Author: sick skills

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What you need to know about the Microsoft Secure Boot certificate expiration: Don’t Panic!

UEFI Secure Boot keys, used to sign the first stage boot loader, are expiring in June 2026 (this month!) But that only means that Microsoft can no longer sign with them. Machines, both bare metal and virtual, will continue to boot long after June is over as long as the current public keys are not removed from the firmware database or revoked via the dbx database. In the meantime, Fedora Rawhide (f45) already contains a first stage boot loader that is signed by multiple keys for maximal compatibility. So there is no need to panic, but action is recommended.

Secure Boot basics

UEFI Secure Boot is a security feature which ensures only trusted (signed) applications run during a computer’s boot up process. This applies to the boot loaders, the operating system kernel, and the kernel modules. Trust is established using asymmetric cryptography. Tested algorithms, like RSA or ECDSA, are used to create asymmetric key pairs. The private key is used to sign the application. A totally different but complementary public key is used to verify the application. The private key is kept secret while the public key is available to anyone who wants to run the application. UEFI Secure Boot is only available for machines that run UEFI firmware, and for Fedora, the key expiration only applies to the x86_64 architecture (Intel, AMD), and to those who have Secure Boot enabled.

The root of trust for Secure Boot is in the firmware. Hardware manufacturers add trusted Secure Boot public keys to their devices’ Secure Boot firmware database (db). Firmware for virtualization, known as edk2-ovmf, is built with similar trusted public keys. In order to simplify the process, there is a central signing authority which signs the first stage boot loader. This is the “shim” whose public key is enrolled pretty much everywhere, and that is Microsoft. Microsoft first started signing shim with their 2011 UEFI Third Party CA, but by the end of June they will no longer be able to do so. Since October 2025, Microsoft began signing with a new 2023 key as well. Once the 2011 key expires, new shims will only be signed with the 2023 key.

The OS maintains the rest of the Secure Boot chain. Fedora’s shim embeds a Fedora Secure Boot public CA key. Private keys on Fedora’s signing server are used to sign the next stage boot loader (grub2), the kernel, and any other applications that need to run during the boot process (like fwupd for firmware updates or unified kernel images– UKIs)

When the kernel is built, kernel modules are signed using an ephemeral key. Only signed kernel modules can be loaded when Secure Boot is enabled.

Action Recommended

The fact is that you don’t really have to do anything about any of this right now. Your computer will continue to boot. New installations of both older and new OSes will continue to be possible.

BUT, we recommend updating your Secure Boot database if and when an update is available. The next deliverable shim update can only be signed by the 2023 key and it is best to be prepared. While there are no known exploitable security vulnerabilities in shim at this time, new ones may be found next month or next year. Below are some commands that will help you determine what state your computer is in, and how to make the correct updates.

How to tell if you have UEFI or legacy BIOS

The presence of the /sys/firmware/efi directory is the clearest way to check whether you are running UEFI firmware or legacy BIOS. The following command will print “BIOS” if the efi directory does not exist:

$ [[ -d /sys/firmware/efi ]] || echo BIOS

How to check if Secure Boot is enabled

$ mokutil --sb-state
SecureBoot enabled

The Secure Boot state may be “enabled”, “disabled”, or the machine may be in “Setup Mode”, which means there are no Secure Boot keys enrolled in firmware.

How to identify which keys are in the firmware db

$ mokutil --db --short
580a6f4cc4 Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011
45a0fa3260 Windows UEFI CA 2023
46def63b5c Microsoft Corporation UEFI CA 2011
b5eeb4a670 Microsoft UEFI CA 2023

This output is from a VM, and as you can see, it already contains the 2011 and 2023 public keys. Your laptop or desktop will also show other database keys from the manufacturer.

How to update the firmware db

Enable and use fwupd to get your updates from the Linux Vendor Firmware Service (LVFS):

$ sudo fwupdmgr update

If you have an HP or Fujitsu machine, the update will be available soon, after you have updated your firmware. Use either the above command, or the vendor-recommended command at that time.

