Earlier this year, The Pokémon Company released a special retro-style Pikachu plush in Japan to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon series. This was followed by confirmation the plush (and a key chain based on the same design) would be getting a local release in the future.
This plush has now been made available on the Pokémon Center, and while it seems stock has already sold out in the US and other locations like Australia, it’s worth checking back for a restock in the coming days and weeks. The Pikachu 1996 Style Plush is priced at $29.99 /£24.99 (or your regional equivalent) and the key chain is $12.99 / £9.99.
“The Pikachu 1996 Style Plush is bursting with retro charm. With its monochrome palette and pixelated features, this charming little chonkster faithfully recreates Pikachu’s original appearance in the Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green video games for Game Boy. In addition to the infinitely huggable plush, there’s also the Pikachu 1996 Style Plush Key Chain that brings big-time nostalgic vibes to your bag, backpack, or lanyard.”
Apart from this retro plush and key chain, the Pokémon Center is celebrating Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with various other merch including themed trading card game items, clothing and some other exclusive items.
Did you have any luck securing one of these plush? How about the key chain? Let us know in the comments.
Famitsu has given us an updated look at the Japanese charts as the first week of Switch price increases comes into play in the region.
Those with a Switch console already in hand obviously weren’t deterred by the price change and continued picking up Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream in droves. The game nabbed an extra ~52,000 sales this week, even keeping 007 First Light‘s PS5 release from the top spot.
Elsewhere, AQUAPLUS’ JRPG Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered debuted in fifth and ninth, and DemonKill Demon: Yomi 1985 made its first appearance at seventh.
Here’s a look at the top ten in full:
Position
Game
Platform
Unit Sales(25th – 31st May)
Total Unit Sales
1
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
Switch
52,483
1,259,031
2
007 First Light
PS5
20,690
NEW
3
Pokémon Pokopia
Switch 2
14,122
1,038,407
4
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
Switch 2
12,701
52,362
5
Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered
PS5
6,225
NEW
6
Mario Kart World
Switch 2
5,865
2,958,073
7
Demon Kill Demon: Yomi 1984
Switch
3,719
NEW
8
Minecraft
Switch
3,480
4,214,562
9
Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered
Switch 2
2,863
NEW
10
Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV
Switch 2
2,858
202,741
It’s the hardware charts that have seen the biggest shake-up this week, as we see the first numbers following Japan’s Switch price hike (which came into effect on 25th May).
With both Switch 1 and 2 affected by the rise, the sales boom of the last few weeks has dropped off a cliff. Switch 2 only shifted 31,751 copies this time (compared to the peak of 247,880 last week), and while that was enough to retain its crown, the standard Switch 1 model has dropped all the way down out of the thousands, bringing in a mere 229 units and falling behind the Xbox Series X.
Sales are down across the board, and the Switch systems certainly benefited from some pre-price-rise panic sales, but it’s crazy to see just how big a drop it is.
This has skewed our usual SKU comparison a little, with the PS5 coming out on top this week, with a combined total of 8,373, while the three Switch 1 models made up 6,271.
Next up is the ‘Kong Bananza Returns’ event, which gets underway next week, on 9th June, and will be sticking around until 16th.
As the name suggests, there are some Donkey Kong Country Returns-themed prizes up for grabs this time around. Those who meet the special Emerald Rush quotas can net Tiki Kong and Tiki Goon statues, adding to the already impressive DK Island collection.
This one will take place on the Canyon Layer and, as ever, you’ll have to complete Void Kong’s challenges with a special set of limitations on your perks and abilities.
Here’s the exact time that the event will begin in your region:
Of course, you’ll need to have picked up the Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC to take part in the event. If you want a reminder of all the events and rewards that have come before this one, you’ll find the full list in our guide below.
Will you be taking part in this event? Swing down to the comments and let us know.
Supergiant Games is back with another Hades II hotfix in its second post-launch patch.
‘Hotfix 3’ is already live on PC, though an accompanying Bluesky post from the dev confirmed that it’ll also be “coming to the console versions as well”, so keep an eye out for the Switch 1 & 2 drop.
As its name suggests, the patch is mainly focused on cleaning up some bugs, with a boatload of small fixes being introduced across the game. The full patch notes were shared on Steam, and we have gathered them together for you to check out below (note: patch notes may contain small spoilers).
