The Nintendo Switch has been going from strength to strength since its launch last year, with a host of top-tier titles released for the hybrid console, but it still lacks many of the most popular apps you can find elsewhere.
One of those missing apps is YouTube, but that’s a gap that might be filled in the very near future: a few Switch users have spotted YouTube appearing in the “suggested” section of the Nintendo website, with an availability date of November 8. It’s not direct confirmation, but it appears to be a rather big hint.
We don’t have anything official from either YouTube or Nintendo, but we do know that Netflix and YouTube functionality was previously included on a Best Buy Nintendo Switch listing. The listing was later amended to remove the streaming services.
Will Netflix be next?
Even with its solid gaming line-up and new games arriving all the time, it would make a lot of sense for Nintendo to add to the Switch’s capabilities – letting users relax and watch a few videos in between their gaming sessions.
At the moment Hulu is the only streaming service you can get on the Nintendo Switch, and that’s only available in the US. Let’s hope the imminent arrival of YouTube, if it does indeed show up, is the start of more and more services showing up on the portable console. The likes of Spotify and Amazon Prime Video would certainly be welcome.
Bearing in mind the Switch can be docked to a TV, this would be another way of getting YouTube – and maybe YouTube Music – up on the big screen as well. We’ll have to wait and see what happens on November 8, this coming Thursday.
If you look back a few years, the best gaming laptops were easy to distinguish from the best laptops. Packing in an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and dedicated graphics required a big hulking notebook to contain all that PC gaming power. However, the best gaming laptops now come in all shapes and sizes. That’s why we thought it’d be a great idea to dive into all the best gaming laptops you can buy today.
These days, you could easily gloss over top gaming laptops trying to pass themselves off as reserved office notebooks. Alternatively, you can pick up a gigantic desktop replacement that’ll brute force its way through everything. In 2018, there are a ton of portable replacements to the best gaming PCs.
So, whether you’re looking for a laptop that you can use for work as well as play, or you want a traditional, thick gaming behemoth, we have the recommendations you’re looking for. And, because we’ve tested, reviewed and ranked all the best gaming laptops ourselves, you can be sure that you’re going to find something great on this list.
Luckily, you shouldn’t have to break open your piggy bank to buy one of the best gaming laptops for much longer. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are right around the corner, and with them we’re expecting a ton of laptop deals – the best gaming laptops among them. So, keep an eye on manufacturers like Dell and retailers like Amazon and Newegg so you can stay ahead of the curve. And, remember to keep it locked to TechRadar for all your holiday shopping needs.
Sometimes you just want to play the best PC games without looking like you’re playing them, and that’s where the MSI GS65 Stealth comes in. Measuring in at just .69 inches thick and featuring impressive hardware like Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics, the MSI GS65 Stealth packs a ton of power into a very svelte package. There’s nothing you’ll be able to throw at this thing that’ll slow it down. And, thanks to its subdued design, you can bring this horsepower everywhere you go, making it the best gaming laptop out there, on all fronts.
Kicking Nvidia’s Max-Q technology off right, the Asus Zephyrus GX501 combines the heralded thinness of an Ultrabook with the performance of a gaming PC to bring the best of both worlds to your feet. Despite exhibiting subpar times in our battery life benchmarks, this svelte powerhouse of a notebook is one for the books when it comes to both portability and style. Plus, it’s virtually silent if noise is a cause for distraction in your everyday routine.
Thin and light gaming laptops are kind of in vogue in 2018, but if you reject all that and want to stick with a heavy, monstrous laptop that can demolish any title under the sun, the Asus ROG G703GI is for you. There’s no way around it – this is a massive – and expensive – laptop, but it backs its size and price with gaming performance that can rival some of the best gaming PCs. Just don’t expect to be able to bring it to a coffee shop without its two power bricks – or awkward stares.
This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Razer Blade Pro
The Razer Blade might still have an unbearably edgy name, but now that the 2018 version is here, it’s fitting – it’s still on the cutting edge. Beyond its insanely high-end specs and beautiful chassis, it can fit up to a 4K Ultra-HD display, with the specs to actually back it up. That’s not to mention the expandability that the Razer Core X opens up. It might be expensive, but if you’re a Razer fan looking for the best gaming laptop, it might just be for you.
If you want one of the best gaming laptops, but don’t want to miss out on the ultra-portable craze, you need to consider the Dell XPS 15 2-in-1. Packed with an Intel Kaby Lake G-series processor, this gaming laptop can keep up with its competitors rocking a GTX 1050 without featuring truly discrete graphics. And, when you combine that gaming horsepower with a chassis that looks this good, it’s a total win – even if you have to endure some fan noise to get there.
It may not boast the most innovative design, substituting the usual black and red aesthetic for one that makes it feel like Halloween all year round (no complaints here). But, it’s undoubtedly one of the best when it comes to gaming in 1080p. In fact, we were able to crank the setting s all the way up in Overwatch without ever straying below 60fps. It doesn’t feature the longest battery life, but the screen, power and onboard sound system more than make up for it.
