Similar to the Sonic movies, the Mario movies are expanding their big-screen universe by introducing and surprising audiences with more characters. Mario’s companion Yoshi was teased at the end of the first movie, and since then, the official trailers for the Super Mario Galaxy Movie have introduced Bowser Jr. and Rosalina.
Speaking to GamesRadar+ recently, Mario’s movie voice actor Chris Pratt has apparently hinted there are at least “a couple more” characters not featured in the official trailers for the new movie that should excite fans. Here’s the full exchange:
“Oh, yes, there are,” Pratt tells GamesRadar+ when we ask if there are any new characters he’s looking forward to seeing in the finished film. “I’m not allowed to say what they are, but yes, there are some really incredible… Well, I think some of them have been released in the trailer – Rosalina, Bowser Jr. – and then there’s even a couple more that are not in the trailer that people should be excited to see.”
If Pratt is teasing a bigger cast of characters, there are plenty of friendly and not-so-friendly characters from the Mario video game universe that could pop up. One rumoured leak, dating back to last September, has led to speculation that Wario could be making an appearance.
You can see the current cast for the Super Mario Galaxy Movie in our guide. Nintendo and Illumination have also confirmed Rosalina will be voiced by Brie Larson and Bowser Jr. will be played by Benny Safdie.
Who else would you like to see show up in the Mario Galaxy Movie and possibly future entries? Tell us in the comments.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A has received its first update of the year today for the Switch and Switch 2. When you download it, your copy will be updated to Version 2.0.1.
It focuses on some adjustments for obtaining certain items (including an increase to the maximum number of Mega Shards) and also applies a whole bunch of fixes to previously confirmed Mega Dimension expansion issues. You can read more about this in a separate post on Nintendo’s support site.
Here’s the rundown of this latest update:
Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Ver. 2.0.1 (Released January 21, 2026)
Adjustments Applied for Obtaining Items:
When purchasing Berries from a food stall, you can now purchase multiple Berries at once.
After beginning the story of the Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension DLC, you will be able purchase Berries from the clerk at Nouveau Café’s Truck No. 3.
The maximum number of Mega Shards you can carry has been increased from 999 to 9,999.
Fixes Applied for the Following Confirmed Issues Related to Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension Content:
When using moves in certain pockets of hyperspace, Pokémon may sometimes have faced a different direction from the intended target.
There were cases in which the weather remained sunny and did not change.
Shiny Pokémon obtained prior to the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension may not have been registered to the Mega Evolution Pokédex, even if their Mega Stones were obtained after becoming available in the DLC.
During missions, images from unrelated scenes may occasionally have been displayed.
Players may not have been able to complete side mission 188 “Start Special Scanning!” even after earning the maximum number of survey points. (Players who are already experiencing this issue should be able to progress after entering and exiting hyperspace.)
In case you missed it, the Mega Dimension expansion DLC for Pokémon Legends: Z-A released at the end of last year. Unfortunately, it didn’t exactly live up to our expectations here at Nintendo Life, with repetitive Hyperspace dimensions and bland level design, but it’s hard to resist the lure of an expanded Pokédex.
You can find out what else we had to say about it in our full review:
It also adds Polish language support. According to the patch notes, “several other issues” have been addressed to improve the overall experience, but as usual, no additional information has been shared. If we hear anything about this, we’ll provide an update.
Here are the full patch notes via Nintendo’s official support page:
Donkey Kong Bananza: Version 3.1.0 (Released January 21, 2026)
General
Added Polish as a supported language. If you set the language to “Polish/English” in the Nintendo Switch 2 system, the text will become Polish.
The audio is English.
Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.
In case you missed it, Nintendo is also currently hosting an in-game event for Donkey Kong’s Emerald Rush DLC, where you can unlock two new statues. And yesterday it released a surprise update for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, adding Dixie Kong as well as some enhancements for the game on the Switch 2.
Have you downloaded this latest update for Donkey Kong Bananza? Have you tried out the new update for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD yet? Let us know in the comments.
Nintendo has released the first update for Mario Kart World this year, and it bumps the latest racing entry up to Version 1.5.0.