How to check which key(s) signed the shim

$ sudo dnf install pesign -y
$ sudo pesign -S -i /boot/efi/EFI/fedora/shimx64.efi
----------------------------------------------
certificate address is 0x7f3fffc11410
Content was not encrypted.
Content is detached; signature cannot be verified.
The signer's common name is Microsoft Windows UEFI Driver Publisher
No signer email address.
No signing time included.
There were certs or crls included.
----------------------------------------------
certificate address is 0x7f3fffc139e0
Content was not encrypted.
Content is detached; signature cannot be verified.
The signer's common name is Microsoft UEFI CA 2023 signer
No signer email address.
No signing time included.
There were certs or crls included.
-----------------------------------------------

The output shown here is from the dual-signed Fedora Rawhide (F45) shim. If Rawhide is not installed, the shim will only be signed with the first key, which is the 2011 key.

You can use the same pesign command to examine grub2 (/boot/efi/EFI/fedora/grubx64.efi) and the kernel (/boot/vmlinuz-…).

What NOT to do

If a database update is not available for your system, contact your hardware manufacturer. Do not attempt to force an incompatible update. Do not update your database manually unless you know exactly what you are doing!

Do not remove or revoke the 2011 key. The 2011 key is not compromised, it is only expiring, so there is no need to remove it. Additionally, it was used to sign option ROMs, so removing it could render peripherals on your system inoperable. Likewise, adding the 2011 key to the firmware dbx database (the forbidden database) will affect option ROMs. This will stop the dual-signed shim from booting.

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Talking Point: What Do You Think Of Link’s New Ocarina Of Time Design?

Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Link Design Compared
Image: Nintendo Life

It might not have been the biggest surprise out there (thanks, leaks), but yesterday’s Direct brought with it the news that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake is real, and it’s launching at some point this year.

The 1-minute 36-second reveal trailer gave us very little to go on in terms of what the remake will bring to the table. The visuals on that tapestry certainly look detailed, there’s a voiced narration (a hint of full voice acting, maybe?), and Link’s design is… different.

It sure is something, but is it what we really want? Naturally, the Hero of Hyrule’s big reveal has been a divisive one.

Most of us here at Nintendo Life Towers seem to sit in a vague middle ground. “A bit shiny — pink and elf-y — but fine from what we’ve seen,” says Gavin. “I think it’s noteworthy that Nintendo has once again adopted the dark, realistic style that (some) fans have been constantly wishing for since Space World 2000,” says Ollie. “It’s way to early to judge, but I do like the idea of Nintendo trying a realistic art style across its N64 remakes,” Matt chimed in, “I’m super keen to see how the rest of the game comes across as a result”.

But things were a little more negative elsewhere. On the one hand, we’re excited for the added level of detail. On the other, it looks a little ‘I remade Ocarina of Time in Unreal Engine 5’, doesn’t it – something that was on my mind recently when I went hands-on with Ubisoft’s upcoming Rayman Legends remake. Former editor of The Verge Nick Statt thought the same of this Link:

“Those few seconds of footage show a clean, polished, realistic, and utterly dull version of Link that doesn’t seem to convey any of the visual identity the series is known for,” wrote NL contributor Nathan Ellingsworth for GameSpot.

What we really need is a good side-by-side comparison, so below, we’ve done just that. Assuming that the Link from the remake reveal trailer is the one found in the game’s opening cutscene — we’ve seen and know so little at this stage — we’ve taken the same moment from both the N64 original and its 3DS counterpart, for the fairest point of comparison.

(And yes, we know that we’ve only had the briefest of glimpses at the Switch 2 design so far. A proper look at this 2026 game will be coming soon enough, but what can we say? We’re excited!)

Zelda: Ocarina of Time N64
N64 — Image: Nintendo
Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS
3DS — Image: Nintendo
Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2
Switch 2 — Image: Nintendo

Three rather different looks, no? Which is your favourite? You can let us know in the following poll.