This product is only available in the US and Australia at the time of this writing. UK readers: check out a fine alternative in the Alienware 17 R5
With the Acer Predator Helios, you’ll be able to get some gaming done on the go, and save some cash while you’re at it. At it’s asking price, you’re not going to find much better, thanks to its impressive GTX 1060 graphics and beautiful 15.6-inch 144Hz 1080p display. You should be able to play any of the best PC games on this thing, at a fraction of the price that something like the Razer Blade would charge. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll be running into some thermal issues with the Acer Predator Helios 300 – but you can fix that with some fan setting tweaking.
The best gaming laptops used to be these huge, bulky devices that were necessary to experience the best PC games on the go – not anymore. The Gigabyte Aero 15 throws that tradition in the garbage, where it belongs by packing in a 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU and a GTX 1060 into a package that allows it to pass as an Ultrabook. And, thanks to that beefy processor, the Gigabyte Aero 15 isn’t just one of the best gaming laptops – it’s just as good when you need to get some work done.
Ever since Intel unveiled its i9-8950HK, we just knew that it would find its way behind the best gaming laptops 2018 had to offer, and not even a full month later, and we’ve been proven right. The Alienware 17 R5 is a beast of a gaming laptop with the aforementioned CPU and an overclocked GTX 1080. If you’re willing to get an absolute tank of a laptop that weighs nearly 10 pounds, this hulking computer will demolish any and all games you throw at it. Just don’t expect to throw it in a bag without some severe back pain.
Unlike most of the best 13-inch laptops, the Alienware 13 R3 bears a hinge-forward design. By moving the heat sinks behind the screen, the chassis is allowed to be thinner, at 0.81-inches (0.22cm). Unfortunately, this means you won’t find many 13-inch laptop bags that the Alienware 13 R3 will actually fit in. While you may be tempted by the inclusion of a full-size GTX 1060, it’s the OLED touch display that caught our attention.
Red Dead Online is set to kick off in the coming weeks. But with such a massive open-world to explore in Red Dead Redemption 2‘s single-player story, why should you be excited about the game’s online mode?
Rockstar’s open-world Western game, a prequel to 2010’s Red Dead Redemption, was released to wide critical acclaim and is basically all anyone in our office – or yours, probably – has been talking about for weeks.
While you might expect an online mode to be live from the game’s launch, it makes sense for Rockstar to want you to focus on the main story – and boy is there a lot of it – before waltzing into a less narrative-driven multiplayer experience.
Rockstar has proved itself at converting a massive single-player game into a lively online experience, as shown in the launch of GTA Online in 2013, which has become almost as massive a phenomenon as the mainline GTA V game it spun off from.
So what can you expect from Red Dead Online, and when does the beta actually launch?
Cut to the chase
What is it? The online component of Rockstar’s open-world Western
What can I play it on? PS4 or Xbox One
When can I play it? The beta launches in November, with the full release likely in 2019
Red Dead Online beta access
Yes, Rockstar are easing in with a beta – the company warns to expect “turbulence” at launch while optimizes the gameplay – but it’s a public beta, and we’re going to get our first good look at what this means very soon.
The Red Dead Online beta is set to launch sometime in November, and anyone with a PS4 or Xbox One copy of the game will be able to access it.
This is likely to lead to a full launch shortly after. That may mean it comes in December, or we may have to wait until early 2019 to play the full online game.
Red Dead Online multiplayer
So what will Red Dead Redemption 2 Online look like?
An official announcement for the online service read: “Using the gameplay of the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 as a foundation, Red Dead Online will be ready to be explored alone or with friends, and will also feature constant updates and adjustments to grow and evolve this experience for all players.”
There’s not much else to go on, other than the online mode from Rockstar’s other massive open-world property. If it’s anything like GTA Online, we’re going to see targeted quests and missions in an alternative game world, with freer customization and actions without the same long-term narrative consequences.
Playing with friends or matchmaking with strangers is a given, though we could see servers restricting player numbers below GTA Online’s 30 for a more curated feel.
We imagine the game will stay comparatively grounded, and not veer too much from the central game experience. We can envisage saloons where you play poker and start fights with other players, and we can see quickly descend into bottle-over-the-head chaos.
The option of challenging players to quick-fire duels, or pulling heists and train robberies with your posse – with new missions like these added with regular updates – is likely to form a big part of the appeal too.
Red Dead Online: what we want to see
Character customization
Red Dead Redemption 2’s protagonist Arthur Morgan already allows an immense level of detail in how he dresses and styles his appearance. Opening up a character creation tool for the online mode seems like a natural step, meaning you can make a cowboy avatar that truly feels like you. The option to play as a woman seems like a no-brainer, too.
All the minigames
We definitely hope the minigames will be playable online with your friends – card games, knife games, drinking games, and all that other wholesome fun you cowboys get up to.