This update makes some general changes and also addresses multiple issues. This includes Team Races in Knockout Tour and the addition of Polish language support. Here’s the full rundown, courtesy of Nintendo’s official support page.
As always, if anything else significant is discovered going on behind the scenes, we’ll be sure to let you know.
Mario Kart World: Version 1.5.0 (Released January 21, 2026)
General
Added team races to Knockout Tour when playing in a room during “Online Play” and “Wireless Play”.
The game now supports the Polish language.
Note: You can change your selected language using the “Language” setting in the “System” menu of “System Settings.”
Fixed Issues
Fixed an issue where the game would sometimes end if a player plays as Kamek on Choco Mountain.
Fixed an issue where the displayed rating would sometimes be incorrect when joining “Everyone” in “Online Play” while in a room.
Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.
Nintendo also recently released some Mario Kart World-themed Switch Online icons, with a total of five waves running from now until February.
Alongside this news, the team working on the game has issued a message explaining the reason behind this “difficult decision”. Although the project had “real potential”, it seems the developer was unable to reach a certain “level of quality” that would meet player expectations.
And while Ubisoft is done with this particular project, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s leaving the Prince of Persia universe or legacy behind. Here’s the message via social media (thanks for the heads up, Pure Xbox):
To the Prince of Persia community, we want to share this with you directly.
We’ve made the difficult decision to stop development on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake. We know this is deeply disappointing. The game carries enormous meaning for fans and for the team who worked on it.
While the project had real potential, we weren’t able to reach the level of quality you deserve, and continuing would have required more time and investment than we could responsibly commit. And, we didn’t want to release something that fell short of what The Sands of Time represents.
Prince of Persia as a universe and legacy continues to matter deeply to us, and this decision does not mean we’re stepping away from the franchise.
Thank you for your passion, patience, and love for Prince of Persia.
So, the Prince of Persia series is back on ice for now, but it could still return at some point in the future, in some way or form. If you are eager to experience something in this series, you could always try out the excellent roguelite sidescroller Rogue Prince of Persia, which was released on the eShop late last year.
The Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake was originally announced at an Ubisoft Forward event in 2020 and suffered multiple delays up until its cancellation.
How do you feel about this title being cancelled? Let us know in the comments.
Kensuke Tanabe, veteran producer at Nintendo who became known for his work on the Metroid Prime series, has reportedly announced his retirement.
As covered by VGC, Tanabe’s announcement comes via an interview with the Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, which has been uploaded online by a user on Weibo. Tanabe states that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was to be his final game at the company, with his protégé producer Risa Tabata succeeding him should another Prime game be made in the future.
As for Tanabe, he reportedly states in the interview that he had wanted to create a Metroid title focused on Samus and Sylux since dropping subtle hints in Prime 3: Corruption and Federation Force. Realising that Prime 4: Beyond might be his last shot to do this, he decided to make it the first entry in the Sylux saga.
Note: the following quote contains spoilers for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
“I envisioned Sylux as a dark, resentful villain who resorts to underhanded tactics. After this game, Samus would realize that a direct confrontation with him is inevitable – she must defeat him completely.
“That’s why the final showdown between Sylux and Samus remains unfinished. However, completing this game took far longer than anticipated.
“Furthermore, I have confirmed that I will no longer be involved in the production of the series moving forward. Whether a sequel will be made is still uncertain, but I sincerely hope that one day, Ms Tabata and Retro Studios will be able to tell this story completely and bring it to a close.”
Tanabe leaves behind a remarkable legacy at Nintendo. His first game with the company was Super Mario Bros. 2 in 1987 during which he served as director. Since then, he’s transitioned into one of the most prominent producers at the company, working on everything from Luigi’s Mansion to WarioWare and beyond, and we’re certain he will be sorely missed.
Thanks for everything, Tanabe-san.
What do you make of Tanabe’s departure from Nintendo? Do any of his games rank amongst your favourites? Let us know with a comment.
Remember when Nintendo called Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ 2.0 update the final major free update to the game? It turns out, a lot can change in four years. And here I am again, back on my tropical island paradise, playing through another big free addition – and a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of one of my favourite Switch games.