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Hands on: Sidecar previews a full touch interface for macOS 27

Sidecar in macOS 27 finally allows you to use your finger to navigate macOS apps from your iPad’s screen, without needing an Apple Pencil. Here’s how it works, with one key limitation.

Sidecar is a feature of macOS that lets you extend your Mac’s display onto an iPad’s screen. For road warriors with a MacBook Pro, it was an invaluable way to get a multi-screen desktop while on the go.

While Sidecar has been around for quite a while, it hasn’t really undergone that much of a change. For macOS 27 and iPadOS 27, that seemed to be the case at first glance.

However, Apple has implemented a function that it surprisingly hasn’t included before. You can now directly interact with apps on your Mac desktop.

A touching change

In earlier versions of Sidecar, you could use your finger with your iPad-extended Mac desktop. This sounds obvious, but the implementation wasn’t as intuitive as you’d think.

Sure, you could use multi-touch gestures for various functions, treating the iPad display like a Magic Trackpad. You could do things like copying and pasting by using three-finger gestures, and you could also pinch to zoom if you wanted.

However, you couldn’t really interact with apps directly. You could not tap a button on your Mac desktop, go through menus, or do anything with an app interface at all using your fingers.

Tablet screen showing a macOS desktop interface with an open Finder window, multiple app thumbnails in the background, and a small floating on-screen keyboard at the left side

All of the UI elements of macOS apps can now be interacted with using your finger on an iPad screen with Sidecar.

You could interact with the apps, but only if you used a trackpad on a connected Magic Keyboard, a mouse, or an Apple Pencil. While the Apple Pencil would be a natural choice for imaging apps, users would be more inclined to use their Mac’s peripherals instead.

With macOS 27 and iPadOS 27, that has changed. Surprisingly with no fanfare from Apple.

If you have Sidecar running, you can now tap bits of the interface, and it will work as if you have clicked a mouse. You can now select items in the macOS interface and in apps without resorting to some form of peripheral.

Tablet screen showing a drawing app with red scribbles on a white canvas, editing tools and color options on the right, and a small on-screen keyboard at the bottom left

Yes, you can finger-paint in Mac’s Pixelmator Pro using Sidecar. And you can change the tools too, without reaching for the Apple Pencil.

This makes things more intuitive from a productivity standpoint, since precious seconds aren’t spent reaching for an implement.

It’s not just mouse clicks, as dragging works too. You can now drag a selection box with a finger, much like clicking and dragging with a mouse.

This also extends to resizing windows with a drag of the finger, and even scrolling through lengthy sidebar items.

Everything else is (almost) still the same

While this is a major change to the way Sidecar works, it is pretty much the only one this time around.

Enabling Sidecar in the Display section of Settings works just like it did before. You tap the plus, select the iPad from the list, and it appears to the side of any existing monitors.

macOS System Settings window open to Displays, showing three connected monitors and options for resolution, text size, display arrangement, and advanced settings over a blurred beige abstract background

Setting up Sidecar hasn’t changed in macOS 27.

Then, you select the iPad and under Use as, select either Extend display or Mirror, and you’re off to the races.

Also unchanged is the ability to do so via the Screen Mirroring functions, though you will want to use the Settings method to enable the sidebar and Touch Bar functionality.

On the iPad itself, the Sidecar interface hasn’t changed. There’s still the sidebar handling essential functions like mimicking the function, Command, and Control keys, the on-screen keyboard, and other elements.

At the bottom, the virtual Touch Bar is available as usual.

What is a little frustrating is that, under testing, it can’t be put into portrait mode, only landscape.

You can still see the rotating iPad representation in the Arrange Displays part of Display settings, but only when you’re just sharing the keyboard and mouse. It does not rotate to portrait from landscape as an extended display.

This is a little annoyance, but like many other first-beta issues, it’s something to be adjusted in future updates.

Finally!

