Mlem. Howdy partners! Hop on board your nearest dinosaur, because it’s time to set off on another edition of Box Art Brawl.
Last time, we went virtual, as we took a look at Galactic Pinball for the Virtual Boy. There were just two options to choose between, and it wasn’t even close. North America walked away with a staggering 71% of the vote, leaving the trippy Japanese variant to deal with the remaining 29%.
This week, with Yoshi turning to a new chapter on Switch 2, we’re taking a look at his first solo outing in the aptly named Yoshi (or Mario & Yoshi, for those in Europe) on the NES. Was it the best tile-matching puzzler we’d ever played? No. Heck, it’s not even the best Yoshi tile-matching puzzler. But there’s a certain retro charm from this Game Freak joint that’s left us turning to it on NSO on more than one occasion in the years since.
There are three covers to choose between this week, so let’s match ’em up!
We’ve got to give it to the North American design, this really is rather sweet. We’ve got a smiling little Yoshi cracking out of his egg, surrounded by a cascade of falling enemies and eggshell. It’s simple, but it’s charming.
Crowbarring the prized plumber in there to reflect the regional name change, Mario & Yoshi’s European design is similar to its NA counterpart, but with added Mario. Yoshi is still cracking out of his egg, and enemies are still falling around him, but Mario’s there this time, plates in hand, to… help? Hey, whatever it takes to up the brand recognition, we suppose.
Things are much more simplistic in the Japanese cover, dropping the falling enemies to focus solely on Yoshi’s egg cracking — which makes sense, given the Yoshi’s Egg title change in the region. We like how the titular dino is positively springing from his eggy casing in this one, with a big old smile on his face.
Which region got the best Yoshi (NES) box art? (1,084 votes)
North America39%
Europe50%
Japan11%
Thank you for voting! We’ll see you next week for another edition of Box Art Brawl!
When the Kingdom Hearts cloud versions were originally made available via the Switch eShop, players could test out a “free demo” before actually buying the full experience.
In an update, the same demos have now been removed from Nintendo’s digital shop in the US (thanks for the heads up, My Nintendo News). In saying this, the full cloud versions of these games can still be purchased.
The following text also remains on each cloud version’s page listing: “This game requires an internet connection to play. Please try out the free demo before purchase”.
Although the demos are no longer listed on the US store pages, they’re still available in locations such as the UK and Japan. Square Enix hasn’t shared any official announcements about the removal of these demos, but if we hear any updates, we’ll let you know.
Unsurprisingly, there’s already plenty of speculation – with some suggesting it could just be related to licensing or an error, while others are hopeful it might lead to something more. There have also been some rumours.
Have you tried out the cloud versions of these games on Switch? Would you like to see these titles get a proper release on Nintendo’s platform? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Yoshi returned this week in the new Switch 2 title Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and to celebrate, Nintendo is now offering a new reward on the My Nintendo Store in North America.
It’s a ‘Super Mario – Yoshi Egg Zipper Pouch’ and will set you back 800 Platinum Points. Here’s a look, along with the official description:
Carry your things with Yoshi
Keep your essentials safe and sound with this cheerful pouch inspired by Yoshi. The slim size makes it easy to toss into your backpack or bag when you’re on the go. Or use it to stash your small treasures at home. Don’t worry—Yoshi won’t gobble them up!
Size: 9.75″ x 4″
Nintendo has also released a new set of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book Switch Online icons this week. And in the UK, Nintendo is offering a Yoshi and the Mysterious Book ‘Sticky Notes Set’ for 400 Platinum Points.
Image: Nintendo Image: Nintendo
In case you missed it, the My Nintendo Store will also be changing its name on 27th May 2026 to the Nintendo Store.
What do you think of the latest My Nintendo Store reward? Are you playing the new Yoshi game on Switch 2? Let us know in the comments.
Ahead of the release of Star Fox on the Switch 2 next month, Nintendo’s Japanese website has revealed an update will be required to unlock certain features.
As spotted by Nintendo Everything, the update will allow you to participate in the online Battle Mode, which supports 4-vs-4 multiplayer dogfights between Team Star Fox and Team Star Wolf.
The same page also mentions how this update will be required to access the title’s GameChat character avatars and AR features, which allow you to take on the appearance of Fox and the rest of his crew.
To access online play and Game Chat, you’ll need to have an active Switch Online membership. Previous Nintendo releases have also required players to download updates and even the latest system firmware to unlock and access online features.
Star Fox will be available for Switch 2 digitally on 25th June 2026, and will arrive the same day in store. Pre-orders are now live on the eShop and Nintendo’s storefront.
