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Players have created over 2 million levels on ‘Super Mario Maker 2’
Super Mario Maker 2 players are having a busy summer. Nintendo announced today that players have uploaded 2 million courses on the level creator since its worldwide release on June 28th. The highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch sequel to Super Mario Maker also lets users create courses that anyone can play, but with a world of assets and features not seen in the original. Players can choose between 100 Nintendo-designed levels or any of the levels created by other Mario fans.
Watch the E3 2019 Nintendo Direct in under 12 minutes
Didn't have time to watch the entire Nintendo Direct E3 presentation? Don't worry, we've cut out all of the filler so you can get right to the highlights. All of the news, like Luigi's Mansion 3, No More Heroes III and even games that aren't the third ones in their series is packed in here for you. Resident Evil 5 and 6 make their appearances, plus there's the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel to look forward to. Go ahead and press play, then let us know which one of Nintendo's E3 announcements you're most interested in. Unless it's something other than Panzer Dragoon or the new Dark Crystal tactical RPG.
A 'Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' sequel is in development
Nintendo closed out this year's Nintendo Direct as E3 with quite the surprise sneak peek: an early look at the next Legend of Zelda game. While plot details and game play are of course, under wraps, the video showed Link and Zelda exploring a cave and coming upon a desiccated corpse which promptly glows with evil. The preview explicitly called it the sequel to Breath of the Wild. No release date was given, but hopefully we'll hear more throughout the show.
Dragon Quest XI's hero comes to 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' this summer
Nintendo's E3 Direct opened up with one of the bigger announcements fans were waiting for: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC. This time around, it's a crossover with Dragon Quest XI, with that game's unnamed main character joining the roster of fighters. He's the second DLC character to arrive in SSBU following Joker from Persona 5. Meanwhile, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age: Definitive Edition is coming to Switch later this year. The Hero from the #DragonQuest series will be joining Super #SmashBrosUltimate! Purchase the Fighters Pass now and prepare to take to the battlefield with your hero this summer.https://t.co/hJmYO8YgVN pic.twitter.com/1YzOEgEZmA — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 11, 2019 But that's not all! Banjo-Kazooie are also coming to SSBU. The iconic bear and bird platformer duo will be available as a DLC fighter this fall. Your favorite bear-bird duo, Banjo & Kazooie, is joining Super #SmashBrosUltimate! Grab the Fighters Pass and get ready for when Banjo-Kazooie arrive on the battlefield this fall. https://t.co/hJmYO8YgVN pic.twitter.com/tsypQJpdBC — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 11, 2019
A 'Dark Crystal' tactical RPG is coming to Switch in 2019
Jim Henson's 1982 fantasy film The Dark Crystal seems to be having a moment right now. A prequel series will be hitting Netflix in August and now, at today's Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo announced a tactical RPG based in the world of Thra called Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance Tactics.
Watch the 'Super Mario Maker 2' Nintendo Direct here
If you're excited for Super Mario Maker 2, you'll want to watch the dedicated Nintendo Direct livestream tonight at 6PM ET (3PM PT, 11PM GMT).
Sony will stream a PlayStation news event on March 25th
After declining to run PlayStation Experience last year and pulling out of this year's E3, Sony is turning to a different strategy for game announcements and updates. On March 25th, its State of Play streams will debut on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter and Facebook at 5PM ET.
'Astral Chain' brings Platinum-flavored action to Switch this August
Astral Chain is the latest neon-infused, over-the-top action title from Platinum Games, and it's due to hit the Nintendo Switch on August 30th. Platinum is best known for developing the Bayonetta series and 2017's acclaimed RPG Nier: Automata. It's also the studio behind one of the best games to ever hit the Wii U, The Wonderful 101.
'Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening' gets a second life on Switch
Nintendo had a giant surprise waiting at the end of its latest Direct show: it's remaking The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening for the Switch. The company shared precious few details, but the brief gameplay demonstration showed that it would preserve the top-down perspective of the Game Boy original. This isn't a Breath of the Wild-style reimagining of the series, then, but it might be ideal for anyone wishing they could play the classic action RPG once again. You can expect it to reach Nintendo's system sometime in 2019.
'Tetris' is now a battle royale game exclusive to Nintendo Switch
Forget Apex Legends, there's another new free-to-play battle royale game now: Tetris 99. This version of the classic puzzle game is launching today on Nintendo Switch with 99 players trying to outlast each other. Players can attack each other with "garbage" that pushes you closer to the top of the screen and out of the game. You rack up "KO" badges for each opponent you knock out, and Nintendo promises there will be online events soon. Announced today during the Nintendo Direct stream, it's available exclusively for Nintendo Switch Online members. Update: Check out our hands-on impressions here.
'Dragon Quest XI' arrives on Switch this fall
Yes, it's true: Dragon Quest XI for the Switch is coming. Square Enix has announced that Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age: Definitive Edition (phew) will be available sometime in the fall. As hinted earlier, it won't be a plain port. The trailer doesn't make mention of a possible ending change, but you will get to swap between the regular 3D mode and a retro 2D mode on the fly. You'll also hear a fully orchestrated soundtrack in battle and on the field, and you can choose between English and Japanese voices. If you were waiting to play DQXI on the Switch or just want a quintessential JRPG for Nintendo's hybrid console, this is likely to scratch your itch.