But wait, what does this mean for Animal Crossing’s future? We’re almost six years into New Horizons’ life with no sign of a new game in the series to come. The announcement back in October 2025 filled me with a mix of excitement and worry, just like Jim, because, yay, more Animal Crossing to lose my life to! But also, oh no, when is the next Animal Crossing coming?
Months later, and after a week of decorating hotel rooms, putting together a LEGO-themed nook in my basement, and contemplating terraforming part of my island all over again, I’m a lot less conflicted. In fact, I’m happy to wait for a brand new Animal Crossing, because in a few years’ time, it might be the perfect game to experience with my daughter.
Image: Nintendo Life
Yes, in 2026, I’m going to become a parent. This has added a whole new layer to how I think about video games. Both my husband and I had parents or relatives who were also into games, who encouraged us to pick up and play and experience the magic of the medium. Now the two of us are talking hypotheticals about which Dragon Quest our child should play first, or how we can use video games to teach her about life and love and empathy.
I knew I was expecting a child when the 3.0 update and Switch 2 Edition were announced, and I was hit with this strange realisation: New Horizons just seems to be there whenever my life is changing.
I don’t need to remind people of 2020, but I’ve found myself slipping back into the familiar rhythms of island life multiple times: when the DLC dropped in 2021, I was looking for a new job; in 2023, I started a brand new island as I was packing up my life to move across the Atlantic. And now I’m back again ahead of parenthood.
It’s still the perfect reprieve from everything going on in the outside world, but with our impending new addition, it’s made me rethink how I play Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I couldn’t help but recall Roland’s experience with the beginnings of New Horizon with his own child, and the prospect of getting to see my daughter’s face as she helps me play through a completely new game is wonderful.
I’m so used to the mechanics and the way Animal Crossing rolls, but New Horizons is easily the most complex entry so far, even with the handful of QoL updates 3.0 brought with it. There’s no way I could imagine throwing a young child into the game, especially on an island I’ve poured hundreds of hours into. Does she really want me to explain why the museum is surrounded by Japanese-themed decorations, or why I live next to the Able Sisters?
The next game is unlikely to scale back that much, but what it does offer is a chance for a fresh start on an experience that both parent and child will be jumping into, together, for the first time. I can’t really think of anything better than that.
Usually when I play Animal Crossing, I’m a bit of a min-maxer. I like making money, so I’ll spend hours upon hours fishing, catching bugs, trying to farm scorpions and tropical bugs on Mystery Islands. I’ve also been playing this series for 23 years, importing the original from North America because I desperately wanted to experience this cosy little life as a kid. I’ve never looked back.
Image: Nintendo Life
As a result of this feverish love of the series, the slow-life aspect has been somewhat compounded in recent years, so a new game is the chance for me to reset the way I play. I’m guilty of time-travelling and scouring the internet for turnip prices, but now I’m side-eyeing those decisions. I don’t want to do this with my kid. I want to play the game the way she wants me to, and she’ll be the one calling the shots. She will be the reason I’m playing – if that’s what she wants.
I know this isn’t the most child-friendly series given how much there is to do and how much text there is, but my aim would be to act as a guide for my daughter while she delights in designing her own characters or she giggles at the animalese voices. It’ll be a safe haven she gets to design with the help of her parents, not just a digital world she can watch enviously as I mow my way through progression.
Hypothetical thinking is dangerous, I know, and there are many things I can’t predict: for one, she might not like video games at all. She might get bored or frustrated, or she might simply prefer other activities. The world is her oyster. Plus, we might get a new Animal Crossing game in a year — you never know! — and I don’t think a baby would understand what’s going on.
Image: Nintendo Life
But I’m no longer clamouring for the future, or a faster release schedule. New Marios, Zeldas, and Animal Crossings are nice and all, but you know what’s better? Sharing those experiences with someone you love unconditionally and watching them form their own loves, thoughts, and opinions of those experiences.