One of the things we love about Read Dead Redemption 2 is the thoughtful pace – so we’re hoping the online mode doesn’t go too octane for the rustic cowboy setting. We want to take a slow trot to the saloon before beating our friends at poker, or lying in the undergrowth while we wait to rob an incoming train – not a 6v6 deathmatch on flaming ponies.
Maybe some zombies though
Okay, as much as we love the core Read Dead experience, the last game’s Undead Nightmare DLC was a fantastic adventure in its own right, raising the dead in what felt like a serious Western blended with a camp horror movie. It was too good an experiment not to resurrect this time around – we hope.
Cross-platform play
We haven’t seen cross-platform play for a Rockstar game before, though the CEO Strauss Zelnick has been open about his desire to overcome traditional console distinctions for online play.
We’d love to see PS4 and Xbox One owners play out in the wild west together, though Sony have also proven themselves a stickler on this point in the past – even if it eventually succumbed to pressure on Fortnite cross-platform play.
Some further evidence of a potential Zelda mobile title – as well as a Donkey Kong game – has surfaced via Destructoid in the form of a pair of trademark filings. Specifically, Japanese Nintendo has trademarked the phrases “Spirit Tracks” and “Mario vs Donkey Kong”.
While trademark filings aren’t hard evidence of an impending mobile release, they were filed under the category of “program for home video game machine, downloadable video game program, and program for smartphones”, which bodes well.
We have seen some console games in recent years launch with companion apps for mobile, so it may be a case of one, or both, of these titles landing in some way on the Nintendo Switch or 3DS systems and receiving such an app.
In fact, it could result in any combination of releases on Nintendo’s current systems, as the category in which it’s filed under is broad enough to avoid specifics, but here’s to hoping we’ll get some more mobile action from Nintendo.
Spirit Tracks was a Legend of Zelda title that released on the Nintendo DS and heavily relied on the use of its stylus as an input device – re-arranging puzzles, wielding special weapons, and so on – all of which could be mechanics that translate well to the touchscreen interface of a smartphone.
Similarly, the Mario vs Donkey Kong series largely revolves around puzzles and platforming and could well be remade for mobile. While this would be the mobile debut for Donkey Kong, Mario has already made quite the splash with Super Mario Run.
Let us find you the cheapest Xbox Live Gold deals for 12-month memberships right here with our price comparison technology that searches through loads of retailers to bring you the best price whatever region you’re in.
After all we’re confident we can beat those auto-renew Xbox Live Gold prices of $60 in the US, £40 in UK or $79.95 in Australia. We see prices cheaper than this throughout the year and we’re in the best place to spot any discounts.
So as you’re probably all too aware, as with past consoles in the Xbox lineup, the Xbox One also requires an Xbox Live Gold subscription in order to play games online. It’s not all bad though, as Microsoft took a note from Sony’s similar PlayStation Plus offering and now gives out free games each month to members. You currently get two for the Xbox One and two Xbox 360 games to play on the old console or your Xbox One via its backwards-compatible feature.
You don’t get as many free games as Sony’s PS Plus service, but Microsoft’s Xbox Live service is generally seen as the more stable and reliable network of the two – although Sony’s PSN has been fine of late. You’ll also get Xbox One Gold member-exclusive discounts in the many sales on the Xbox Live store.
The cheapest Xbox Live Gold deals
We generally find that CDKeys is one of the cheapest prices to buy a 12-month Xbox Live Gold deal, but technical gremlins sometimes mean the prices don’t show up in our comparison chart below. Feel free to check the following CDKeys links though, just to make sure you’re getting the best Xbox Live Gold deal. Prices are usually hovering around £32-£36 in the UK and $43-$48 in the USand$60-$65 in Australia.
If you’d prefer to go down the official route, you can buy directly from Microsoft’s website. There are discounts sometimes, but we generally find prices stick to the full RRP. If you’d like to take a look, that’d be $59.99 in the US or £39.99 in the UK or $79.95 in Australia.
You can also get a shorter three-month Xbox Live Gold subscription. However, we don’t think this represents as good value as the cost per month works out much higher. If you want to dip your toe into the world of online gaming though, this is a good place to start, and doesn’t commit you to a full year. It’s worth checking if you could get a free month-long trial directly from your Xbox menu first though.
What are the free Xbox Games with Gold this month?
We’ve got you covered. Each month we update the list of extensive freebies for the Xbox Live Games with Gold promotion. Why not bookmark the page below to make sure you never miss out?
Update: Have the announcements finally stopped? A Nintendo Direct on November 1 seemingly revealed the final two launch fighters – Street Fighter’s Ken and the Pokemon Incineroar – with promises that more new fighters would appear in paid DLC packs throughout 2019, and maybe even beyond.
We’ve run through everything else – including some limited edition bundles – in our news and rumors section below…
Nintendo scared us for a minute. After going one full year without hearing a peep about a new Super Smash Bros. game, we had almost given up hope.