Hades II – Hotfix 3 (Switch release TBA)
· Dream Dives: Hermes now will deliver any not-yet-delivered Shrine of Hermes items before the final Encounter · Dream Dives: Fixed cases where you could get more than one of the same Boon of Hades after equipping Jeweled Pom (Hades & Persephone) · Dream Dives: Fixed cases where you could miss rewards from effects such as Quick Buck (Hermes) · Dream Dives: Fixed unexpected distortion on several Ares voice lines · Added death animation for the Hellifish (Oceanus) · Added an inventory hint for Mystery Seeds about where they can be found · Improved visual feedback on the Path of Stars screen when choosing upgrades · Updated descriptive text for Prominence Flare (Apollo) with a minor clarification · Fixed various voice lines and narrative events not playing when expected · Fixed a case where Hecate could unexpectedly appear in the Crossroads after Chronos captures her · Fixed a case where Medea could unexpectedly appear in the Crossroads and offer her Curses · Fixed cases where Dora could offer the incorrect decorative items for where you are in the Crossroads · Fixed the decorative item Urn, Grecian not always unlocking when expected · Fixed Nitro Boost (Hermes) not affecting Sprint speed as expected while using the Black Coat · Fixed an interaction between Sorceress (Arcana) and Sudden Flurry (Daedalus – Blades) · Fixed an interaction between Glorious Disaster (Zeus x Apollo) and Explosive Intent (Icarus) · Fixed an interaction between Heinous Affront (Zeus x Ares) and Light Smite (Apollo) · Fixed an interaction between Flood Gain (Poseidon) and Mirrored Thrasher (Daedalus – Staff) · Fixed an interaction between Cardio Gain (Hestia) and the Umbral Flames Special · Fixed an interaction between Sanguinary Savor (Ares) and Lance of Ares · Fixed an interaction between Mental Block (Athena) and Boons that let you aim your Casts, such as Glowing Coal (Hestia) · Fixed Mean Streak (Hermes) not working as expected if you re-loaded your save while under its effect · Fixed certain Omega moves sometimes still being available while under the effect of Dark Side (Selene) · Fixed Soulfilled Ankh (Daedalus – Aspect of Anubis) not increasing Omega Attack area as expected · Fixed a visual issue with an interaction between Exceptional Talent (Apollo) and Mirrored Ankh (Daedalus – Aspect of Anubis) · Fixed an issue where Shells from the Aspect of Medea Omega Attack would not bounce forward as with other Aspects · Fixed cases where Gift Gift Gift (Echo) would never be offered even if you had a compatible Keepsake · Fixed cases where Wolf Howl (Selene) could put you out of bounds in the final Encounter on the surface · Fixed Retaliation upgrade for Night Bloom (Selene) not working as expected · Fixed Infection upgrade for Twilight Curse (Selene) not inflicting Wounds when expected · Fixed Twilight Curse (Selene) projectile fizzling on contact with Nemesis; it now passes through her · Fixed a case where Guardians could move faster than expected after recovering from Freeze or Gust · Fixed a case where the barrier from Snow Queen (Demeter) could vanish unexpectedly at a certain point in the fight against Unrivaled Typhon · Fixed a case where Chronos could start to attack more frequently than expected in the fight against Unrivaled Typhon · Fixed a case where an uninterruptible Chronos attack could be completely negated using the Black Coat · Fixed a case where Unrivaled Cerberus could track you too quickly during his fire-breath attack · Fixed foes sometimes attacking sooner than expected in a certain Location in Oceanus · Fixed certain foes being able to wander out of bounds in a certain Location in Tartarus · Fixed Land-Dracons not attacking your foes while afflicted with Charm · Fixed Dire Bawlders lacking the customary outline for their Armor · Fixed Melinoë’s Olympic Slam causing shielded Dire Auto-Seekers to become immune to being stunned · Fixed cases where the damage circle from an Anchor (Oceanus) could shift unexpectedly · Fixed Gale unexpectedly blocking instances of damage from Poison effects · Fixed cases where Gale would not fully block damage from certain Harpy Talon strikes · Fixed the final shop on the surface route sometimes offering more than one Kiss of Styx · Fixed certain foes’ visual FX not disappearing properly when afflicted by Freeze · Fixed Shiny Stars appearing on two separate pages in the Inventory screen · Fixed friendly characters not displaying visual feedback when struck after giving them a gift · Fixed several issues where switching between certain weapons in the Training Grounds could cause certain effects to persist unexpectedly · Fixed Aquarium, Enchanted not counting denizens caught using Greatest Gift of Gaia (Cauldron) · Fixed shop items showing incorrect healing previews if Centaur (Arcana) took effect in that Location · Fixed the Zoom In setting not functioning after entering a Chaos Trial · Fixed damage numbers from Scorch remaining visible if the Damage Numbers setting was toggled off · Fixed several cases where you could move unexpectedly while using the Auto-Sprint setting · Fixed cases where certain visual effects remained visible during Melinoë’s Return to Shadow sequence · Fixed a visual issue where a Time Sign barrier appeared too far above Bronzebeaks · Fixed a visual issue where Melinoë would not start floating after equipping Aspect of Supay · Fixed a visual issue where Melinoë could get stuck in her gathering animation while afflicted with poison from Medea · Fixed visual effects for the projectile impact of Twilight Curse (Selene) · Fixed a text error in the description of Leering Glance (Daedalus – Skull) · Fixed minor visual issues in various Locations · Fixed minor collision issues in several Locations · Fixed several additional rare crashes · Other minor fixes
It all adds to what was already a stellar game at launch. “Supergiant Games is five-for-five with Hades II,” we said in our review, “a huge, triumphant sequel that manages to diverge mechanically and offer more challenges and variety than its predecessor.”