As a productivity aid, Sidecar has always been useful. But, it always had the issue of neutering touch inputs with your fingers.

It always seemed odd that, for a company that prided itself on perfecting touch interfaces, it minimized their usage in Sidecar.

Of course, most people will use the keyboard and mouse or trackpad on their Mac or MacBook, with the Apple Pencil being a secondary interaction tool in this case. Yet finger-to-screen interactions were severely limited, aside from gestures.

With the change made to Sidecar, it’s an update that rights a major wrong about the feature that should’ve been rectified much, much sooner.

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Nintendo Showcases Every Direct Game In A New Infographic

Nintendo Infographic 1
Image: Nintendo

Nintendo has released a new infographic showcasing every major game featured in its latest Direct.

We understand that there were some concerns around the pacing and content of the recent showcase, but damn, when you look at the full line-up here, it’s hard to argue with the sheer quantity and quality.

The highlight, of course, is the Ocarina of Time remake, but then we’ve also got Xenoblade Genesis coming in 2027, a new Fire Emblem later this year, the grand return of WuHu Island in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, and more.

That’s just first-party, too. Third-party games included a new HD-2D title with Final Fantasy Resonance, the much-anticipated Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the reintroduction of Kingdom Hearts 4, and – again – much more.

So let’s take a look at the full line-up:

Nintendo Infographic 2
Image: Nintendo

Which games from the latest Direct do you plan on picking up? Let us know with a comment down below.

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WWDC26 iPadOS guide

The Foundation Models framework is a native Swift API that gives you direct access to the same on-device model that powers Apple Intelligence. You can now work with any language model, including Apple Foundation Models, cloud models like Claude and Gemini, or any other provider that conforms to the Language Model protocol.

Multimodal prompts let you pass images alongside text so your app can reason about visual content, and Vision framework tools like OCR and barcode readers are available for your model to call directly, all on-device. Dynamic Profiles let you swap models, tools, and instructions on the fly, so your app’s behavior can adapt within a continuous session.

If you’re enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program and your app has fewer than 2 million total first-time App Store downloads, you can access the next generation of Apple Foundation Models running on Private Cloud Compute at no cloud API cost. And with the new Evaluations framework, you can verify that your AI features behave correctly across dynamic conditions, going beyond what unit tests alone can catch.

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Round Up: The First Previews Are In For Alien: Isolation 2

Alien Isolation 2
Image: Sega

In what might be one of the biggest surprises of this year’s Summer Game Fest showcase, Alien: Isolation 2 was confirmed for the Switch 2, expanding upon what is easily one of the finest survival horror games of all time with a full-fat sequel.

It’s still a ways off at this point, but some outlets have been lucky enough to go hands on with an early build of the game, jumping headfirst in the opening prologue section in which you play as a character called Blake – that’s right, not Amanda Ripley.

General consensus at the moment seems to be that this is a familiar experience that retains much of what made the original so great, so let’s check out some early impressions. We’ll start with IGN, who you might remember gave the original game quite a damning review back in the day…

IGN – “It’s unsurprising that this short demo was able to so successfully capture the spirit of the original – Alien: Isolation 2 is, after all, helmed by the same director, built by many of the same people, and its prologue specifically designed as a bridge between the two projects. And so it’s convinced me that it’s at least in the right hands. But I’m now more eager than ever to see how this against-the-odds sequel will build upon its predecessor.”

Kotaku – “What I played of Alien: Isolation 2 indicated that it’s a relentless horror game that refuses to let you get comfortable as you crouch behind anything that might, for even a second, obscure you from the creature’s line of sight. It’s a constant game of trial and error in which the odds are stacked against you because you can’t kill this monster, but it only has to catch the slightest whiff of you to bite your head off.”