And then, on that fateful Nintendo Direct, Nintendo dropped the news: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the next generation of the series that’s coming to Nintendo Switch later this year. Details were scant then, but we knew enough to get excited.
By now we know that it’s a honest-to-goodness new entry in the genre, not a remake or a port from the Wii U or Nintendo 3DS, and that it will include every fighter ever included in a Smash game – yes, even the third-party DLC characters from the last game.
In addition to the massive roster of returning characters, Nintendo surprised us with three new fighters exclusive to Ultimate that include Ridley, Inkling and Daisy, plus King K. Rool and Simon and Richter Belmont of Castlevania fame. Alongside the E3 reveal of the space pirate Ridley, there’s a lot of fan service going on, and we’re very here for it.
The latter is part of Super Smash Bros’ new Echo Fighter system wherein it takes a fighter from the roster – in this case Peach – and reworks their abilities for a different play-style. The result is a character that’s different, but familiar.
There will be new items and maps to go along with the characters, plus hundreds of mechanical tweaks that Series Director Masahiro Sakurai is overseeing personally.
Ultimate might seem a bit overzealous, but this is the closest we’re ever going to get to a complete collection and one that has some serious eSports potential.
Cut to the chase
What is it? The fifth entry in the vaunted Nintendo fighting game series
When can I play it? December 7, 2018
What can I play it on? Nintendo Switch
Super Smash Bros Ultimate – release date
Following the E3 2018 Nintendo Direct, we know Super Smash Bros will come out on December 7, 2018.
Not only is the base game available that day, but so is the new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Nintendo Switch bundle that includes a download code for game, the console, a customized docking station and a special controller – starting on November 2, 2018.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate – trailers
At E3 2018, a majority of the Nintendo Direct live stream was dedicated to Super Smash Bros Ultimate. At just over 25 minutes, this is a long reveal and you can watch it below:
Here’s the initial teaser from the March 2018 Nintendo Direct and it’s a good one. You can watch it below:
Every character that has ever appeared in Super Smash Bros is coming back to the Switch version. Every single one. Nintendo has so far announced over 60 characters including the return of Ice Climbers as a duo and Pichu from Super Smash Bros Melee. We’ll also see returning crossover characters like Sonic and Solid Snake.
The first new characters to be announced were the Inkling from the Splatoon series and space pirate Ridley from the Metroid series – the latter of which looks to be a very aerial-focused character with dive bomb moves.
Available as both a boy or girl character (with dozens of clothing and style choices), the Inkling’s attacks all revolve around the different weapons available in Splatoon, while inked opponents will take more damage from attacks. Users will also have to press the B button while their shield is up to reload their inking ammo.
A more recent Nintendo Direct also introduced Castlevania’s vampire hunter Simon Belmont, featuring his iconic whip and an exploding vial of holy water, with Alucard Son of Dracula featuring as an otherworldly assist trophy. We also caught a glimpse of the hulking crocodile villain King K. Rool from the original Donkey King Country games, and Isabelle from Animal Crossing.
There’ll be DLC
The most recent Nintendo Direct on November 1 added in Street Fighter’s Ken and the fire-fighting type Pokemon Incineroar as the final two fighters – rounding out the list to 74. But Nintendo also announced five pieces of DLC roughly planned for the next year, either $5.99 per pack or $24.99 (around £20 / AU$35) for the whole lot, each with a brand-new fighter with a bonus stage and additional music tracks.
Those who pre-order the game will even get the dastardly Pirahna Plant as another fighter sometime in the new year – see below – so it seems like there’s plenty surprises still to come.
The World of Light
We now have a lot more info on the game’s Adventure Mode, which will see you battling evil replicas of the roster’s other fighters to free them from a mysterious force.
The premise is that everyone on Earth has been removed from the physical world – except you, naturally – and has to have their spirits reunited in their bodies in a spiritual plane called ‘the world of light’. There was a sneaky hint of this in a Nintendo Direct over the summer, which saw a literal Grim Reaper ‘reap’ Luigi’s soul, but the game naturally avoids questions of actual mortality.
This ties in with a separate ‘Spirit Mode’, where you battle to free the spirits of other Nintendo or third-party characters, and then use them to enhance your own battle stats and sway the tide of battle in your favor. It shouldn’t change the core Smash experience too much, or replace the Assist Trophies, but will add another layer of tactics – and collectibles – to the game.
So many stages
Smash Bros Ultimate is set to almost double the number of stages seen in recent games. We’re being treated to a total 103 distinct stages, up from 56 from the Wii U game – with additional variations depending on how you want the environment to behave.
New stages include Dracula’s Castle from the Castlevania series, and even New Donk City Hall from Super Mario Odyssey – complete with the city’s singing band to underscore the action.
There’ll also be a new Stage Morph mode, which allows players to teleport their fighters to a new location halfway through a match.
New items, new looks, new Pokemon
It wouldn’t be Smash Bros without countless incremental changes – and this game sticks to the trend.
