equally janky, with the footage from the Switch 2 Camera looking like something captured by a webcam from the mid-aughts. Moreover, if you want to see your friend's screen, there's an additional tradeoff.  Nintendo showed off three different interface options, with two of them devoting a fair amount of screen space to tiles for your friends. I imagine this won't be a problem if you're playing on a TV, but even on the Switch 2's large 7.9-inch screen, the interface looks like it could get cramped fast. To Nintendo's credit, the company has thought a lot about parental controls, with features that allow parents and guardians to decide who their kids can chat with online and if they can join a session with video. But the thing is none of GameChat’s capabilities are new. They've existed in apps like Discord for years, which begs the question why some of them look so rough this close to launch. Nintendo has time between now and June 5 to polish GameChat, but in 2025, making a technically competent chat app shouldn't be so hard. Of course, I imagine most of the Switch 2's audience won't care if some of GameChat's features are half-baked. For the rest of us, the company plans to offer the feature for free until the end of March 2026. One would hope that's enough time for the company to catch up on two decades worth of progress in online gaming.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/gamechat-is-decades-late-and-looks-pretty-janky-202309823.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Sonos cut retail prices for its Era 100 speaker and Ray soundbar

Sonos has given two of its audio products price cuts. The Era 100 smart speaker and Ray soundbar now retail for $199. The change offers new customers a $50 savings for the Era 100 and $80 on the Ray. Both speakers would frequently show up on sale, but Sonos has confirmed that this is a permanent pricing change for the products. These items have been available for a few years, so the price drop might signal that a refresh is in store for both. When it <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/sonos-era-100-review-affordable-multi-room-audio-that-actually-sounds-good-130007717.html"><ins>debuted</ins></a> in 2023, the Era 100 was an upgrade on the Sonos One, bringing overhauled touch controls and even better audio quality to the same cylindrical form factor. At $200, it's now selling for what the Sonos One cost, making it a solid choice for a home speaker. The Ray <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/sonos-ray-soundbar-review-130050814-130050448.html"><ins>came out</ins></a> in 2022, offering a solid home theater performance without the most high-end audio or accompanying high-end price tag.  This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/sonos-cut-retail-prices-for-its-era-100-speaker-and-ray-soundbar-201049055.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

Is the $450 Nintendo Switch 2 too expensive?

It seems fitting that Nintendo didn’t reveal the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-everything-announced-including-a-new-mario-kart-game-new-switch-features-and-more-133105264.html">Switch 2’s</a> $450 price during its Direct stream this morning — it would have just bummed everyone out. After <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-direct-live-coverage-all-of-the-details-around-the-companys-latest-console-100044216.html">spending an hour</a> hearing about how the Switch 2 practically fixes almost every problem we had with the original console, and seeing teasers for exciting games like Mario Kart World, why spoil the good vibes with the harsh reality of market economics? Instead, Nintendo revealed the console’s price in the lowliest of media communications: A simple press release. My first reaction was shock. $450 for a mostly portable console? That’s the same retail price as the PlayStation 5, a system that’s also currently on sale for $400 together with Astro-Bot. Sure, the Switch 2 is vastly superior to the original Switch, but it likely doesn’t have PS5-level hardware. The price jump is also surprising since the original Switch launched at $300 in 2017. Can you imagine we thought the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-switch-oled-review-130025998-130025862.html">$350 Switch OLED </a>was too high-priced? Unfortunately, it’s not 2017. NVIDIA