Nintendo World Report – “If you weren’t a fan of Alien: Isolation, it’s likely that the sequel won’t be winning you over. But if you adored the original like we did, we’re happy to report at first glance this is more of the same. For us, that’s certainly a cause for celebration. Now, if we could just find out what happened to Amanda Ripley…”

Polygon – “That small taste of Alien: Isolation 2 was incredibly satisfying as a stealth-horror experience, and as an enticement for the full game. Creative Assembly has managed to find an exciting way into telling a new Alien story with Isolation 2, thanks to a clever new setting, some fascinating, well-written characters, and, of course, horror sci-fi’s ultimate antagonist.”

The Outer Haven – “Creative Assembly, even after all these years, has managed not only to recreate the experience that made Alien: Isolation so good, but also improve on it. That feeling of dread and helplessness was still there, and that was apparent even after only playing a very small slice of the game.”

Sounds promising so far, right? We’ve got a pretty lengthy wait on our hands though, so hopefully we’ll have much more information in the run up to Isolation 2’s launch on Switch 2.

Are you eager to see more from Alien: Isolation 2? How should it improve upon the original? Let us know.

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Anime Co-Op Platformer ‘Orbitals’ Finally Picks Up A Release Date, Exclusively On Switch 2

We have been eagerly awaiting more news about Orbitals ever since it was first revealed at last year’s Game Awards, and thanks to the latest Nintendo Direct, we finally have a release date.

This anime co-op adventure will jump onto Switch 2 (as a console exclusive, no less) on 3rd September 2026. Yep, that’s the same month as every other game, it seems.

From everything we’ve seen so far, this one looks like it’ll have the sauce to stand out from the crowd. It’s a co-op-only platformer in a similar vein to It Takes Two or Split Fiction, where you’ll have to guide space explorers Maki and Omura on a journey across the galaxy to save their home.

Mechanically, it looks very similar to a Hazelight joint, with each character receiving special abilities to use, in tandem, to solve puzzles. The visuals are a sharp departure, however, with Orbitals looking like a morning anime cartoon from years gone by.

Blast off with Maki and Omura in this intergalactic two-player co-op adventure set in a retro anime-inspired universe. Coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2, Orbitals lets players team up and brave the deadly Storm Wall and the perils beyond to save their home. Designed for asymmetric two-player co-op either in local split-screen or locally or online with GameShare, Orbitals rewards smart teamwork and clear communication.

If this all sounds very much up your street, Orbitals pre-orders are now live on the Switch eShop for £34.99 / $39.99. There’s even a Deluxe Edition that bundles in bonus character and ship skins, a digital artbook and a digital soundtrack.

Will you be clearing some time in your September gaming calendar for this one? Let us know in the comments.

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Guide: DK Challenge Event: Challenge Card List & Event End Date

DK Challenge
Image: Nintendo Life / Nintendo

The DK Challenge event tasks Switch players with completing a series of Donkey Kong challenges to win themed Challenge Cards.

The challenges have you jump into Donkey Kong games across the Nintendo Classics library, as well as the most recent series release, Donkey Kong Bananza.

This guide explains how the DK Challenge event works, the Challenge Cards up for grabs and the challenges required to unlock them, how to access the event, and when DK Challenge ends.

Nintendo Switch Online DK Challenge event guide

How does the DK Challenge event work?

The DK Challenge event features a number of challenges across the Donkey Kong library, mostly involving completing specified levels or boss encounters.

Challenges can be seen by using the Nintendo Switch Online app. If it’s a Nintendo Classics game, selecting the challenge will see you jump into that specific moment for you to then complete the challenge there and then.

If it’s a Donkey Kong Bananza challenge, you’re given directions on where to find the challenge and how to complete it the next time you start the game.

When you successfully complete the challenge, you’ll earn the associated Challenge Card.

DK Challenge
Image: Nintendo Life / Nintendo

In some cases, you can load up a save file of the game in question and unlock challenges automatically, which happened to us in the case of the boss-related challenges when booting up a late-game Donkey Kong Bananza save file.

DK Challenge event and Challenge Card list

What follows is the list of available DK Challenge challenges and associated Challenge Cards they unlock. All are listed in the order they appear in the Nintendo Switch Online app.