Some of the new items include a single-shot Banana Gun, a Death’s Scythe that does more damage to low-health fighters, and a Ramblin’ Evil Mushroom that temporarily reverses your enemy’s control system.
Knuckles, Shovel Knight, and the evil moon from Majora’s Mask will be joining the list of Assist Trophies – while the long-necked Alolan Exeggutor can now be summoned from a Pokeball to awkwardly split the battle stage in half, which we think is hysterical.
All the classic characters have also received overhauls to their look or moveset. Here are just a few of the new changes to veteran smashers:
Samus: New Dark Samus echo fighter, for being evil
Mario: Throwable Odyssey hat, added wedding and builder outfits
Ike: Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn versions added with different voices
Pikachu: New female appearance with heart-shaped tail to choose from
Fox: Landmaster final smash has been replaced with a straight to the point attack
Falco: New final smash calls in a spaceship attack
Marth: Dancing blade is faster
Pac-Man: Faster overall thanks to a speed boost
Villager: Users can now choose from eight different characters
Compatible with the GameCube controller
In case you were curious, you will indeed be able to play the game with a GameCube controller. Nintendo has announced a special ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Limited Edition’ in Europe, which will include a copy of the game alongside a dedicated GameCube controller and adaptor – no doubt appeasing the nostalgia of those who grew up playing on the earlier Nintendo system, or who just want a more traditional controller layout.
The US version will instead pack in a Switch Pro Controller with a special Smash Bros design, with a black steelbook case for the game cartridge.
Masahiro Sakurai is on board
The series creator of Super Smash Bros, Masahiro Sakurai, confirmed back in March that he was working on the newly announced Nintendo Switch title.
Sakurai said in a tweet (via Siliconera) that he’s been “quietly working on it day after day”, asking for fans to “please wait until we can reveal its content, or until the time of its release!!”
Sakurai’s involvement is unsurprising, but promising given that he’s been involved with every other Super Smash Bros release.
A port or something more?
There was much debate about whether the new Super Smash Bros would be a wholly new game, or a ‘deluxe’ re-release of Super Smash Bros 4 (the one that appeared simultaneously on Wii U and 3DS in 2014).
The latter wouldn’t have been surprising, given that Nintendo had been porting a lot of games from the unloved Wii U console such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Pokkén Tournament onto the Switch, albeit as more fleshed-out or ‘definitive’ versions.
We now know Ultimate is a brand new entry of its own, while working to bring together everything – and everyone – we loved from the previous games. The new Switch console is the most powerful bit of hardware Nintendo has ever released, so we’re hugely excited to see what a dedicated Smash game can do on the console.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate – what other characters will appear?
As we mentioned, the previous entry in the series had 58 characters (including on-disc ones and DLC) and that’s been upped to 74.
A recent Super Smash Bros Ultimate leak suggested the remaining fighters may include Shadow the Hedgehog and Street Fighter’s Ken, as well as Rare’s beloved Banjo-Kazooie, and even Geno (Geno!) from the little-known Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Aside from Ken, however, none of these have been confirmed – though the news of DLC packs down the line are keeping open a lot of other possibilities.
We could see some off-the-wall additions as well. Could Skyrim’s arrival on Nintendo Switch mean we’ll see the classic look of the Dovahkiin in the new Smash Bros? Those dragon shouts would certainly come in useful.
Then again, now that we know Crash Bandicoot is coming to the console we’d love to see him appear in game. His wild spin is made for Smash Bros and we can see a TNT-themed special move. And we certainly wouldn’t be surprised to see the Rabbid rabbits after the success of their joint venture with Mario in 2017.
Naturally fans have characters they’d love to see appear in the game. One character who’s been a top request for years now is Dragon Ball Z’s Goku and demands are making the rounds again. This time, however, Funimation is in on the act and the company has even sent a tweet to Nintendo asking when Goku will make his debut.
Another character request is a more recent one but we love it just as much – LaboMan. Inspired by the small cardboard man who appeared in the trailer for the upcoming Nintendo Labo accessory, Javed L Sterritt designed LaboMan and animated him for a Smash Bros appearance. His main move would be to sling the Joy-Con on his back at enemies but he’ll also be able to transform into the Labo piano for a super smash. LaboMan would be a different addition to the roster but an adorable and on-brand one to be sure.
Will there be eSports?
eSports is an ever-growing field and Super Smash Bros would certainly be an excellent title for Nintendo to make a splash. The series has a hardline community following, and the videos of fans screaming at the game’s announcement make it clear there would be an audience for competitive play. It’d also be a great way to show what Nintendo’s full online service can do when it launches in September.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate has now announced its full roster of 74 launch fighters
More significantly, Japan has started to reduce the regulations around paid tournaments which has stopped eSports flourishing in the country so it’s possible that Nintendo may warm to this kind of play.