'Fire Emblem: Three Houses' comes to Nintendo Switch on July 26th
Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the 16th mainline game in Nintendo's robust tactical-RPG series, lands on the Switch on July 26th. This is technically a delay from the expected release window earlier this year.
'Super Mario Maker 2' hits the Switch this June
It took its sweet time, but Super Mario Maker is coming to Nintendo Switch! Far from a port, this is a bonafide sequel, Super Mario Maker 2. Details are scant, but from the brief trailer Nintendo showed during its Nintendo Direct presentation, we noticed some assets from that other superb Wii U game, Super Mario 3D World. The best news? You'll only have to wait a few months to play it: Super Mario Maker 2 will land in June 2019. Expect to hear a lot more about it in the coming months.
Watch the February 13th Nintendo Direct here
It's mid-afternoon on a Wednesday for most of our readers, which is an odd time indeed for a press conference. But here we are and lucky for you, Engadget is a 24-hour news operation. Nintendo is moments away from hosting a livestream, where it has said it will reveal details about upcoming Switch games, namely Fire Emblem: Three Houses, currently due sometime this spring. [Ed. note: At least one Engadget staffer has threatened to take a week's leave from work if this is not the case.] We've embedded the livestream above, and the event is expected to last 35 minutes, according to Nintendo's terse promo. Join us, won't you?
Nintendo Direct wrap-up: New 3DS on Feb. 13 and more
Today's Nintendo Direct dropped some huge news for both the Wii U and the upcoming New 3DS. The biggest announcement is that the New 3DS, which features a second analog stick, faster processor, amiibo support and a number of other improvements, will arrive in North America on February 13. The basic bundle, available in red or black, will retail for $199. Nintendo also revealed special Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Edition and Majora's Mask bundles, the latter of which is apparently already sold out at GameStop. Friendly reminder, these bundles do not include an AC adapter, presumably with the expectation that early adopters will be upgrading from the current 3DS models. In other big news, Wii games are coming to the Wii U eShop starting today with Super Mario Galaxy 2. Each game will be available for half price ($10) during its first week of availability. To put that another way, you can snag Metroid Prime Trilogy on January 29 for the ridiculously low price of $10. Find a breakdown of all the Nintendo Direct news, as well as a heaping helping of trailers, after the break.
Mario Party 10 throws an amiibo get-together on March 20
Mario Party 10 will launch on March 20, Nintendo revealed today. The publisher showed off the new "amiibo Party Mode" for the game during its Nintendo Direct presentation this morning, adding compatibility for Super Smash Bros. and Super Mario series figures. Nintendo noted that the mode requires at least one amiibo, though other players can link their own figures to the game to use their respective characters as game pieces and access game boards inspired by the characters. Nintendo also announced that a limited edition version of Mario Party 10 will arrive on Wii U that same day, packing in a Mario amiibo figure with the party game. The game's latest trailer shows off both the amiibo Party Mode and the game's Bowser Party mode. [Image: Nintendo]
Mario vs. Donkey Kong is the first Nintendo cross-buy game
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars is Nintendo's first cross-buy game, meaning anyone who buys it on 3DS gets the Wii U version as well, and those who buy it for Wii U get the 3DS version. Tipping Stars is due out on March 5. The 3DS is consistently Nintendo's best-selling console, while the Wii U is historically slower to sell, though a rush of acclaimed games near the end of 2014 did boost sales. Nintendo announced Tipping Stars and its cross-buy nature during today's Nintendo Direct, which included the announcement of a new 3DS, a new Fire Emblem game, Wii games on Wii U and much more. [Image: Nintendo]
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse slides to February 20
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse will launch on February 20, Nintendo confirmed today. The latest in the platforming series was previously expected to launch on February 13. Additionally, the publisher offered a new gameplay trailer for Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, seen above. Nintendo first unveiled the game during its E3 2014 Nintendo Direct presentation. In it, players trace colorful lines on the Game Pad to guide Kirby and transform the fluffy pink character into a tank, submarine and rocket. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse will receive amiibo support, as Nintendo revealed in December. Players that link up a Kirby, King Dedede or Meta Knight amiibo with the Wii U game will unlock special powers for Kirby. [Image: Nintendo]
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, limited edition 3DS launches next month [Update]
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will launch on February 13 worldwide, Capcom announced during this morning's Nintendo Direct livestream. The game will be accompanied by its own themed (new) 3DS XL, featuring a brushed silver cover and blue logo. The latest Monster Hunter game launches on the same day as the standard, red and black versions of the new 3DS. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (Monster Hunter 4G in Japan) is the updated version of Monster Hunter 4, which first launched in September 2013 in Japan. 4G reached Japan in October 2014. Update: Nintendo offered a new trailer for the game, found after the break. Additionally, GameStop announced that the Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate 3DS XL will be exclusive to the retailer, and is available for pre-order today. The system will come with the game pre-loaded on it for $230, and customers will have to pay for the bundle in full upon pre-ordering it. [Image: Nintendo]
Majora's Mask New 3DS coming February 13
With the launch of the New 3DS XL stateside, there will also be a Majora's Mask 3D limited edition released on February 13. The bundle will feature a gold-tinted New 3DS XL featuring five of the game's masks, which transform Link into various characters from the Majora's Mask universe. The remastered Nintendo 64 game will launch on February 13 as well. Hopefully we'll have more than three days to snag it before an angry moon crashes into us. Update: The unit appears to be sold out at GameStop, currently listed as "not available." [Image: Nintendo]