Will you be getting Star Fox on release? Let us know in the comments.
The $20B search engine preference deal with Apple was “fair and square,” Google insists in its antitrust appeal against the Department of Justice.
In August 2024, a court ruled that Google was a monopolist in the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Alphabet. One that involved an investigation into Google’s $20 billion deal with Apple to make Google the preferred search engine of Safari.
On May 22, Google filed its appeal against federal rulings that it held illegal monopolies in search and advertising.
The filing posted byReuters covers many areas, including that Judge Amit Mehta made legal errors in his 2024 ruling. Google doesn’t believe that it had illegally blocked competitors with its search deal, but really, it’s because Apple chose it.
In the filing, Google claims that, whether the court believes Google has monopoly power or not, it “did nothing” to harm competition. Google didn’t block rivals to make their own offers, and it didn’t block Apple from choosing a better one either.
There is no evidence that Google’s customers would have chosen a rival, even if those agreements didn’t exist, it continues.
It even pointed to Apple’s conclusion that the Microsoft rival Bing was “inferior” and “horrible at monetizing advertising,”
“Google just prevailed in the marketplace fair and square,” it declares.
Apple could’ve promoted other engines, the filing explains, and that Safari also does list alternative options within its settings. Ultimately, Google says that the court interpreted there to be “exclusivity” when really it was for “sound business reasons” on Apple’s part.
Aiming for a reversal
While Google has managed to escape major injury from the lawsuit, it still has some duties to take care of.
The later ruling was in September 2025, when it was decided that Google didn’t have to sell off Android or Chrome. It was also permitted to continue its $20 billion search deal with Apple.
However, it was decided that Google had to share search data with its competitors.
The appeal is an attempt to go back on this and other remedies that Google was ordered to carry out. Reversing the ruling wouldn’t affect things like the Apple search deal, but it would stop the data-sharing requirement entirely.
A section of the appeal discusses how this applies to rival companies that, to Google, shouldn’t be classed as such. Specifically, companies that deal strictly with AI.
To Google, it has to share data with firms like OpenAI, which is behind ChatGPT, which doesn’t offer its own general search engine. They provide answers that reference what would normally be search results.
Google argues that it is wrong to be forced to supply data to OpenAI as a rival. Generative AI products didn’t really exist in a substantial way at the time, so the court couldn’t incorporate ChatGPT and others as rivals when considering its ruling.
AI companies are already massively succeeding, without any need to “free-ride on Google’s success,” it proposes. As such, Google believes that the data-sharing remedies shouldn’t apply to AI companies that don’t offer a general search engine.
At the time of publication, the court has not responded nor scheduled any further courtroom activity. Based on typical scheduling patterns, the case could continue in late 2026, or even in 2027.
Enough waffle. Let’s catch up with Team NL and see what’s in their slots this Saturday…
Gavin Lane, Editor
I was having a great time with Pragmata and will definitely go back, but Henry Jones Jr. dropped in and I’ve played nothing else this week. Wandering around the Vatican, pocketing pamphlets and medicine bottles, and giving Blackshirts a hiding has kept me up into the small hours. I’ve never been a huge immersive sim guy, but all the elements here are gripping me. Helluva game so far.
I’ve just arrived in Giza, so yes, Indy will be keeping me busy for a while yet. The Great Circle is still a rubbish name, though.
Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor
So, after this weekend, my WAYP entries will disappear again for a bit, as my partner and I are welcoming our first child, and taking care of other humans is hard! Video games will be firmly on the back burner.
For the time being, though, I’ll be jumping between Constance and the new Adventures of Elliot demo. I’m hoping the latter will be the perfect game to play with my daughter held close. Perhaps she’ll become an adventurer one day…
Have a good one, all!
With Alana heading off on maternity leave, it’ll be a little quieter around NL Towers for a few months whil—hold up…
Image: Nintendo
Yes, he’s been lingering in the background for a couple of weeks, but please join us in officially welcoming Matthew Reynolds to Team NL!
You may have read Matt’s work at places like Eurogamer and Polygon, or on his new Pokémon site One More Catch. We’re very happy to have him filling Alana’s shoes, keeping her seat warm, and stuffing her desk drawer with Rare Candys and autocatchers for the rest of the year. Over to you, Matt…
Matthew Reynolds, Acting Deputy Editor *NEW*
I’ve picked up Mario Kart World again after a short hiatus, and was quickly reminded how captivating the open world is. My ongoing challenge of finding all P-Switches without help continues, and despite having hundreds ticked off so far, I’m still somehow finding new locations — tucked away next to train lines, or besides shipwrecks — by exploring nooks and crannies I’d previously overlooked. The variety and depth of the world is quite something.