Nintendo has already been running tournaments at hands-on demos, with a conciliatory air to the eSports scene. Historically its been rather cautious when it comes to eSports, but times are rapidly changing and online streaming is becoming intricately tied with a game’s success – just look at PUBG, Fortnite and Sea of Thieves.
With Nintendo already Super Smash Bros is looking likely to be the title that will see Nintendo to start taking the genre more seriously.
Today’s Nintendo Direct was fully dedicated to the incoming Smash Bros game, which launches on December 7 and is sure to be a big seller over the coming months.
In it, the final two fighters were revealed to be Street Fighter’s Ken – an Echo Fighter of Ryu with more kicking – and the fire-fighting type Pokemon Incineroar, rounding off the list to 74 total fighters at launch.
We’d heard rumors of the so-far unannounced fighters after a convincing Smash Bros leak, which seemed to show a full roster also including Shadow the Hedgehog and a host of other lesser-known Nintendo characters – but they were nowhere to be seen…
It looks like Nintendo will be drip-feeding new characters in paid DLC, with current plans for five add-on packs each with a brand-new fighter, new fighting stage, and additional bonus tracks to underscore the action.
Players can also buy a $24.99 (about £20 / AU$35) Fighters Pass to get access to all five as they release, rather than paying $5.99 per DLC, and will also get an exclusive Mii Fighter outfit based on Rex from Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
There’s no firm release dates for the new content – Nintendo stresses they’re still being worked on – but there’s a general expectation that all five packs will release in the next year. We also know that each new fighter will be a fleshed-out character in their own right, rather than just Echo versions of those already on the roster.
We did, however, get a sneak peak of the next addition –none other than the Piranha Plant from the Super Mario series, who’s now able to potter around the game’s stages in its, eh, plant pot while wreaking havoc on Mario and others. You’ll need to pre-order the game for this one, though, so if you’re committed to this fighter we recommend you do.
Whether or not the ‘leaked’ characters will find their way is uncertain – if there’s no Banjo-Kazooie we’ll feel very cheated – though the inclusion of Incineroar and Piranha Plant does seem to undermine the leaked image.
We’ve run through the Nintendo Direct’s other announcements – on the long-rumored ‘spirits’ and Spirit Mode, for one – alongside the game’s other lore and news in our Super Smash Bros. Ultimate hub.
Microsoft’s live streaming platform, Mixer, is getting a big ol’ update today with a host of new user-focused features – and a number to come down the line too.
Launched as ‘Beam’ in 2014, the live-stream platform was quickly snapped up and rebranded by Microsoft to launch its own competitor to Twitch.
Mixer has now entered what it calls ‘Season 2’ of its ongoing development, to try to offer a meaningful alternative to Twitch’s much larger platform, with a larger focus on viewer engagement and ways in which users can interact during streams – whether moving around objects in-game or making decisions on what the streamer will do.
Season 2’s changes include livening up comment threads during live-streams, with the somewhat oddly-named ‘Skills’ – allowing for a wider range of animations, GIFs, and images than just scrolling lines of text. Cue confetti, astonished robots, and beach balls jumping across the screen (and not just your screen, either).
Viewers earn Sparks currency by watching live-streams
Mixer’s on-site Sparks currency – which is earned by watching or engaging with streamers’ broadcasts – can be used to purchase these Skills. Streamers on the site will also be directly rewarded if they hit specific milestones of viewer numbers or engagement – incentivizing viewers to spend on Skills when watching their favorite streamers.
Other incoming features include a new souped-up currency (Mixer Embers) for buying bigger-impact forms of engagement, as well as an Applaud button for cheering on other viewers’ comments and contributions.
Mixer has a way to go to truly take on Twitch, but Season 2 certainly seems like an improved experience for those willing to go with Microsoft’s growing platform.
If you’ve already gotten a great PS4 deal, now is the time to find a super cheap PS4 controller price so you always have an extra DualShock 4 controller handy. This is crucial if you plan on long gaming sessions and need a backup controller that’s charged up and ready. Plus, you always want to have one available for a little local multiplayer action.
The PlayStation and the DualShock controller stories are intertwined, with the controller being around since almost the beginning of the PlayStation brand. Instead of constantly fiddling with the design and features of the DualSchock, Sony has kept much of the dual analog design the same. Now, we’re treated to an iconic controller that’s achieved near perfection.
Over 75 million PlayStation 4 consoles have been sold so far, but most bundles give you just one DualShock 4 controller in the box. Of course, in order to partake in local multiplayer games, you need more than one controller. Plus, having a spare is a good idea to always have one charged for those lengthy gaming sessions.
To help you get the most out of your PlayStation, we’ve rounded up the cheapest PS4 controller prices right here. We’ve picked out the best deals for the various different colors too.
Cheapest PS4 controller prices by color:
One of the highlights of the DualShock family is that a wide variety of awesome colors available. We’ve curated a list of the more tempting DualShock 4 deals for the various color variations below too. Naturally, these cheap PS4 controller prices are correct at time of writing.