Tap on the headers to sort alphabetically by game, card, or challenge.

Nintendo Classics Challenges

Game Challenge Card Challenge
Donkey Kong Country Rumble Through the Jungle Work with Diddy and Rambi to complete Jungle Hijinks.
Donkey Kong Country High-Flying Mine-Cart Jump over cut off and damaged rails to complete Mine Cart Carnage.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest Barrelling to the Top Reach the summit to complete Kannon’s Klaim.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest Barrel Cannon Knockabout Blast between Barrel Cannons to complete Bramble Blast. (Hard)
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble! Dodging Fire-Balls Explore Mekanos and complete Fire-Ball Frenzy. (Hard)
Donkey Kong Freedom From Donkey Kong! Climb the scaffold while avoiding the barrels that Donkey Kong keeps throwing.
Donkey Kong The Fall of Donkey Kong Topple Donkey Kong by removing all the bolts holding the scaffold in place.
Donkey Kong Jr. Freedom for Donkey Kong?! Rescue Donkey Kong from his cage by opening all the locks.
Donkey Kong Key Chase with Donkey Kong Solve the puzzles, then bring the key to the door with the keyhole. (Hard)
Donkey Kong 3 Shooting the Breeze with DK Aim the spray and get Donkey Kong to the very top.
Donkey Kong Jr. Math Donkey Kong Accounting Combine symbols and numbers to arrive at the number that Donkey Kong is holding.
Donkey Kong Land Donkey Kong’s Construction Site Nimbly navigate the girders to complete the construction site level. (Hard)
Donkey Kong Land 2 Donkey Kong on the High Seas Explore the whole ship to complete Pirate Panic.
Donkey Kong Land III Donkey Kong Sets Sail Rampage across the pier to complete Red Wharf.
Donkey Kong Country Bruising King K. Krool Evade the onslaught and defeat King K. Rool. (Hard)

Donkey Kong Bananza challenges

Challenge Type Card Challenge
Bananza Transformations! Kong Charge Punch! Use Charge Punches during a Kong Bananza transformation while the event is active.
Bananza Transformations! Zebra Water Dash! Run across water during a Zebra Bananza transformation while the event is active.
Bananza Transformations! Ostrich Egg Bomb! Drop Egg Bombs during an Ostrich Bananza transformation while the event is active.
Bananza Transformations! Elephant Water Vacuum! Suck up water during an Elephant Bananza transformation while the event is active.
Bananza Transformations! Snake Slow-Down Glare! Use Glare during a Snake Bananza transformation while the event is active.
To the Planet Core Battle Grumpy Kong! Progress through the story and defeat Grumpy Kong.
To the Planet Core Battle Poppy Kong! Progress through the story and defeat Poppy Kong.
To the Planet Core Battle Void Kong! Progress through the story and defeat Void Kong.
To the Planet Core Battle the Great Harmoneel! Progress through the story and break the Great Harmoneel’s mask.
To the Planet Core Planet Core’s Secret! Progress through the story and see the game’s ending.
Feel the Nostalgia Find the Hidden Spot! Obtain the Banandium Gem from the hidden spot in the Hilltop Layer’s Nostalgia Country challenge.
Feel the Nostalgia Escape the Maze! Obtain a Banandium Gem by reaching the goal in the Forest Layer’s Bramble Country challenge.
Feel the Nostalgia Mine Cart Madness! Obtain a Banandium Gem by reaching the goal in the Resort Layer’s Mine-Cart Country challenge.
Feel the Nostalgia Jump Those Girders! Obtain a Banandium Gem by reaching the goal in the Radiance Layer’s Arcade Country challenge.
Time Is of the Essence Kong and Destroy! Complete the Canyon Layer’s Kong Bananza: City Smash challenge with at least 40 seconds left on the clock while the event is active. (Hard)
Time Is of the Essence Skate and Attack! Complete the Freezer Layer’s Antickoid x5 challenge with at least 18 seconds left on the clock while the event is active. (Hard)
Time Is of the Essence Dig and Freeze! Complete the Landfill Layer’s Quick-Service Ice Treats challenge with at least 60 seconds left on the clock while the event is active. (Hard)
Time Is of the Essence Miracle Shots! Complete the Forbidden Layer’s Buzzoid x3 challenge with at least 20 seconds left on the clock while the event is active. (Hard)
Time Is of the Essence Thorny Surfing! Complete the Hilltop Layer’s Thorny Hill Speed Surf challenge with at least 25 seconds left on the clock while the event is active. (Hard)
Time Is of the Essence Demolition Challenge Complete the Feast Layer’s Freestyle Bananzas: City Smash challenge with at least 40 seconds left on the clock while the event is active. (Hard)
Time Is of the Essence Rambi Rumble Challenge Complete a Rambi Rumble Rowdy Race in 55 seconds or less while the event is active. (Hard)
Time Is of the Essence Bonus Stage Challenge Complete a Bonus Stage with +6000 gold or more while the event is active. (Hard)
Time Is of the Essence Boss Rush Challenge Complete a Boss Rush with no skills unlocked while the event is active. (Hard)
Time Is of the Essence The Final Rehearsal Complete the Final Rehearsal with no skills unlocked while the event is active. (Hard)

