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Viewers who woke up early to watch the Nintendo Direct live missed out on a handful of first-ever looks at new games.
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Nintendo just dropped a boatload of Switch 2 news, including the release date, price and a launch title or two. It also announced a bevy of accessories that'll be available for the console on June 5. Let's go over the most notable of these doodads.
For my money, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is the highlight here. This was featured heavily in the company's livestream, as the Switch 2 will allow for in-game video chat. This is thanks to the magical "C" button on the right Joy-Con controller. The camera will also shrink down your head to use as a live avatar in certain games. It costs $50.
It wouldn't be a Nintendo console without a pro controller. The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller will cost $80, but it includes the aforementioned "C" button, a screen capture button, an audio jack and HD rumble 2. It also allows for motion controls and Amiibo functionality. The GL/GR buttons can be mapped to suit different playstyles.
The company also announced a dedicated GameCube controller for use with Nintendo Online. It comes in iconic purple and also includes a "C" button. It charges via USB-C so you won't burn through AA batteries like Wall-E or something. We don't have a price on this yet, but Nintendo did say it's launching with the console. We do
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Mario Kart World is arriving exclusively alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 when it hits store shelves on June 5. The day-and-date release of the latest iteration in the series was confirmed in the company's Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, along with a totally new feature: off-road driving.
That's right, Mario Kart World will allow you to "drive virtually everywhere." That means you can grind down railings, jump off walls and even drive off the race track. You can also enter a mode called Free Roam which let's you simply drive around and enjoy the scenery with friends. Cue me as my forever choice Yoshi excitedly driving across the globe.
Unsurprisingly, with a name like Mario Kart World, the courses will take place in regions around a contiguous game world. You'll also get a bit more of an immersive experience as Nintendo is going to change things up based on the time of day and the weather.
When it comes to a four-race Grand Prix, Nintendo is even having you do the legwork and drive between the courses. How you do along the way will impact your standing in the competition. There's also a new mode called Knockout Tour, which takes you from one end of the globe to another — but with elimination checkpoints along the way. You must be above the place listed on the screen, say eighth for example, or you'll get kicked out of the race. Oh and did we mention there's now 24 drivers, upping the competition?
A new Mario Kart game for the Switch 2 isn't exactly a surprise. We got a first look at a potent
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I'm sidestepping the desperate attempts at April 1 shenanigans and focusing on the imminent Nintendo Direct broadcast, which is likely to confirm rumors and sink others.
The last few Switch 1 games have been revealed, meaning tomorrow's Nintendo Direct: Switch 2 presentation, kicking off at 9AM ET / 6AM PT will be all about the new console — no distractions. (Although, I'd be cool with a Silksong release date, finally.)
We already know the Switch 2 will be a bigger console, with a bigger screen and Joy-Cons. There also may be some sort-of-mouse functionality baked into the controllers this time, but Nintendo's focus is on tech specs — and the games. What does the company have cooking?
— Mat Smith
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