More of the best DualShock 4 prices – USA
Gray/Blue DualShock 4: This will be your best bet then if you already own a PS4, and it’s close to the same color controller as the one in the Uncharted 4 Special Edition console bundle. It’s shot up in price in recent weeks and you can save money by opting for a different color. If you’ve gotta have it though, Amazon is the cheapest today at $60.83 (used).
Urban Camo DualShock 4: This model is a bit of a rare find at most retailers so expect higher prices than most models. Today’s best price for the Urban Camo DualShock 4 is $74.99 at Amazon.
Crystal DualShock 4: The clear Crystal DualShock 4 finally has an official US release. We’ve searched around for the best price and that’ll be $79.95 at Amazon.
Blue Crystal DualShock 4:This new see through blue DualShock 4 controller is a Walmart-exclusive in the US. So you won’t find any other retailers officially selling it outside of places like eBay or Amazon Marketplace. Today though, it’s cheapest at $59.94 at Walmart.
More of the best DualShock 4 prices – UK
Urban Camo DualShock 4: This one is a bit of a rare find at most retailers so expect higher prices than most models. Today’s best Urban Camo price is £75 at Amazon.
Grey/Blue DualShock 4: This looks like the same colour controller as the one in the Uncharted 4 Special Edition console bundle. This will be your best bet then if you already own a PS4. We’ve seen this for as low as £45, but sadly the best deal today is a rather untouchable £84 at Amazon.
What’s the difference between the original and new V2 DualShock 4 controller?
If you’ve seen mention of a ‘New’ or ‘V2’ DualShock 4 controller while looking for a new pad, you may be scratching your head. What separates these two controllers?
Here’s the difference: the new/V2 DualShock 4 was released alongside the PS4 Slim and features a few improvements over the original.
Some listings are a bit vague, but the clearest visual indicator to look out for is the new light bar on the DualShock’s 4 trackpad. This thin slit wasn’t on the original, so just look for the dimly illuminated blue line on the product listing’s image gallery. The original blue/red/gold controllers had black plastic on the back half of the controller, but the V2 versions feature matching colors, albeit a shade darker.
Other improvements include USB functionality, allowing gamers to plug the controller in for lag-free gaming (it simply charged the original), which could give you the edge in online shooters or games like Street Fighter V. You’ll also be able to use this enhanced connectivity to use the DualShock 4 on a PC without paying for the Bluetooth adapter. The rubber on the analogues has been improved (again) to prevent it wearing away so much too.
Nearly two years after release, and the Nintendo Switch feels like a different console. The same core mechanics of the hugely successful handheld / home console hybrid remain, but with a wide library of indie and third-party titles, as well as strong showings from Nintendo’s own beloved IP, the Switch has become even more of a must-own console than it was at launch.
If you’ve read our review and have purchased a Nintendo Switch for yourself, welcome! With our combined experience of thousands of hours spent with the Switch, we’ve compiled the following guide just for you, bringing the latest information and the best tips to the surface, as well as a few essential accessory and game recommendations.
New features
Since the launch of the Nintendo Switch in 2017, the console has gathered a slew of new skills – although not as many as some were hoping for.
Nintendo Switch Online now offers a paid service for online multiplayer – with an emulator for classic NES games bundled in, and the ability to save your game files to the cloud. In terms of what gamers can expect, Nintendo will be rolling out its online service in full. Despite being free at launch, the service will now cost $19 for a one-year membership, $7.99 for three months of service and $3.99 for one month.
Online capabilities are built-in nicely into games like Rocket League and Mario Kart 8: Deluxe, but the Nintendo Switch Online app for your smartphone enhances the online experience with Splatoon 2. That said, building a party of friends is still a pain and voice chat is cumbersome compared to what’s offered on other home consoles.
Nintendo is continuing to drip-feed more retro games each month to subscribers, which we hope will eventually lead to SNES and N64 titles alongside its current NES offering. Nintendo Switch Online still doesn’t feel fleshed out as a paid service though, and we’re hoping to see more features and incentives come to it over time.
The service will also need to boost its list of online-ready multiplayer games within the Nintendo Switch Online app, as it’s currently limited to Splatoon 2.
For the uninitiated, Nintendo Switch Online isn’t like Xbox Live or PlayStation Network. Sure, it will bring about voice chat, however, most of the networking tasks aren’t handled on the console itself. For that, you’ll need an iOS or Android device and a free app.
An update has given the Switch the secret, unmentioned-by-Nintendo ability to work with some wireless USB headsets. Not all work, mind you, but users have found success with a few models that you can pick up on the cheap.
The very same update also enabled the use of wired controllers. Which wired controllers, you ask? The Switch can detect Gamecube controllers via the Wii U accessory when plugged into one of its USB ports.
The Switch’s lack of apps, namely video streaming apps, is a sore topic of conversation for many. But Hulu is currently on Nintendo’s eShop for the Switch, and it seems unlikely Netflix and other streaming services won’t follow eventually.