I’d highly recommend experiencing Mario Kart World this way, as despite my love of guides nudging me in the right direction in games, I’m happy to continue drinking it in through pure discovery alone.
Elsewhere, I’m also playing Titanium Court on Steam Deck, a brilliant match-three / strategy / visual novel hybrid that won this year’s Independent Games Festival. It’s as befuddling as it sounds, especially with its capacity to derail your session with surprise new rules and mechanics. I have to be in the mood to play it, mind, but it’s largely keeping my Switch 2 at bay until I see it through to the end, as I have to know where it’s going.
Ollie Reynolds, Reviews Editor
We’re due for a heatwave in the UK this weekend, so I suspect I won’t have a lot of time for gaming as my wife and daughter drag me out into the back garden kicking and screaming. That said, I’m eager to play more Bubsy 4D and I’d like to give the new Adventures of Elliot demo a shot.
I also recently blasted through season two of the Devil May Cry anime, and it inspired me to go through the games again on PS5. The fifth entry came out in 2019, so I think we’re due a new game soon, even if Itsuno-san is no longer in the driver’s seat.
Mai Ladyman, Video Producer
Lately I’ve taken up the habit of disconnecting from the world on a Sunday and focusing on it being purely a game day. So this weekend I plan on finishing up missing explorations in Yoshi and the Mysterious Book during the day and exploring the world of Tales of Arise in the evening.
I’ve been finding some comfort in both of these games this week, likely due to nostalgia. They remind me of being a teenager again, spending some time during the weekend to see how far I can get before my school week comes back around.
No doubt I’ll be in need of a palate cleanser, so I have Sea of Solitude: Director’s Cut in my back pocket so I get my weekly dosage of ’emotional feels’.
Gonçalo Lopes, Contributor
I need to put my fedora back on and make some proper progress in Indiana Jones. I am still unsure if Yoshi and the Mysterious Book will arrive in time for this weekend’s plans (the joys of physical edition gaming), but I will for certain give the freshly patched Raiden Fighters Remix Collection a revisit.
News of Sektori being a runaway success on Switch 2 gave me all sorts of warm fuzzy feelings inside… or maybe it is just the pounding bass and kick drum from the game’s OST in my chest. Warhammer 40.000: Space Marine II latest patch dropped with a brand new Operation, so duty to the Empire demands I grab a few mates for some online late-night shenanigans.
Game of the week is XGIII: Extreme-G Racing. The GameCube is never really off for long in my place, and the need for speed mixed with Ministry of Sound’s electronic hits made me revisit this underrated gem. I always loved the series and I quite welcomed the surprise addition of the very first game of the franchise on NSO. Bonus, as each bike looks straight out of TRON and/or Akira.
Acclaim’s comeback continues with the announcement Kidbash: Super Legend will be releasing “early” next year.
This colourful new title, developed by the Indonesian-based studios Authentic Remixes and Fat Raccoon, is described as a “nostalgic roguelike action-platformer”, and is currently locked in for “Steam and consoles”.
According to the official PR, it pays homage to classics such as Mega Man and Kirby 64 – blending “fast-paced action and exploration” with “deep roguelike progression” wrapped up in a charming claymation-style aesthetic that might even remind you of certain other games.
The cinematic trailer from BITSummit this week includes a first-look at the “larger-than-life cast”, the diorama-like world, the game’s bosses, and also showcases some “never-before-seen” gameplay.
You’ll take on the role of the “lost” and “forgotten hero” Kidbash, who will encounter all sorts of mechanics and features – from weapon mixing to powerful mods. There’s even village building, and your own meta progression and character development is directly tied to the village’s growth.
If you would like to find out more about Kidbash and the inspiration behind it, check out our sibling site Time Extension.
If we hear anything about a Nintendo release, we’ll provide an update. Would you be interested in a Switch version? Let us know in the comments.
Update []: According to Dealabs’ Billbil-kun, who has accurately reported on game announcements ahead of schedule in the past, the “Definitive Edition” of Sonic Frontiers will supposedly release for Switch 2 next month.
The source narrows down the release date to 23rd June 2026. This lines up with Sonic’s 35th birthday and anniversary celebrations. It’s further claimed the Switch 2 version will be priced at $49.99 in the US, and there will apparently be a physical edition. Of course, nothing has been officially announced or revealed by Sega at this stage.
If we hear any updates, we’ll let you know. You can read about the recent classification board rating in the story below.