Are you excited for the future of Animal Crossing? Or are you happy to stick with New Horizons for the foreseeable future? Let us know down below.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gawked at the opening sequence to Final Fantasy VII over the years. From a three-year-old, gazing up at the intro for the first time from the carpet of my living room, to watching the camera zoom out and pan across Midgar in Final Fantasy VII Remake back in 2020, I’ve watched this cutscene in its various forms time and time again, and it never fails to amaze me.
So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that I’m in awe once more with Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Nintendo Switch 2, except this time, I’m watching the same bird fly over Midgar, the kids play in the slums, and Aerith walk through the city all on a 7.9-inch LCD screen. And I’m not just in love with the wonderful music or the perfect set-up to one of the most incredible worlds in RPGs; I’m actually amazed at how good the whole thing looks on my little Switch 2 screen.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
Final Fantasy VII Remake is astonishing on Nintendo’s console, and is easily one of the best Switch 2 ports so far. Yes, there are caveats like 30fps, softer screen resolution, and some fuzzy textures. But Square Enix has clearly put the time and effort in here to ensure the best possible result, and with the Episode INTERMission DLC included as standard too, this might be the definitive way to play Remake on the go.
And that’s how I spent most of my time with it. Honestly, it’s a bit of a revelation: in both handheld and docked, Remake looks spectacular, especially when you’re exploring the iconic dieselpunk metropolis. It’s packed full of people, scrapheaps of junk, vehicles, and flowers and dead grass attempting to break through the otherwise barren grounds. I had to pinch myself a few times as I reacquainted myself with the Sector 7 Slums or the narrow alleyways of Wall Market.
Every single inch of Remake on Switch 2 is a real testament to the lighting, which director Hamaguchi-san has acknowledged as key. It makes this version appear closer to the PS5 release’s Performance Mode than the original PS4 one. I’d say that playing it docked, other than the lower frame rate and the ‘dithering’ around Cloud and other spiky-haired characters’ hair (apparently something to do with the upscaler struggling to interpret subpixel information), I wouldn’t be able to tell at first blush.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Docked)
Areas like the aforementioned Slums are where those texture problems are most noticeable on flowers and scrap heaps in particular, but this is where most of the original’s texture problems were, too. NPC faces here are also a little odd-looking, but again, this is an existing problem with Remake on other platforms. Basically, you really have to be paying attention and looking for cracks, or have ludicrously high expectations.
In terms of the frame rate, while docked, I didn’t notice any significant dips at all – not in combat where I was punching and kicking my way through foes with Tifa or slicing and dicing as Cloud, nor in some of the busiest areas like Wall Market. Even the motorbike sections, where lighting and particle effects are flying around the place, nothing distracted me.
Handheld was a little less consistent, but mostly just during cutscenes and transitions when there’s fire, trains, or a lot of close-up movement. And it’s never for more than a few seconds, which I can live with when playing on a small screen. The softer image quality might also take a bit of getting used to, but again, this isn’t a high-powered PC or a PS5. And this is based on the PS5 Intergrade version anyway.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
So, the port part of Remake is a huge success, and luckily, the game itself is, as well. It’s a fantastic RPG with some of the best combat in the genre, and a complete reimagining of the iconic three-to-five hour sequence of the PlayStation’s original release over 30 hours. And it works.
The action is superbly tuned, focused on utilising your entire party to take down enemies and bosses by staggering them, then dealing a huge amount of damage by using ATB-consuming skills. Every character is very different to play as, too; Tifa is excellent at putting pressure on the enemy and then dealing the big numbers once staggered, while Barret’s long-ranged gun arm can easily take down airborne enemies. You have to engage with every system in order to win, even in Normal Mode.
It’s not turn-based, which I know some purists aren’t happy with, but Remake still incorporates a little traditional RPG with a menu which allows you to briefly pause battles and select skills for you and your allies. I use a mix of menu-hopping and shortcuts, the latter of which doesn’t break up the flow of combat — helpful for Cloud and Tifa, who are almost always in the heat of action — and I also constantly switch between characters depending on the situation.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
Touching on the narrative, I want to stress that, while Final Fantasy VII Remake is pretty darn faithful to the 1997 original, it also tests the boundaries of what a ‘remake’ actually is, particularly towards the end. I don’t like all of the changes, and a few of the new characters didn’t click with me at first, but when Remake nails it, it really nails it. Particularly with its characters.