now has mid-range GPUs selling for upwards of $600, the cost of almost every product has gone up, and massive companies like Nintendo are bracing for the potential impact of the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/trumps-tariffs-on-mexico-canada-and-china-could-drive-up-prices-of-cars-electronics-fuel-food-and-more-172823156.html">Trump administration’s long-threatened tariffs</a>. A $450 Switch 2 is expensive, I’m not denying that. But in the current economic landscape, I would hesitate to call it too expensive. <figure><img alt="Nintendo Switch 2" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/233a9740-0f2e-11f0-b5fa-ed287a132d82" style="height: 1150px; width: 2500px;" /><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Nintendo</div></figure> Consider this: The Switch 2 is just $50 more than the cheapest Steam Deck, a portable PC gaming handheld with significantly slower hardware, a smaller and lower quality (7-inch, 1280 by 800, 60Hz) screen, and a much bulkier frame. The Switch 2, meanwhile, is just as thin as the original model, it has a 7.9-inch 1080p screen that can run up to 120fps with HDR, and it’s powerful enough to play games at up to 4K/60fps while docked. Based on the games we’ve seen so far, the Switch 2 seems surprisingly powerful for its size. The Switch 2 also improves on its controls with the Joy-Con 2, which now magnetically attach to the consoles, feature larger analog sticks and can also work as mice across a variety of services. You won’t be removing the Steam Deck’s controls without the use of a small saw. And I’ve yet to see a handheld PC maker deliver removable controls that are as comfortable and easy to use as the original Switch (<a href="https://www.engadget.com/lenovo-legion-go-review-the-xl-alternative-to-the-steam-deck-141522230.html">that means you, Lenovo</a>). Nintendo’s original Joy-Con were far from perfect, but they did the job, and I’d wager the company has learned enough to make the Joy-Con 2f even better. <figure><img alt="Nintendo Switch 2" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/fe5a4ed0-0ff9-11f0-a75b-1d021979f927" style="height: 2160px; width: 3840px;" /><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Nintendo</div></figure> And while you can technically dock other PC gaming handhelds, they won’t see the performance upgrade Nintendo is claiming with the Switch 2. The company says its new console can reach up to 4K/60fps for some titles, thanks to an additional fan in the dock. We don’t know exactly what’s powering the Switch 2 yet, so Nintendo could be drastically overselling its capabilities. But given how seamless docking worked on the first Switch (where it also delivered a bit of a performance upgrade, sans an additional fan), it’s also something I think Nintendo has optimized more than PC companies, who are only just now dipping their toes into portable gaming. Maybe I’m just trying to justify my own purchases (I just realized I’ll probably need a second Switch 2 for my kid), but I just can’t get too angry about a $450 Switch 2. If we see many more $80 games like Mario Kart World, though, we should absolutely riot in the streets.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/is-the-450-nintendo-switch-2-too-expensive-195750206.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

The Nintendo Switch 2 promises major storage upgrades, but it'll cost you

The Nintendo Switch 2 <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-nintendo-switch-2-arrives-on-june-5-at-450-140642208.html">had its big debut</a> on Wednesday, and the new console looks to be a sizable, if mostly straightforward, upgrade over its mega-popular predecessor. Tucked between the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/donkey-kong-bananza-is-a-brand-new-3d-platformer-for-switch-2-143108835.html">new Donkey Kong</a> and (pricier) <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/mario-kart-world-features-24-player-races-off-roading-and-sick-grinds-134117381.html">Mario Kart games</a>, <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-switch-2s-joy-cons-can-double-as-mouse-like-controllers-133355339.html">mouse mode</a> and <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-nintendo-switch-2-offers-built-in-voice-chat-and-screensharing-133334225.html">overhauled party chat</a> features, though, was