Original Story:[Wed 25th Mar, 2026 05:30 GMT]:
Sonic Frontiers took the series in a new direction when it launched in 2022 with its “open-zone” design, and it seems Sega might not be entirely done with it just yet…
Definitive Edition releases aren’t out of the ordinary for Sonic titles in recent years. We’re also reminded how Sonic Origins Plus was previously leaked via the same game rating committee.
As of November last year, Sega reported Frontiers had sold 4.57 million units worldwide. It also received some post-launch DLC along the way. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the best experience on the Switch, so a “Definitive Edition” would no doubt be a great opportunity for a Switch 2 release.
Of course, nothing has been officially announced or confirmed just yet, so if we hear any updates, we’ll let you know.
Would you be interested in a Definitive Edition of Sonic Frontiers? Post a comment below.
Ever since the original release of Super Mario Galaxy 2 back in 2010, many fans have been speculating as to whether Nintendo would eventually return for a third entry. This speculation arguably reached fever pitch when The Super Mario Galaxy Movie released earlier this year, yet there’s not been a whiff of a new 3D Mario game in quite some time.
Thankfully, you can get a little taste of a new galactic adventure in Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, available now on the Switch 2. Consisting of 10 worlds to explore, the last one takes place on the moon, of all places. And you know what that means… Yep, it’s time to mess with gravity again.
After you’ve discovered the stage’s first creature (which is a ghost-like critter that merges with its pals to form entirely new creations), you’ll come across what is essentially Raphael the Raven from Yoshi’s Island. Instead of fighting it, however, Yoshi will hop onto its back to explore the stage.
And so begins a jaunt across a multitude of miniature planets, each with its own gravitational pull. What’s more, you’ll see a bunch of Star Bits shooting down from above, and the Raven will gobble these up with gusto if you happen to jump in their way.
It’s a lovely little homage, but we’re torn as to whether it’s referencing Mario Galaxy or indeed the boss fight against Raphael in Yoshi’s Island. Y’see, that one took place on a floating moon in space, and so aesthetically it’s very similar to what you see in Mysterious Book.
We’re just going to concede that it’s paying homage to both. Yeah, that’ll do. Anyway, here’s a glimpse at a few cheeky screenshots we took:
If you’re undecided on Mysterious Book, be sure to check out our review. We thought it was good, but its repetitive nature does drag it down somewhat, earning it a score of 6/10.
What do you make of this little homage to Mario Galaxy and Yoshi’s Island? Share your thoughts with a comment down below.
Update []: Developer Unclear Games has confirmed that The Florist will launch on the Switch 2 later in 2026.
The accompanying gameplay trailer doesn’t show us a whole lot that we haven’t already seen, but we’re super keen to get our hands on this retro-inspired survival horror as soon as possible.
We’ll keep you updated on the exact launch date as soon as this is announced.
Original Story:
Capcom doesn’t seem to be in any rush to put its classic Resident Evil games on the Switch or Switch 2. And when we say ‘classic’, we’re primarily talking about the original PS1 trilogy, maybe Code: Veronica, Outbreak, Survivor, etc…
With that in mind, developer Unclear Games is looking to fill the gap with The Florist, a survival horror launching on the Switch 2 in 2026 alongside Steam and the PS5 (thanks, Push Square). Boasting fixed camera angles and a wildly unsettling atmosphere, it’s a blatant callback to classic RE in all the right ways.
Well… except one. In the description for the game on Steam, it notes that you’ll have access to an unlimited inventory – “pick up anything and everything” – and that just seems kinda wild to us. Having a limited inventory is a huge part of the identity of survival horror, and it’s something that Resident Evil has carried throughout its existence (to a much lesser degree in some entries, granted).
We’re definitely concerned about this, but we’ll of course reserve full judgement for now. Otherwise, we’re really enamoured with the presentation here. The bold colours represent a pretty drastic departure from what you’d expect a survival horror to look like, and we suspect at least a bit of inspiration has been taken from Konami’s Silent Hill f. Not a bad thing at all, in our opinion.
So, let’s check out the key features:
– Fixed cameras to evoke tension and showcase beautiful artwork – Puzzles to test perception, deduction and creativity – Powerful and explosive weapons to defeat enemies – A world that grows and changes throughout the game – Unlimited inventory – pick up anything and everything
Rumours are also gaining pace that points to a full remake of Resident Evil 0, with a voice actor including a now-deleted entry for a lead role in ‘Project Chamber’ in his résumé, which is said to be the working title for the remake.
What do you make of The Florist so far? Like what you see? Let us know with a comment.