That’s not all the peripheral software available on the console either. Synth-leader Korg also saw its Korg Gadget music-production software come to the Switch in Spring 2018.
What’s coming next?
While Nintendo has focused on nailing the console’s first year on the market (which it did with flying colors), the focus is now on continuing that momentum into 2019 and beyond. It has a lot of work to do on its Nintendo Switch Online service – it’s odd not to have dedicated servers on the paid service – but perhaps more important is keeping the stream of games consistent.
Moving onto the games of 2018 and beyond, there are many on the way, both confirmed and unconfirmed, to get excited for. Holiday 2018 will be dominated by the new Pokemon Let’s Go games, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, both of which are sure to be big sellers over the coming months.
2019 should see Metroid Prime 4, No More Heroes: Travis Strikes Again, new Yoshi and Animal Crossing titles, and another generation of Pokemon games (never enough).
There’s been chatter about a new Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 console, as a sort of small upgrade to the current hardware, possibly as early as Summer 2019. But it’s just rumors at the moment, and the current Switch offering is good enough to be worth getting on board now.
Proceed to check out the most essential tips to make you a Switch pro, and stay to get a look at the best accessories and games to complement your purchase.
Below, you’ll find some of the most useful and popular tips for the Nintendo Switch. We’re always digging into the Switch to find what’s new and interesting, so stay tuned for more tips.
If you’re coming from a PC, Xbox One or PS4, you might be wondering how to stream your gameplay online with the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, it’s not cheap, but it’s fairly easy with the right equipment!
You’ll need a PC, an Elgato Game Capture card and obviously, a Nintendo Switch. Once you have those ingredients, you’re smooth sailing.
The Switch is built to stylishly transition between home and portable use, but of course, it still doesn’t suit everyone’s needs. Whether it’s dock mods or awesome aesthetic changes, check out how the community is making the Switch better.
Even more tips and tricks
Find out how to easily check the Switch’s remaining battery percentage, maximize battery life, access fun easter eggs and more with these Nintendo Switch tips and tricks.
Part of what’s great about the Nintendo Switch is that it comes with everything you need to get started, whether you’re at home or on-the-go.
But as you might imagine, Nintendo and third-party companies have devised many accessories for the Switch. Some aren’t totally necessary, though there are definitely exceptions.
Below you’ll only find the essentials (some of which could save you major headaches down the line).
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
While not a totally necessary accessory, it can make all of the difference if A) you desire a more traditional controller for your Nintendo console or B) if you’ve grown accustomed to Xbox One or PS4 controllers.
It’s not the most affordable add-on, but given its excellent battery life and low-profile design, the Pro Controller pays for itself in time.
Orzly screen protector
The Switch’s display is too precious to put at risk of smudges or scratches. That’s why you need a screen protector as soon as possible. Even if you mostly play your Switch docked at the television, bad luck could strike that one time you go to move it.
There are plenty of Switch screen protectors to choose from, but Orzly’s is among the best because of its low price, easy installation and the fact that it includes five protectors in the box.
A microSD card
Nintendo wisely chose microSD as its swappable storage standard. It’s simple to find and better yet, it’s fairly inexpensive.
Do yourself a favor and pick up one of these cards so that you can leave your precious 32GB of internal storage for OS updates and apps.
Simply put, this is an essential purchase, no matter the capacity that you choose. However, we’d recommend at least 128GB if you don’t want to swap it out for a new one after a year or two’s worth of games.
Nintendo’s consoles are always a great source of variety when it comes to games. And although the company’s third-party relationships have been spotty in the past, things are looking up for the Switch.
Thanks to some strong first-party efforts and some solid third-party ports, 2017 with the Switch isn’t as lonely as many worried it be. In fact, it’s the opposite. There are an abundance of games (good ones, even) to play on the Switch. Here are a few of the essentials.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
“This isn’t just the most accomplished Zelda adventure yet, it also ranks as one of the most impressive launch titles for any console, period. If you harbour any thoughts of picking up Nintendo’s new console, then make no mistake – under no circumstances should you make a purchase without also buying this game.
Breath of the Wild is a must-have release, and represents a new high watermark not only for Nintendo as a developer of AAA content, but for the genre as a whole.”
ARMS is a fighting game, but stating it as merely just a fighting game is underselling it. Polished with Nintendo’s signature visual charm and surprising depth in gameplay, ARMS is an incredibly fun, tense experience that’s worthy of your purchase whether you’re alone or playing with friends.
If this is your first dip into the wonderful world of Mario Kart, welcome! Secondly, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!? Hrm, sorry about that.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the finest racing games available, bar none. It’s packed with tons of characters to choose from, kart combinations to trick out and more than enough courses to keep you entertained for the days, months and years to come.
The Switch library is growing quickly and while we’ll always keep this page updated with the best of the best, there are plenty more where these came from on our collection of the best Nintendo Switch games.