another significant update: The device supports faster microSD Express cards. This may not be the sexiest feature, but it should bring quicker load times and generally improved storage performance to the upcoming handheld. The company briefly showed new 256GB cards from Samsung and SanDisk during its presentation, complete with Mario logos printed on. However, the news came with a major caveat: The console is only compatible with microSD Express. The cards most people use today — which are based on the older <a href="https://www.sdcard.org/developers/sd-standard-overview/bus-speed-default-speed-high-speed-uhs-sd-express/">UHS-I bus interface</a> — will only work for loading videos and screenshots from an original Switch, not playing games, according to <a href="https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/68425/kw/switch%202">Nintendo’s support site</a>. Nintendo says this <a href="https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/ask-the-developer-vol-16-nintendo-switch-2-part-2/">restriction is necessary</a> to preserve the Switch 2’s performance upgrades, and it’s worth noting that the console itself comes with a much more generous 256GB of space by default. But if you ever need to expand the device’s storage, this change will likely make doing so cost extra, while drastically shrinking the options you have to choose from. <figure> <img alt="A standard UHS-I microSD card and an SD Express card rest face down on a brown wooden board, showing how the latter includes a second row of pins to improve performance." src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-02/eccbf260-edbf-11ef-affa-6baa4f7c8a62" style="height: 1125px; width: 2000px;" /> <figcaption> Unlike traditional UHS-I cards, a microSD Express card like the SanDisk model on the right comes with a second row of pins on the back. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Jeff Dunn for Engadget </div> </figure> <h2 id="jump-link-what-are-microsd-express-cards">What are microSD Express cards?</h2> SD Express is a relatively recent but seldom-used standard that lets SD cards take advantage of the NVMe protocol and PCIe interface, which is the underlying tech used by SSDs. A microSD Express card has a second row of “pins” on its back and can utilize a single lane’s worth of PCIe bandwidth. As a result, it can produce dramatically faster read and write speeds than its UHS-I counterparts. Whereas the latter advertise sequential transfer rates up to 104 megabytes per second (MB/s), microSD Express cards have a theoretical maximum of 985 MB/s. That’s far behind the NVMe SSDs used <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/best-ps5-ssd-expansion-upgrade-150052315.html">by the PlayStation 5</a> and Xbox Series X, but in theory, it makes Express cards faster than some <a href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-ssds-140014262.html">older SATA-based SSDs</a> when it comes to loading game levels, retrieving saves or copying games to the external storage. It’s worth noting that many UHS-I microSD cards can exceed the 104 MB/s limit with proprietary card readers, but they still fall well short of microSD Express levels even with those. The same goes for speedier UHS-II cards, which are mostly used by professional types with select cameras and PCs and max out at 312 MB/s. (There’s also a UHS-III interface, but nobody uses it. Getting all of this?) Prior to Wednesday, the only reliably available microSD Express card we could find was <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=f45797c5-bae4-4ba9-9419-9454e07b099d&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=8d472849-bb33-4495-b377-11b61c366141&featureId=text-link&merchantName=SanDisk&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Nob3Auc2FuZGlzay5jb20vcHJvZHVjdHMvbWVtb3J5LWNhcmRzL21pY3Jvc2QtY2FyZHMvc2FuZGlzay1taWNyb3NkLWV4cHJlc3MtbWVtb3J5LWNhcmQ_c2t1PVNEU1FYRk4tMTI4Ry1HTjROTiIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiOGQ0NzI4NDktYmIzMy00NDk1LWIzNzctMTFiNjFjMzY2MTQxIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Nob3Auc2FuZGlzay5jb20vcHJvZHVjdHMvbWVtb3J5LWNhcmRzL21pY3Jvc2QtY2FyZHMvc2FuZGlzay1taWNyb3NkLWV4cHJlc3MtbWVtb3J5LWNhcmQ_c2t1PVNEU1FYRk4tMTI4Ry1HTjROTiJ9&signature=AQAAAcSQaGVVUpqehPxNgidufpEZOr403FJu14shP0GTs0VE&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.sandisk.com%2Fproducts%2Fmemory-cards%2Fmicrosd-cards%2Fsandisk-microsd-express-memory-card%3Fsku%3DSDSQXFN-128G-GN4NN">this