First Pass

69 stories from 6 sources

Nintendo defines the next phase of Switch 2

Day’s Recap

Supporting Articles

4:44 PMPolygon

New Professor Layton Game Finally Gets a Release Date After Years of Delays

Summary

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam finally has a confirmed release date after years of waiting and delays. The announcement came during a Nintendo Direct, giving the long-running puzzle series a clear path back to players.

Fans have had plenty of time to wonder whether this game would actually arrive. Now

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Why it matters

Professor Layton's return is finally moving from promise to a real launch date.

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4:28 PMPolygon

Nintendo Direct Just Proved Fans Will Be Eating Good in 2027

Summary

Nintendo's upcoming lineup includes Metroid Ravenous, Kirby and the World Beyond, and Ondeh Ondeh: Kaya's Tasty Tale. Together, the games point to a surprisingly strong food theme in the company's 2027 releases.

This looks less like a formal trend than a fun coincidence, but it gives next

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Why it matters

The 2027 lineup is shaping up to be unusually varied, with food as an unexpected connective thread.

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2:00 PMPolygon

Nintendo Is Quietly Putting Together a Killer 2027

Summary

Nintendo's September Direct offered a clearer look at the company's 2027 release schedule, and it is already looking crowded. Several major games are taking shape well ahead of time, giving Nintendo a strong lineup beyond the Switch 2's launch window.

The bigger story is the momentum: Nintendo appears to be planning for the long haul

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Why it matters

Nintendo's 2027 could become one of the strongest years in the Switch 2's early life.

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10:46 AMThe Verge

The Switch 2 is getting a 2D Metroid called Ravenous

Summary

Nintendo is bringing a new 2D Metroid game, Metroid Ravenous, to Switch 2 on January 28, 2027. It builds on Metroid Dread with 3D visuals, cinematic action, enemy parries and new movement options for Samus.

The formula stays recognizably Metroid, but the presentation looks more ambitious than a typical side-scroller.

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Why it matters

Switch 2 owners have a major new Metroid adventure to look forward to, with a release date already locked in.

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9:50 AMThe Verge

Nintendo Direct September 2026: The biggest news and trailers

Summary

Nintendo followed its Zelda-focused showcase with a broader Direct centered on Switch 2 games. The week included footage and a November 5 release date for the Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time, along with more announcements and trailers.

Nintendo packed a lot into a two-part showcase, using Zelda nostalgia to anchor a wider

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Why it matters

The showcases give Switch 2 owners a clearer sense of the platform's upcoming pipeline.

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10:35 PMIGN

Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid Spiritual Successor Physint Will Now Be Published by Xbox Instead of Sony

Summary

Hideo Kojima's Physint, a new game with clear Metal Gear Solid DNA, will now be published by Xbox rather than Sony. Microsoft will also continue publishing Kojima's horror project OD, while the partnership expands into film and television.

That is a major shift for a creator long associated with PlayStation. Xbox is not

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Why it matters

Xbox is deepening its partnership with Kojima and gaining control of two high-profile projects.

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2 stories · 2 sources

10:56 PMIGN

Proof-of-Age Verification for Steam in Australia Now Only Possible Using a Credit Card

Summary

Steam users in Australia who need to prove they are over 18 can now do so only by confirming they own a credit card. That puts Valve at odds with PlayStation and Xbox, which offer several verification methods, and could exclude a sizable number of Australians who do not have one.

A credit card is a blunt way to check someone's age, especially in a country

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Why it matters

Steam's one-method policy may lock out eligible adult users who do not own a credit card.

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5:00 PMPolygon

Zelda: Ocarina of Time Is the Last Game That Needs a Jump Button

Summary

The upcoming version of Ocarina of Time adds a dedicated jump button, even though the original game built much of its movement around automatic jumps. The change raises questions about whether every classic mechanic really needs a modern update.

Ocarina of Time's context-sensitive movement was simple, readable, and deeply tied to how the game

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Why it matters

The remake is testing whether modernization improves a classic or just gets in its way.

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4:41 PMVariety

‘The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’ 40th Anniversary Remake Sets Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date (Gaming News Roundup)

Summary

An updated version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on Nov. 5. It brings sharper visuals, fully voiced cutscenes, expanded dialogue, orchestral music, and redesigned controls.

Nintendo is treating one of its most beloved adventures to a serious overhaul rather than

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Why it matters

A landmark Zelda game is getting a modern makeover aimed at both longtime fans and new players.

