Originally published on Switch Weekly

Issue #428

April 20, 2025

Nintendo’s Price Plan

Hey, hope you're doing well, and have had a nice Easter if celebrating. Let's get into issue 428 of Switch Weekly, your friendly Nintendo digest.

So, first thing's first: pre-orders for the Switch 2 will now start on Thursday, April 24 for those in the U.S. and Canada. Following some confusion and a pause due to… tariff drama the details have now been ironed out. The console remains $450 ($629 CAD), but the accesories are going up. More details below.

We also got a closer look at Mario Kart World this past week, by way of a Direct. It was an odd presentation, in that it didn't really reveal a ton beyond what we already knew, but either way I'm hyped for it!

The eShop list below is a real mixed bag this week, with a handful of games worth taking a look at, but also a notable number of stinkers.

Finally, I shared on Bluesky yesterday that I would be closing the State of Switch survey imminently, however I then went to bed and forgot to close the form! 😅 Soooo, that means I've left it open for another day — so if you've not yet filled it out consider this your last chance, for real this time! I'll be closing the survey in a few hours from now.

Cheers,
Chris ✌️

▶ Mario Kart World Direct — Nearly 17 minutes of tidbits on the upcoming Switch 2 launch title. My main takeaways: Free Roam is gonna be rad, and it sure sounds like they are cooking again with the soundtrack (this track is gonna take some beating though). Felix at Nintendo Life has taken a look at the new details he spotted in this Direct.

Nintendo // YouTube

The ultimate Nintendo Switch 2 Q&A — If you've still got Switch 2 questions, this mammoth article will no doubt have the answers.

Chris Scullion // VGC

Nintendo Switch 2 dodges tariff price increase, but accessories will experience 'price adjustments'

Bryant Francis // Game Developer

▶ The truth about Nintendo’s Switch 2 price in Japan

Sean Hollister // The Verge (YouTube)

PEGI website leak suggests Assassin's Creed Shadows is coming to Switch 2

Vikki Blake // Eurogamer

It’s beginning to feel like gaming isn’t for everyone — "I don’t know that my little cousin, or many kids from similar low-income families will be able to enjoy a Switch 2 anytime soon. And while there’s certainly no obligation to brighten the lives of those kids, it does feel like a fundamental failure of the medium to become so prohibitive that their opportunity to share in that joy has become collateral".

Moises Taveras // Digital Trends

Switch 2 first hands-on impressions — Laura shares a solid overview, with a particular focus on accessbility and how the new control schemes work in practice.

Laura-Kate Dale // Access-Ability

▶ Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on thoughts: Metroid Prime 4, Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World and more — Liam shares his thoughts on the Switch 2 following some hands-on time. A good recap.

Liam Robertson // YouTube

PREVIEW Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound shows the franchise still needs 2D games

Michael McWhertor // Polygon

Cyberpunk 2077 confirmed as the first Switch 2 title to use Nvidia's DLSS upscaling

Damien McFerran // Nintendo Life

Paul Rudd returns to his Nintendo roots in latest Switch 2 ad — Some 34 years on, Rudd returns to remake a 1991 SNES commercial.

Peter Glagowski // Nintendo Wire

🎮 Upcoming Releases

All releases are digital, Europe & U.S. unless otherwise stated.
Release data sourced in collaboration with Switch Scores.

⭐️ = Ones to Watch · 📦 = Physical release · 🎮 = Demo available

Tue

22

Airport Manager Simulator 2025 — I should start playing bingo with these sim games. AI key art? Check. Low detail 3D assets? Check. Bland name? Check.

Wed

23

Cave of Illusions — A budget, psychological indie horror adventure. M for mature.
Hegzis — A hexagonal grid puzzler.
Jumping Boy — Cheap arcade runner, not to be confused with the actually good Jumpman 😉.
📦🎮 Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club Tokimeki Roadmap to Future — Visual novel. (Physical release)
⭐️ Old Skies — A time-travel point and click adventure set over 200 years.
Out of Moves — 2D spatial puzzler. EU release date.
⭐️ Sunderfolk — A shared couch co-op turn-based tactical RPG adventure inspired by gathering around a table with friends. Your smartphone is the controller. Review here if you want to learn more.
⭐️📦 Super Technos World: River City and Technos Arcade Classics — A bundle of 12 games including 'rare' River City games. (Physical release)
⭐️📦🎮 The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy — Tactical role-playing game from the creators of Danganronpa set in a school under attack by monsters. M for mature. (Physical release)

Thu

24

9th Dawn Remake — A remake of the 2012 original dungeon crawling open-world RPG adventure
Aha! Spot the Change Brain Teaser — Another basic spot the difference puzzler.
Atama — A psychic powers stealth horror game set in an isolated Japanese village. M for mature.
Bee Flowers: Royal Garden — A bee themed puzzler.
Brain Challenge Spot the Real One! — Low-effort mobile port puzzler.
Brain Teaser! Spin and Build Castle — Budget puzzler.
Cats Visiting Historical Times — Puzzler featuring felines in Ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire, etc.
Clash of Rivals — Budget strategic card game. The images/assets appear squashed, so take that as a note on the level of care here?
Deep Deep Deep Nightmare — Face hordes of monsters in this 2D top-down shooter.
Dreamy Syrup — A 'heart-pounding' rom-com visual novel featuring VTuber 'Amau Syryp' apparently.
Escape Game R00M03 — A basic 3D escape room. It's a dollar.
Korean Drone Flying Tour Geomdansan — Another week, another flight sim with real footage.
Medical Lab Science: Anime Doctor Love in the Public Hospital — A visual novel adventure with a doctor who can't seem to find his shirt buttons.
siMarket Cloth Store Simulator — Basic sim game set in a Miami fashion retailer.
Spot the Difference with Masterpieces — Find changes in classic art. M for mature due to paintings featuring nudity.
Where's That Person? — Low effort mobile port puzzler.

Fri

25

Sunseed Island — Looks like quite a nice take on the farming / island life sim. One for Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley fans.

⚡️ Quick Links

Microsoft's Phil Spencer mentions bringing Xbox games to Switch 2 in this Variety interview.
microSD Express cards, required for Switch 2, are selling out all over. This 256GB one is still in stock at time of writing.
A Nintendo store is coming to Taiwan.
Here's how Nintendo bled Atari "to death".

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Nintendo’s Price Plan

🎮 Upcoming Releases

⚡️ Quick Links

Nintendo’s financial results reveal Switch 2 hits 10 million units sold

Former Nintendo employees reveal what it took to launch the NES in America

The NESBOOK is a Nintendo Entertainment System Companion Coffee Book