model from SanDisk</a>. We recently tested it for our <a href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-microsd-card-130038282.html">microSD card buying guide</a>, and the upgrade was pretty dramatic. In the synthetic benchmark <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CrystalDiskMark">CrystalDiskMark</a>, the SanDisk card achieved sequential reads up to 899.12 MB/s and sequential writes up to 650.41 MB/s. For comparison, the absolute fastest UHS-I card we’ve tested (<a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=8d472849-bb33-4495-b377-11b61c366141&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=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&signature=AQAAASigbOgetQ1TmzbYN1cWu-TBUSlvVBRap6DxXvy3Mmye&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLexar-Professional-microSDXC-Videographers-LMSSIPL256G-BNANU%2Fdp%2FB0D4CDCVNY%2F">Lexar’s Professional Silver Plus</a>) topped out at 209.25 MB/s for reads and 193.93 MB/s for writes — so, three to four times slower. In one of our “real-world” tests, the SanDisk Express card took an average of 20 seconds to move a 12GB folder containing various file types and subfolders to a PC and 52 seconds to write the folder back to the card. The Lexar card averaged 67 and 76 seconds, respectively. The gulf in random speeds — which measure how quickly a card can read and write small bits of data scattered throughout a device and tend to be particularly important for gaming — was similarly large, and in some benchmarks even greater. <figure> <img alt="The SanDisk microSD Express Card rests against a yellow background." src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/7fe44350-0ff7-11f0-bde5-33c7b2d2965f" style="height: 800px; width: 1419px;" /> <figcaption> SanDisk's microSD Express card is one of the (very) few options you can actually buy today. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Jeff Dunn for Engadget </div> </figure> Nintendo has not provided any official transfer speed ratings for the new console just yet, but all of this suggests that the Switch 2’s storage should be much faster than before, even if it’s not on par with the speeds of a PS5 or Xbox Series X. It’s also possible that, like those other consoles, the Switch 2 has hardware dedicated to decompressing files, which could make the real-world improvements over the original Switch’s storage performance even greater. (We’ve reached out to Nintendo and will update this post if we receive any further details.) The original SD Express standard <a href="https://www.sdcard.org/press/thoughtleadership/five-years-of-sd-express-a-milestone-of-innovation/">was released</a> in 2018, but the tech has mostly gone nowhere in the years since. There’s been the SanDisk card noted above, a full-size <a href="https://www.adata.com/us/consumer/category/memory-cards/memory-cards-Premier-Extreme-SDXC-SD7-Express/">SD card</a> from ADATA and not much else. Previously, <a href="https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-new-microsd-card-is-faster-than-some-ssds-191251687.html">Samsung</a> and <a href="https://www.dpreview.com/news/5172631431/lexar-developing-sd-express-microsd-express-format-not-currently-supported-by-any-camera">Lexar</a> announced microSD Express cards that wound up missing their original release windows — though Samsung’s card may just be the same one unveiled today, and Lexar did release a <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=8d472849-bb33-4495-b377-11b61c366141&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=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&signature=AQAAAfOK3_Kg99Vv0YC2aQ-IbRgHPypr6oRj5lM3TCrgJQfY&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLexar-microSDXC-Express-Nintendo-Switch-LMSXPS0256G-BNNNU%2Fdp%2FB0DYB7ZGR3%2F">new “Play Pro” microSD Express card</a> on Wednesday. Host devices that support the standard, which are required to even see any improved speeds, have been highly uncommon over the same time frame. (If you put a microSD Express card in a device that doesn’t support the underlying tech, such as the original Switch, it’ll be limited to standard UHS-I speeds.) And while <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=f45797c5-bae4-4ba9-9419-9454e07b099d&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=8d472849-bb33-4495-b377-11b61c366141&featureId=text-link&merchantName=SanDisk&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Nob3Auc2FuZGlzay5jb20vcHJvZHVjdHMvYWNjZXNzb3JpZXMvbWVtb3J5LWNhcmQtcmVhZGVycy9zYW5kaXNrLXByby1yZWFkZXItc2QtZXhwcmVzcy1kdWFsLWNhcmQ_c2t1PVNERFItQTQ1MS1HTlBOTiIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiOGQ0NzI4NDktYmIzMy00NDk1LWIzNzctMTFiNjFjMzY2MTQxIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Nob3Auc2FuZGlzay5jb20vcHJvZHVjdHMvYWNjZXNzb3JpZXMvbWVtb3J5LWNhcmQtcmVhZGVycy9zYW5kaXNrLXByby1yZWFkZXItc2QtZXhwcmVzcy1kdWFsLWNhcmQ_c2t1PVNERFItQTQ1MS1HTlBOTiJ9&signature=AQAAARiQ5El4vAxjE7CQ4jeGxKtvFsZhZV0eWmGlA_5bTha4&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.sandisk.com%2Fproducts%2Faccessories%2Fmemory-card-readers%2Fsandisk-pro-reader-sd-express-dual-card%3Fsku%3DSDDR-A451-GNPNN">compatible card readers</a> can deliver the faster transfer rates on certain PCs, they aren’t cheap, so at that point most people have been better off buying a <a href="https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-portable-ssd-120043652.html">faster external SSD</a>. The <a href="https://www.sdcard.org/">SD Association</a> pointed us to a <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=6deefbf2-941b-4156-9f41-a61ebb50d13d&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=8d472849-bb33-4495-b377-11b61c366141&featureId=text-link&merchantName=LinkedIn&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5saW5rZWRpbi5jb20vZmVlZC91cGRhdGUvdXJuOmxpOmFjdGl2aXR5OjcyMjczNTU2NDE1NDYxODI2NTYvIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI4ZDQ3Mjg0OS1iYjMzLTQ0OTUtYjM3Ny0xMWI2MWMzNjYxNDEiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmxpbmtlZGluLmNvbS9mZWVkL3VwZGF0ZS91cm46bGk6YWN0aXZpdHk6NzIyNzM1NTY0MTU0NjE4MjY1Ni8ifQ&signature=AQAAAWc-ta3i5uAuc8otW3OZHJ-TE70NoDdsNr0KOqVlthUS&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Ffeed%2Fupdate%2Furn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7227355641546182656%2F">LinkedIn page</a> (!) with other compatible devices when reached for comment, but the pickings are still slim, and very few of those support microSD Express cards specifically. The Switch 2 is by far the highest-profile device to embrace the standard, so it could be the thing that finally takes these cards from “cool idea” to “useful niche.” <figure> <img alt="A screenshot of Samsung and SanDisk microSD Express cards advertised by Nintendo during its Switch 2 reveal video." src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/a0d185f0-0ff7-11f0-bfce-08c437847cdf" style="height: 1080px; width: 1920px;" /> <figcaption> The Samsung and SanDisk microSD Express cards Nintendo quickly teased during its Switch 2 unveiling on Wednesday. </figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Nintendo </div> </figure> <h2 id="jump-link-questions-of-price-and-heat">Questions of price and heat</h2> That said, there are multiple reasons why SD Express has failed to take off before this week, and it remains to be seen whether the Switch 2 will truly fix them. First and foremost is price. We’ve reached out to SanDisk and Samsung for confirmation, but for now we don’t know how much the microSD Express cards that Nintendo has teased will cost. If the couple other Express models available today are any indication, though, they’re likely to be much more expensive than the conventional cards you may have bought for the previous Switch. SanDisk’s Express card, for instance, costs $45 for a 128GB model and $60 for the 256GB version. The 256GB Lexar Play Pro is $10 cheaper, but its 512GB and 1TB versions cost a whopping $100 and $200, respectively. For reference, <a class="rapid-with-clickid" href="https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=f85e63cd-e13c-4f9d-991c-9fbaadede3ac&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=8d472849-bb33-4495-b377-11b61c366141&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Samsung+Electronics&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYW1zdW5nLmNvbS91cy9jb21wdXRpbmcvbWVtb3J5LXN0b3JhZ2UvbWVtb3J5LWNhcmRzL3Byby1wbHVzLWFkYXB0ZXItbWljcm9zZHhjLTF0Yi1tYi1tZDF0MHNhLWFtLyIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiOGQ0NzI4NDktYmIzMy00NDk1LWIzNzctMTFiNjFjMzY2MTQxIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYW1zdW5nLmNvbS91cy9jb21wdXRpbmcvbWVtb3J5LXN0b3JhZ2UvbWVtb3J5LWNhcmRzL3Byby1wbHVzLWFkYXB0ZXItbWljcm9zZHhjLTF0Yi1tYi1tZDF0MHNhLWFtLyJ9&signature=AQAAAQCfZnnnw7cq95y3Z2ygH0qddJi1a44GEt60jNK-s_2_&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fcomputing%2Fmemory-storage%2Fmemory-cards%2Fpro-plus-adapter-microsdxc-1tb-mb-md1t0sa-am%2F">Samsung’s Pro Plus</a> — another UHS-I card we recommend in our buying guide — costs $17 for 128GB, $23 for 256GB, $38 for 512GB and $80 for 1TB as of this writing. That’s a huge difference.  