FAQs

How do you access the DK Challenge event on Switch?

The DK Challenge is found within the Nintendo Switch Online app, which can be found in the bottom left corner of the main menu. Within the app, the DK Challenge event will be towards the top of the list.

What do I need to participate in the DK Challenge event?

Accessing everything within the DK Challenge event has a number of requirements.

First, challenges only unlock when you have an active internet connection.

Second, you need Nintendo Switch Online membership, as not only is DK Challenge found within the Nintendo Switch Online app, but the challenges are mostly based on games found within the Nintendo Classics library. (You are free to view the challenges without a membership, but you cannot play them until you have one active.)

Third, there is a separate menu just for Donkey Kong Bananza challenges, which requires access to a digital or physical copy of the game, as well as Nintendo Switch Online membership.

In other words, to access every challenge, you need both Nintendo Switch Online membership, a copy of Donkey Kong Bananza, and an active internet connection.

How many DK Challenge challenges are there?

There are 15 Nintendo Classics challenges and 24 Donkey Kong Bananza challenges.

Can you get Challenge Cards retroactively?

In some cases, yes – if you have a Donkey Kong Bananza save file that has completed the challenge, load the game and you’ll get a notification saying Challenge Cards have been collected.

However, some will specifically state that you need to play ‘while the event is active’ – meaning you may have to complete that challenge again.

What if I complete a challenge and a Challenge Card isn’t rewarded?

Nintendo recommends restarting the game / app to see if that will help resolve the issue. In the case of retroactive challenges, make sure the game’s firmware is up to date and that you have loaded up your save file.

Can you get Challenge Cards on Switch 1?

While you can complete challenges on Switch 1, Challenge Cards will only be rewarded when playing on Switch 2.

When does the DK Challenge event end?

The DK Challenge event dates run between 9th June, 2026 to 7:59am BST on 1st September, 2026. Though not confirmed, our guess is it’ll then rotate to a different themed challenge – and it’ll be exciting to see which Nintendo franchise will be chosen next.

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Storms Onto Switch 2 Later This Year

If some publishers made the mistake of not supporting the original Switch enough, it seems that many have learnt their lesson for the Switch 2. The recent Direct was stuffed to the brim with third-party titles, and one that snuck in during a late sizzle reel was the rather excellent Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2.

Featuring gorgeous visuals and brutal third-person combat, Space Marine 2 was a welcome surprise when it originally launched in 2024. Our pals over at Push Square gave it an 8/10 in their review, noting that it almost feels like those ‘AA’ titles from the PS2/PS3 era, but in a good way, y’know?