If, like me, you grew up with Final Fantasy VII, it’s incredible to see this world and these characters fully realised on modern hardware. Cloud is not the mopey fellow the Compilation will lead you to believe; he actually has some snark and silliness to his character. And Aerith is just a remarkable human who carries the story of both this and Rebirth on her back – I’ve sung her praises before, and I’ll keep doing it.
And seriously, the dialogue and banter in this game can be hilarious, with Cloud’s stoicism often challenged by Aerith’s teasing, and Barret’s over-enthusiastic pleas to save the planet batted down by Cloud’s own bluntness. It knows when to balance the levity with serious moments, and that’s something I think most video games struggle with.
Captured on Nintendo Switch 2 (Handheld/Undocked)
For those who haven’t touched Final Fantasy VII before and are worried, don’t fret – even with some of the additions, the Switch 2 port is still an amazing way to experience (part of) one of the most influential games of all time. The story beats are all the same, and the tone and outright weirdness of the original are also all intact, perhaps even better than ever. The new Honeybee Inn sequence alone is worth the price of admission.
While Cyberpunk 2077 is still the best port on the system due to its sheer size and scope, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is close behind for its visual detail, incredible lighting, and largely consistent frame rate.
Conclusion
Even in its attempts to swing big and do something different, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade respects where it’s come from. The classic’s pro-revolutionary heart is still intact, and it’s never afraid to get a little weird and funny. The Switch 2 version makes impressively few compromises to get this gorgeous-looking game running on the system – even at 30fps, this looks and feels fantastic.
The fact that everything from the PS5 release is preserved in such excellent fashion here is remarkable, and it makes me excited (and anxious) about Rebirth’s incoming port.
Last week, we got an update about GameStop’s EB Games business in New Zealand, which confirmed 38 stores in the country would be closing at the end of this month. At the time, no information was provided about the future of the 336 Australian stores, but we’ve now got some details.
As reported by local Nintendo fan site Vooks, the video game retailer will be closing “at least” 10 stores across Australia this month, and many have already shut their doors. One of these stores includes an EB ‘Zing Pop Culture’ shop, which specialises in merchandise, trading cards and various other items.
No other details about these closures have been shared, but it is the end of the financial year for parent company GameStop, so underperforming stores (or shops not extending their leases) sometimes get cut. This isn’t the first time this has happened in Australia, with around 20 “unprofitable” EB Games stores closed down under in 2020.
EB Games, originally named Electronics Boutique, began in Australia in 1997 and started operations in New Zealand in the year 2000. It was then acquired by GameStop in 2005. If we hear any other significant updates about these EB Games store closures (or GameStop shutdowns in general), we’ll let you know. Find out more about the closures in our previous story:
Last week, the PlayStation Blog revealed a demo for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties would be released on PlayStation 5. It’s now been officially confirmed for the Switch 2 and multiple other platforms.
It should be live on the Switch 2 eShop very soon, and will give players access to both games. However, it’s been confirmed the save data from this demo will not be carried over to the full game when it launches.
Here’s exactly what you can expect from the demo when it rolls out on the Switch 2 eShop (via Gematsu):
In this free demo, players will experience both games included in the two-games-in-one, action adventure beat ’em up.
In Yakuza Kiwami 3, players can explore Ryukyu, Okinawa as Kazuma Kiryu, beating down bad guys while dynamically switching between Kiryu’s brutal Dragon of Dojima: Kiwami and weapon-based Ryukyu styles and indulging in immersive side experiences like karaoke, sub-stories, outfit customization and more.
In Dark Ties, players can enjoy a slice of the all-new story featuring Yoshitaka Mine, exploring Kamurocho and variety of side experiences while also sinking their teeth into Mine’s shoot-boxing combat to stylishly dispose of foes.
Image: via Gematsu / SEGA
Over the past week, Sega has revealed multiple gameplay features in Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties. This also includes retro games. You can find out more about all of this in our previous coverage and our hands on preview here on Nintendo Life:
Will you be trying out this demo before the full game launches next month? Let us know in the comments.