What’s more, the Play Pro is the only purchasable microSD Express card we’ve seen thus far that even supports capacities greater than 256GB. <a href="https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2025/250402.html">Nintendo says</a> the console can support up to 2TB of external storage, but no Express card with that capacity appears to exist yet. The Switch 2 will be one of the first mainstream devices to truly push SD Express in earnest, so we’d expect it’ll drive prices down and increase competition over time. But how quickly, and by how much, remains up in the air. <figure> <img alt="The Nintendo Switch 2 game console being held up in the air, with the Switch 2 logo on its screen." src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/f965c320-0ff7-11f0-bfe3-b6773b534a9b" style="height: 1080px; width: 1920px;" /> <figcaption></figcaption> <div class="photo-credit"> Nintendo </div> </figure> The other concern relates to thermal management. MicroSD Express cards can pump out significantly faster transfer speeds, but they’re still working with tiny little frames that don’t leave much room to dissipate heat. When we tested SanDisk’s microSD Express model for our guide, we noticed that it slowed down under longer, more sustained loads — not enough to fall behind than UHS-I cards, but still below its peak by a few hundred MB/s. The SD Express spec does have mechanisms for keeping heat in check, and manufacturers like SanDisk advertise similar protections. Nintendo presumably has come up with ways to further avoid severe throttling with the Switch 2. (We already know that the new dock comes with a cooling fan built in, for instance.) But it’ll be something to keep an eye on once we can move large game files around the device. In a <a href="https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/ask-the-developer-vol-16-nintendo-switch-2-part-2/">developer Q&A posted</a> to Nintendo’s website on Wednesday, Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto notes that the move to microSD Express will help the console’s performance hold up better in the long-term. With the new Mario Kart World, for instance, he says the faster transfer speeds will help make far-off destinations in the game’s open world visible faster. He also notes that Switch 2 games will have larger file sizes, but that he “doubt[s] most people will need a microSD Express card immediately after buying the system” thanks to the Switch 2’s larger built-in capacity. Hopefully that’s the case. It’d be unfair to call this a PlayStation Vita situation, as that portable console <a href="https://gamerant.com/ps-vita-propietary-memory-why/">relied solely</a> on proprietary memory cards, and the Switch 2 will support options from several third-party manufacturers. But as it stands now, storage upgrades for the new console look like they’ll be much pricier and more limited to start. And just how much of an advantage the new tech provides is something we won’t know until the <a href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/how-to-pre-order-the-nintendo-switch-2-140931639.html">console arrives in June</a>. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-nintendo-switch-2-promises-major-storage-upgrades-but-itll-cost-you-193758964.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

A Minecraft Movie review: It's good, actually