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6:06 AMMarketWatch

GameStop now generates more revenue from collectibles than videogames

Summary

GameStop now makes more money selling collectibles than it does from video games. The shift marks a major change for a retailer once defined by game discs, trade-ins, and meme-stock drama.

The business is still called GameStop, but the strategy increasingly looks like a pop-culture merchandise

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Why it matters

GameStop's future may depend less on gaming itself than on the fandom surrounding it.

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8:39 PMVariety

Trump White House Pulls Down Tetris-Like Game, in Which You Had to Stop a ‘Zombie Siege’ at Mexican Border, After Company’s Copyright Threat

Summary

The White House removed a game called Build the Wall after the rights holder behind Tetris objected to its apparent copyright infringement. The game used a Tetris-style format for an anti-immigration border-defense premise.

The political messaging was provocative, but the copyright issue turned out to be the simpler

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Why it matters

A politically charged game vanished after its Tetris-inspired design triggered a legal threat.

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2 stories · 2 sources

3:46 PMPolygon

As Sony Kills Physical Games, Classic Big Box PC Releases Find New Life Thanks to GOG

Summary

GOG is expanding its Preservation Program to include the old-school packaging and artwork that came with classic PC games. Releases such as Myst and Hitman will get 3D models and original big box art, preserving more than just the software itself.

It is a smart response to an increasingly download-only industry. For longtime PC players, the

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Why it matters

Game preservation is becoming about saving the culture around a game, not just keeping its files playable.

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6:36 PMIGN

Nintendo Direct September 2026 No-Shows: From The Duskbloods to Mario

Summary

Nintendo's September 2026 Direct came and went without updates on the next 3D Mario game, The Duskbloods, and several other heavily anticipated projects. Fans got answers mostly by process of elimination, with the biggest names left waiting in the wings.

Nintendo Directs thrive on surprise, but they also create a long list of expected reveals.

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Why it matters

Nintendo still has major games to unveil, and the no-shows leave its upcoming lineup feeling more mysterious than settled.

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Other Developments

A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.

8:43 PMPolygon

Skyrim’s Wildest New Character Is a Talking Ikea Shelf, Voiced by Matt Berry

Summary

A new IKEA-backed Skyrim mod adds a talking shelf as a companion. Voiced by Matt Berry, the shelf brings bizarre dialogue and strange new loot to the fantasy role-playing game.

Skyrim has been modded into nearly every imaginable shape, but an IKEA shelf voiced by

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Why it matters

A furniture brand has turned Skyrim’s modding culture into an unexpectedly memorable promotional stunt.

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8:38 PMPolygon

The 25 Best Games on Xbox Game Pass in 2026

Summary

This roundup picks the 25 best games available across Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential. It covers the service’s catalog on both Xbox consoles and PC.

With Game Pass spread across multiple tiers, a curated list is useful for figuring out

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Why it matters

A strong Game Pass lineup makes the service valuable, but only if players can navigate its expanding catalog.

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6:45 PMIGN

Valorant Cheater Using Evil Tung Tung Tung Sahur Skin Banned After Viral Video Sparks Backlash Against Riot's Anti-Cheat

Summary

A Valorant hacker using the bizarre Evil Tung Tung Tung Sahur skin tore through lobbies, wiping out entire teams and turning the cheat into a viral spectacle. Riot has now banned the account after players pushed back against the game's anti-cheat system.

The skin made the cheating spree impossible to ignore, but the bigger issue is familiar:

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Why it matters

A highly visible ban may calm the backlash, but Valorant's anti-cheat reputation still depends on catching the next cheater faster.

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5:56 PMPolygon

Xbox Gets Exclusive Call of Duty Gun Skin PlayStation Players Can't See

Summary

The console rivalry has moved into Call of Duty, where Xbox players are getting an exclusive gun skin with a different appearance from the version seen on other platforms. PlayStation players can still encounter the weapon, but they cannot see its Xbox-specific look.

It is a small cosmetic perk, but platform-exclusive content is designed to make ownership feel

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Why it matters

The skin shows how platform competition is increasingly playing out through tiny in-game bonuses rather than major gameplay differences.

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4:41 PMIGN

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy's Surprise Switch 2 Port Has Some Fans Hoping for a Sequel

Summary

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is back in the spotlight five years after launch with a surprise port for Switch 2. The return has fans wondering whether a new platform release could eventually open the door to a sequel.

The original game earned plenty of affection but never became the blockbuster its publisher wanted.

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Why it matters

The port is not a sequel announcement, but it shows there is still interest in bringing the Guardians back.

