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'Crysis Remastered' trailer proves the Switch can run 'Crysis'
Back when Crysis debuted in 2007, it was nigh-on unfathomable that you’d be able to play the notoriously power-hungry game pretty much anywhere. Crytek is releasing Crysis Remastered on Nintendo Switch and other platforms. A gameplay trailer (via Polygon) shows it in action on the hybrid console, and considering the hardware limitations of Switch compared with more powerful systems, it looks pretty impressive.
Kris Holt07.17.2020
Evercade’s cartridge-based retro handheld makes more sense than you think
Retro gaming has arguably existed ever since there was a second generation of consoles. Today’s gamer seeking a shot of nostalgia has almost as many ways to play vintage titles as there are platforms to collect for. Evercade adds one more to that list.
James Trew04.01.2020
Nintendo's snap-on Switch Lite case arrives in the US on December 8th
There are already a number of good Switch Lite cases available, but Nintendo might just have one more. The gaming giant has revealed that its previously Japan-only Flip Cover & Screen Protector will be available in the US on December 8th for $40 through online stores, and at retail in early 2020. As you can see, the snap-on case focuses on safeguarding your Switch Lite with a minimum of bulk. There aren't spaces for cartridges, power adapters or other accessories, but that might not matter if you either have spots for those in a bag or just want to keep your system safe.
Jon Fingas11.18.2019
Nintendo Switch sales top 15 million in North America alone
As Nintendo heads into a holiday season with both the OG Switch and Switch Lite on store shelves, the company is celebrating 10 months in a row of being the best selling console in the US, according to NPD numbers. That's enough to cross the 15 million sales mark in North America, and just a week ago Nintendo announced Switch sales are over 10 million in Europe. In Japan, Famitsu reported earlier this year that despite only being on sale for two years, it's already sold more units than Sony's PlayStation 4. So yes, 2019 is looking like another good year for Nintendo, with sales in the US up 20 percent so far compared to 2018.
Richard Lawler10.17.2019
The Atari Lynx’s 30th birthday gift is a bunch of new games
1989 was a year of revolutions. The Berlin wall fell, protesters rallied in Tiananmen Square and Neneh Cherry was taking a Buffalo Stance. This was also the year that portable gaming had its own revolution. The Game Boy launched in the spring, and, 30 years ago this weekend, we were introduced to the world's first true color hand-held console -- the Atari Lynx.
James Trew08.30.2019
Mark Zuckerberg apparently tried to buy Panic, the creator of Playdate
Buried in Edge Magazine's exclusive feature on Playdate, is an interesting revelation. Apparently, Mark Zuckerberg once expressed interest in buying Panic, the developers behind the new handheld, hand-cranked console. Perhaps even more intriguing, Panic co-founder Cabel Sasser didn't respond. He didn't want to be part of another Silicon Valley software company gobbled up by a giant.
Christine Fisher05.24.2019
'Firewatch' publisher's Playdate gaming handheld has a crank
Now here's an entrant in the game console wars that you didn't see coming. Veteran software developer Panic (best known for writing Transmit and publishing Firewatch) has unveiled a handheld game system, Playdate, that aims to break the rules of game consoles. Most conspicuously, it has a hand crank -- you'll have to treat your system like a fishing rod to play some titles. It looks silly, but Panic is clearly betting that the added whimsy will help it stand out. There's a black-and-white screen, too, so the creators (including Teenage Engineering) are undoubtedly counting on a bit of Game Boy-style nostalgia for simpler times.
Jon Fingas05.22.2019
Sony officially discontinues the PlayStation Vita
You knew the PlayStation Vita wasn't long for this world, and now it's official: Sony has discontinued the last two Vita models. The move marks the last step of a long, gradual phase-out that included a halt on first-party games in 2015, the discontinuation of physical games and the end to PS Plus freebies. If you're looking for the handheld, you'll either have to get lucky at a retailer (if there are any units left) or track down a second-hand model.
Jon Fingas03.02.2019
Sony game cartridge patent is for a product called Toio, not a new handheld
Correction, 11/28/18, 11:00AM ET: This post originally stated that "a new patent reveals what Sony might have in store for its next attempt at a handheld console." Further research has revealed that this patent was filed in 2017 and relates to a product known as Sony Toio, which was released last year and features cartridges like those found in this patent filing. Our original post remains below. We apologize for the error. Sony didn't see the success it had hoped for with the PlayStation Vita, but despite claims back in 2015 that there wouldn't be a sequel, the company announced earlier this year it wasn't ready to give up on portable gaming after all. Now, a new patent reveals what Sony might have in store for its next attempt at a handheld console.
Rachel England11.27.2018
How the PlayStation Vita compares to legendary handhelds
The PlayStation Vita is hanging on by a thread. Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida said in 2015 there was no hope for a follow-up to the handheld console, and since then, the Vita machine has been quietly winding down. Sony is halting production of physical Vita games across Europe and North America on March 31st, 2019, though Sony Japan will continue to churn out carts in the domestic market -- for now.
Jessica Conditt06.08.2018
Internet Archive is saving all your favorite handheld LCD games
The Internet Archive has been saving gaming history for a while now. It's archived Amiga games (and apps), Macintosh stuff from the '80s (including Space Invaders) and a ton of other retro games you can play for free. Now the group has started collecting handheld games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Space Jam while also making them available to play in your web browser via MAME emulation.