Hear me out. I too rolled my eyes when A Minecraft Movie was announced. We're all tired of seeing Jack Black in video game movies — he was <a href="https://www.engadget.com/super-mario-bros-movie-review-fun-safe-romp-135146207.html#:~:text=Super%20Mario%20Bros.%20is%20an,comedic%20stylings%20of%20Jack%20Black).">fine in Super Mario Bros.</a>, but good god <a href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-borderlands-movie-is-an-astounding-waste-of-potential-160032875.html">Borderlands was a disaster</a>. And the Minecraft film's trailers did it no favors, another soulless movie produced on a virtual set about a game that's completely open-ended and plotless. But it turns out A Minecraft Movie is actually good. Honestly, I'm as surprised as you are. A Minecraft Movie isn't exactly groundbreaking, to be clear. It certainly never reaches the heights of The Lego Movie. But it's surprisingly funny for a children's movie, and it delivers a decent message about championing creativity in a world that wants to beat down free-thinking non-conformists. And if you were around for the inexplicable Napoleon Dynamite craze of the mid-2000's, you'll notice plenty of that film's quirky sensibility from director Jared Hess. <div id="9a1593f496ce41078999db9678568880"></div> From the beginning, A Minecraft Movie seems well aware of the ridiculousness of its own existence. The story starts off with Jack Black's Steve (dressed just like the game's default skin) retelling his obsession with "the mines," and his inability to go digging while he was a kid. He later grows up, gets a boring office job and remembers his erstwhile calling to make holes in the earth. Once he makes his way into a cave, he stumbles into a portal that brings him to the blocky "Overworld" of the Minecraft universe. It's classic isekai stuff — the genre of anime where the main character is transported to another (often digital) world. And yes, I know all of this sounds incredibly contrived as I write this, but Black's zaniness really sells the absurdity of the film. It's as if he's saying out loud, "Yes, I know the idea of a Minecraft movie is beyond dumb, but at least you get to spend time with me in classic Jack Black mode!" Now if you're tired of his schtick, that may be a major knock against the film. But for me, it was a nice reminder of his Tenacious D days. <figure><img alt="Jack Black in A Minecraft Movie" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/1a004520-0fe8-11f0-b9f6-a2b077b3904c" style="height: 1024px; width: 2000px;" /><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Warner Bros.</div></figure> The film eventually focuses on two siblings, Henry (Sebastian Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Myers), who are moving to a small Midwestern town after the death of their mother. Natalie is gearing up for a social media producer role at a local business, while Henry is forced to adapt to a new school. Coincidentally, a former gaming superstar lives in their town, Jason Mamoa's Garret "The Garbageman" Garrison, who befriends Henry as another outcast. Danielle Brooks' Dawn, a struggling local realtor/mobile zookeeper, ends up taking Natalie under her wing after seeing how much she's sacrificing for her brother. Inevitably, thanks to a glowing MacGuffin, those four characters also stumble into the same portal that sent Steve to the Overworld. They quickly run into Steve, break their glowing MacGuffin and then head off to find a way to fix it and return home. If any of this sounds boring, don't worry, it's not really important. What works best in A Minecraft Movie is the humor and personality Hess stuffs in between the trappings of a big budget Hollywood game adaptation. <figure><img alt="A Minecraft Movie" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/9b20b780-0fe7-11f0-b767-8a1595f64a6c" style="height: 787px; width: 1400px;" /><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Warner Bros.</div></figure> The majority of the film hinges on Jack Black's persona, but I also enjoyed seeing Jason Mamoa play an egotistical manchild who's in love with video games. He's decked out in an absurd wig and hot pink jacket, and Mamoa hams it up just as well as he did Fast X. He's a jerk at times, but he's also kind to Henry and clearly doesn't care what anyone thinks of his personal style. The rest of the cast mostly plays it straight against the force of Black and Mamoa's personalities, but they each get a few moments to shine. Whenever the core story starts to fall flat, A Minecraft Movie veers into more interesting territory, like a hapless Minecraft villager who stumbles into the real world. For those who don't play the game, villagers are simple NPC who can't speak, and often find themselves in danger. I got a kick out of seeing him navigate traffic and have a meet-cute with Jennifer Coolidge's Vice Principal Marlene, a relationship that gets weirder than you'd think. (Again, it's like something straight out of Napoleon Dynamite.) <figure><img alt="A Minecraft Movie" src="https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2025-04/9b2105a0-0fe7-11f0-ab5b-aa208696e430" style="height: 675px; width: 1200px;" /><figcaption></figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Warner Bros.