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4:29 PMIGN

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Is Getting an Official Prequel Webtoon With New Chapters Every Saturday

Summary

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is expanding beyond games with an official prequel webtoon. New chapters will arrive every Saturday, giving fans more story to follow before the game's release.

A weekly webtoon is a neat way to keep the samurai action series in view

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Why it matters

The prequel offers fans fresh Onimusha material while helping maintain momentum for Way of the Sword.

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4:29 PMIGN

How Many Guest Characters Is Too Many? Tokyo Revengers X City of the Wolves Collaboration Sparks Fighting Game Debate

Summary

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is adding a Tokyo Revengers collaboration, putting its growing roster of guest characters back under the microscope. Fighting game fans are now arguing over when crossover appeal starts to crowd out the identity of the game itself.

Guest fighters can bring new audiences and keep a roster exciting, but every crossover also

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Why it matters

City of the Wolves is testing how far a fighting game can lean on outside characters before its own cast feels like the guest list.

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4:12 PMPolygon

Beast locations for Beastmaster's bestiary in FFXIV

Summary

Final Fantasy XIV’s new Beastmaster job revolves around finding and capturing creatures for your collection. This guide covers how to unlock the job and where to track down the beasts you need.

The job adds a familiar monster-collecting hook to the MMO, but building the bestiary still

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Why it matters

Players can get started with Beastmaster faster and fill out its creature roster without hunting blindly.

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4:00 PMPolygon

Milki Delivery Looks Cozy, But the Ghibli-Inspired Game Has a Dark Secret

Summary

Milki Delivery is a new Steam game about making deliveries in a soft, Ghibli-inspired world, with a release planned for November. Beneath the cozy visuals, though, the game hides a darker mystery that gives the familiar setup a sharper edge.

The contrast is the appeal: cute characters and gentle routines on the surface, unsettling questions

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Why it matters

Milki Delivery could turn a comforting delivery sim into something far more intriguing.

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3:46 PMIGN

Ace Combat 8 Dev Says Tasha Was the Game's 'Most Expensive' Character to Design

Summary

Tasha became the most expensive character in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve after developers spent an unusually long time refining her design. The comment hints at a production process that gave the character more attention than anyone else in the cast.

That kind of development cost usually means a character has a major visual or narrative

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Why it matters

One character apparently received an outsized share of the game's creative budget.

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3:45 PMIGN

Walmart Has a Great Nintendo Switch 2 Console Deal for Anyone Not Interested in Getting the Zelda Edition

Summary

Walmart is offering a deal on the standard Nintendo Switch 2 for shoppers who do not want the Zelda-themed version. The timing is especially appealing ahead of an expected price increase.

If the Zelda edition is mostly a cosmetic upgrade, the regular console may be the

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Why it matters

This may be one of the better chances to grab a standard Switch 2 before prices rise.

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3:30 PMPolygon

Usual June Preview: Gaming's Secret Tastemakers Are Back with Spectral Crab Action

Summary

Finji, the publisher behind acclaimed indie games, is developing its next title in-house. Usual June stars spectral crab action and already looks like another stylish, offbeat project from a team with a strong eye for unusual games.

Finji has built a reputation for finding memorable ideas, so an internal project carries plenty

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Why it matters

Usual June could add another distinctive indie adventure to Finji's growing run of creatively ambitious games.

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1:45 PMIGN

Get the Lowest Price on a Memory Card for Your New Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 Console

Summary

Nintendo Switch 2 owners planning to pick up Ocarina of Time or Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave should expect each game to use nearly 30GB of storage. That makes a memory card a practical upgrade for anyone building a digital library.

Two large releases can eat through the console’s storage quickly, especially alongside screenshots, updates, and

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Why it matters

These games are a reminder that Switch 2 owners may need expandable storage sooner than expected.

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1:30 PMIGN

The New SteelSeries Aeon Pro Wireless Gaming Controller With Infinite Battery Life Is Now Available

Summary

SteelSeries has launched the Aeon Pro Wireless, a new gaming controller for PC and Xbox. Its headline feature is effectively infinite battery life, paired with a premium feature set aimed at serious players.

Battery anxiety is one of the few annoyances that wireless controllers have never fully solved.

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Why it matters

A wireless controller that never needs a traditional recharge could change the buying equation.

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12:43 PMThe Verge

Ocarina of Time remake physical preorders are $10 off at Walmart

Summary

Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is already available to preorder physically at Walmart for $59.88. That is $10 less than the standard price at other retailers.

It is a small but useful discount for anyone who already knows they want a

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Why it matters

Walmart is currently offering one of the clearest early savings on a major Switch 2 release.

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