Rob LeFebvre03.19.2018
Nintendo's 2DS XL lands in the UK for £130
There's nothing like a summer holiday spent chilling in an air-conditioned hotel room playing computer games. And if you're looking for something portable enough to chuck in your hand luggage, Nintendo's new 2DS XL might be just the ticket. Launching today in the UK, the £130 handheld ditches the wedge form factor of the original 2DS in favour of the classic clamshell style. It features a 4.88-inch primary screen like the 3DS XL, but packs it into a smaller package -- sans stereoscopic 3D display, of course.
Jamie Rigg07.28.2017
The Switch version of 'FIFA 18' doesn't have a story mode
If you were wondering how Switch versions of conventional sports games would compare to their PS4 and Xbox One counterparts, you just got your answer. EA has detailed the Switch edition of FIFA 18, and it's evident that you're getting a full-fledged console title... with a notable exception. You'll get modes like FIFA Ultimate Team, a career mode and women's soccer, but there's no mention of a story mode -- sorry, you can't follow Alex Hunter's story while you're on the bus. EA hasn't explained the absence at this point, but it's likely for technical reasons. The Switch version uses the older Ignite game engine (first introduced with the current gen of home consoles), while the games with story modes use the Frostbite engine. As much as the Switch can do, it's still a mobile tablet with limitations.
Jon Fingas06.10.2017
Nintendo might not be done boosting Switch production
It's no secret that Nintendo is facing a ton of demand for the Switch, to the point where it reportedly doubled production to keep up. Even that figure might be a tad conservative, however. The Financial Times' supply chain sources claim that Nintendo has hiked its Switch production to 18 million for its current fiscal year (which ends in March 2018), up 2 million from the Wall Street Journal's figures. Why? Allegedly, it's to prevent "customer tantrums" during the holidays -- Nintendo doesn't want to ship Super Mario Odyssey in November with no systems available to play it.
Jon Fingas05.28.2017
USB-powered Sega Nomad gives you near-endless game time
Sega's Genesis Nomad was always something of a compromise (it was running 16-bit console games on mid-1990s handheld tech), but the battery life was a particularly sore point: it took six AA batteries just to get 3 hours of play time. Wouldn't it be nice if you could use modern hardware to play without constant (and sometimes expensive) battery swaps? The Sega Holic (aka Catch22 on NeoGAF) thinks so. He just teased a homebrew Nomad modification that lets the portable system run on USB power. You could play for hours on end with the same external battery you use for your phone, or rely on your laptop's power to keep playing in between meetings.
Jon Fingas05.28.2017
Nintendo's 2DS XL doesn't need 3D to be a solid handheld
Nintendo's latest portable, the New 2DS XL, isn't even out yet and people are already questioning its existence. Does the company really need another hand-held gaming console, especially with the recent launch of its hybrid Switch? For Nintendo, the answer is an obvious "yes," based on the belief that consumers want a 2DS with the form factor of a 3DS XL. At $150, the 2DS XL will slot in between these two models, which cost $80 and $200, respectively. So, what exactly do you get in return? If you're comparing it to the 2DS, the extra-large version is nearly identical, with the main difference being the clamshell design. Otherwise, they both come with the same processor, same battery, same low-resolution cameras and, well, you get the point.
Edgar Alvarez05.05.2017
Nintendo's latest portable is the $150 2DS XL
Nintendo is dropping the NES Classic Edition from its lineup, but it has new hardware on the way with this just-announced New Nintendo 2DS XL. The portable system will cost $150 when it goes on sale July 28th, with the same large screen and features of the 3DS XL, but as its name implies, it will only display "Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS" games in 2D. To keep expanding that library of games, Miitopia and Hey! Pikmin are releasing the same day as the new 2DS XL. In the US it will be available in the black/turquoise color shown above, however, in Japan it launches July 13th in two colors, adding a white/orange option.
Richard Lawler04.27.2017
Nintendo Switch game saves can't transfer between systems
It's not just your Nintendo Account that latches on to one Switch at a time -- your game saves are stuck, too. Nintendo has quietly posted word that saves are stored exclusively to the console's built-in storage, so you can't just transfer your progress to another system like you could (however awkwardly) with the Wii U or 3DS. If you're determined to complete Legend of Zelda, you'll have to finish it on the system where you started.
Jon Fingas03.05.2017
Nintendo offers rare discounts on 3DS and Wii U games
Nintendo isn't known for running many sales on its games (you're more likely to see sales on devices), but it's making a big exception this year. It just kicked off a Cyber Deals eShop sale that offers large discounts on 3DS and Wii U titles -- and these are frequently titles you'd want to play. On the 3DS, you'll see price cuts on big titles like Hyrule Warriors Legends (down to $28), Fire Emblem Awakening ($20) and Monster Hunter Generations ($23). Head over to the Wii U side and you can pick up Twilight Princess HD ($35), Super Mario Galaxy 2 ($10) and Darksiders II ($10). Indie games like Super Meat Boy and Terraria are also on sale, and numerous Lego games (including Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens) are discounted across platforms.
Jon Fingas11.23.2016
A full 'Pokémon' game could come to Nintendo's Switch
It sounds like a version of Pokémon Sun and Moon could be headed to Nintendo's upcoming Switch console. It'd be akin to Red and Blue's sibling Yellow or Pearl and Diamond's Platinum, according to Eurogamer's sources. Currently the code name is Stars. Now, for a bit of unpacking. Both Yellow and Pearl were similar to their generational predecessors, but offered new features like different legendary-class pocket monsters or starting with the adorable Pikachu at your side.
Timothy J. Seppala11.18.2016