</div></figure> I’m no Minecraft devotee, but I wish the film’s interpretation of the game’s blocky graphics were a bit more pixelated. While the characters and animals we see resemble their game counterparts, their over-designed look clashes with the beautiful simplicity of Minecraft’s aesthetics. I’m sure it’s tough to unite the low-poly look with live action, while also delivering polished CG that audiences expect, but the path A Minecraft Movie took just feels over-cooked. That being said, the film’s game world seems more alive than the empty virtual sets in Quantumania. There are tons of characters milling about, and the environments all feel distinctly Minecraft. The kids in my press screening didn’t seem to mind the shift in visual language. They loved seeing the game’s creatures in any form — a family of pandas got a theater-wide “awww.” And they also loved seeing in-game Minecraft tricks represented on the big screen, like using a water block to cushion a fall. My daughter Sophia’s verdict? “I liked it, but I don’t think I’d want to see it again,” she said. But I know she’s lying. We’ll likely end up seeing this thing hundreds of times at home, and even more so once her brother jumps aboard the Minecraft bandwagon. I won’t mind, though. As far as kid’s movies go, it’s a world I wouldn’t mind revisiting.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a-minecraft-movie-review-its-good-actually-190035499.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

The Switch 2 was almost called the 'Super Nintendo Switch'

Following its big <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-everything-announced-including-a-new-mario-kart-game-new-switch-features-and-more-133105264.html">Switch 2 presentation</a>, Nintendo revealed <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/ask-the-developer-vol-16-nintendo-switch-2-part-4/">in an interview</a> with the team behind the console that one of the (arguably better) names the company was considering before it landed on Switch 2 was "Super Nintendo Switch." "There were a lot of ideas for the name, and we really struggled to find the right one," Kouichi Kawamato, the producer on the Switch 2, says. "We even considered ideas like 'Super Nintendo Switch.'" The issue with the name was that even though drawing a parallel to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was fun, it was also potentially confusing. The SNES was the successor to the NES, but it couldn't play NES games. "Since Switch 2 can play Switch games, it didn't feel right to use the same naming convention as Super NES." Adding a number to the end of the original console's name (the general strategy Nintendo's competitor Sony has taken with the PlayStation) just made things a lot simpler and easier to understand. Nintendo's caution isn't totally unfounded. The <a class="no-affiliate-link" href="https://www.engadget.com/2016-08-26-the-wii-u-revisited-looking-back-on-a-forward-thinking-console.html">Wii U</a> was more powerful than the Wii and featured a unique controller in the Wii U GamePad. Because it's name was so similar to Nintendo's older console, it was backwards compatible with the Wii and it supported pre-existing accessories like Wii Remotes, though, it was viewed as an add-on rather than a new device worth upgrading to. There were other problems that helped do the Wii U in, like a steep decline in support from third-party game developers and a failure on Nintendo's part to explain what made the console distinct, but the name certainly didn't help. The Switch 2 is much better set up for success than the Wii U, but "sticking to what works" seems like the defining idea of the new console, so the name is following suit.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-switch-2-was-almost-called-the-super-nintendo-switch-184243089.html?src=rss

Source: www.engadget.com

Reception: Positive

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