We admittedly don’t get to see much footage form the sizzle reel, but you can tell how the game has been optimised for the Switch 2. It doesn’t look quite as crisp as other platforms, but the essence of the experience seems to be intact, which is great.

At the very least, it’s probably the closest we’re going to get to a Gears of War game on the Switch 2, but there are some folks who hold Space Marine 2 in ever higher regard. We honestly can’t wait to get our hands on it.

Will you be picking up Space Marine 2 on the Switch 2? Let us know with a comment in the usual place.

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Hands On: ‘Xenoblade Chronicles’ On Switch 2 Is A Nice Improvement Over ‘X’

When I first booted up the Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, something almost immediately felt very wrong.

The visuals, while certainly crisp, were upscaled in a way that meant almost all textures had this sort of blurry, smeary effect, especially environmental details, but also within character faces at certain distances. The issue was greatly exacerbated during movement which, as you’d imagine, happens the vast majority of the time.

When I checked online to make sure I wasn’t going mad, it seemed that opinions on the visuals varied greatly, which is no surprise. A lot of folks are perfectly content with how X looks on Switch 2 (including NL staff), but it was borderline unplayable for me, and I’m not normally a graphics snob. It just looked so weird.

Xenoblade 1
Image: Nintendo Life / Nintendo

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition — the revamped version of the Wii original — has received the same Switch 2 Edition treatment, and I’m delighted to say that the visuals look a lot cleaner this time around. It’s not perfect, as there are some instances where you can see some clear aliasing or slightly blurry effects on distant assets, but you have to really squint to make these out.

Overall, it’s a massive improvement for me, and I really hope Monolith Soft can find the time in its busy schedule to go back and fix X – this new Switch 2 Edition demonstrates that it can be done right.

And of course, you’re also looking at silky-smooth 60fps performance for the vast majority of the time. There are a few drops here and there, but nothing that’s going to significantly impact your enjoyment.

Elsewhere, a new method of traversal has been introduced called the Ether Jet, which you can grab by completing the ‘world-changing whatchamajig’ side-quest from Chapter 4 onwards. Essentially, this allows you to travel across vast landscapes at a much greater speed, and it’s an absolute joy. It’s easy to forget just how big some of the environments are in Xenoblade, and truth be told, it can sometimes get a bit tedious having to run in the same direction for ages.

The Ether Jet makes everything much more manageable, and this alone probably makes the $9.99 / £7.99 upgrade worth it for existing owners. The Ether Jet also unlocks a new mode called Nopon GP, and it quite literally turns Xenoblade into a racer. Accessed via the in-game pause menu, you can choose between ‘Score Attack’ and ‘Battle Race’, and it’s mostly a case of collecting crystals called Ether Ore as you work your way through checkpoints dotted around each track.

Multiple characters are available as playable racers, but this isn’t like Mario Kart World or Kirby Air Riders, where specific characters boast certain stats or abilities; it’s pretty much just an aesthetic choice. Controls are also kept pleasingly simple, with ‘B’ used to accelerate and ‘A’ to boost. ‘ZL’ also lets you brake and reverse if you find yourself in a bit of a pickle, but that’s really it.

It’s shallow stuff, but Nintendo could have just released Xenoblade with improved visuals and performance and called it a day; the Ether Jet and Nopon GP additions are truly excellent bonuses, even if they do nothing to enhance or change the main story.

It’s worth noting that when you’re zooming around on the Ether Jet, pop-in and frame rate drops may become a bit more noticeable, but again, it’s nothing that’s going to cause any headaches.

Xenoblade 4
Image: Nintendo Life / Nintendo

Overall, I think Xenoblade Chronicles on Switch 2 is a much more enticing experience than X. The latter continues to suffer from pretty awful visual issues to this day, and it doesn’t offer any new content beyond what was already added for the Switch. Monolith Soft has done a great job this time around, and I think it bodes well for when the second and third entries follow later this year.

Have you picked up the Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles yet? What are your thoughts so far? Let us know with a comment.