What do you make of this hotfix? Venture into the underworld of the comments and let us know.
After over a year of waiting (and one delay), Bandai Namco has finally given us a release date for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Switch 2: 28th August 2026.
“Your journey to the Erdtree begins here. Rise, Tarnished,” the accompanying caption reads on the announcement’s social posts, and rise we shall.
For those who have missed it (or if it’s been so long that you’ve simply forgotten), the new Tarnished Edition of FromSoft’s award winner packs in the base game and its Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, with the Switch 2 version getting a brand-new character class and special Torrent outfits to boot.
Initial impressions out of Gamescom last year suggested that Elden Ring was looking pretty rough on Switch 2, however, the peeks that we’ve seen at events since then seem to suggest that things are moving in the right direction.
The project was delayed out of its original 2025 window at the end of last year, with Bandai Namco and FromSoftware needing more time for “performance adjustments”.
But all of that will be over in just a few short months. Will the delay have paid off on the performance front? Only time will tell…
Will you be playing Elden Ring on Switch 2? Dodge roll into the comments and let us know.
If you picked up a Switch 2 on launch day, then you’ve been caring for your console for almost a whole year now. Compared to those launch-day Switch 1s that some of us still have kicking around, I know that a measly 364 days is small potatoes, but it’s still a mighty long time to keep your tech in tip-top condition.
And that’s the exact topic I want to get to today. Much like its predecessor, Switch 2’s portability means that it’s constantly in and out of bags, docks and cases, and that can take a toll on a few pieces of plastic and metal.
While I’m sure that our beloved readers are all civilised gamers who take care of their gear, accidents can happen. It’s even impacted us here at Nintendo Life Towers *gulp*.
Much to my shame, I shunned my Switch 2 screen protector on day one after making it a whopping eight years without one on my old system. Things were running smoothly until, while playing Kirby and the Forgotten Land in handheld mode, all that gorgeous vibrancy exposed a nasty, deep scratch in the top third of the screen.
It lines up with the top of the dock, so I’m using that as an excuse to sleep at night. It’s small enough that I can often get away with forgetting about it, but every time something is particularly bright, I spy that small pink/green pixel smudge and a little piece of me dies inside. Rest assured, I’ve been rocking a screen protector ever since, and its singular poorly-applied corner bugs me every time I pick up the system…
Computer, enhance! Right there, above the game icon. That tiny scuff haunts me… — Image: Jim Norman / Nintendo Life
A quick whip around the office revealed that most of my co-workers are far less careless than me, and their kit is still in tip-top condition — even if one staffer’s Switch 2 has already taken an accidental plunge into the bath.
It’s certainly a big improvement on the Switch 1, where one year in we had parts popping off, wobbly rails, and Joy-Con drift already setting in. None of us has seen anything like as dramatic this time around… so far.
But how are your systems holding up? Is a year of use starting to show on them, or do they still look as squeaky clean as the day you unboxed them? Let us know in the following poll!
How pristine is your Switch 2? (1,266 votes)
Still box fresh!47%
There are some tiny signs of wear, but nothing bad36%
It has a few scratches and scuffs here and there9%
It’s definitely showing a year’s use and abuse, unfortunately2%
It’s only been a year?? Mine looks terrible!0.5%
Mine couldn’t be more pristine!… (because I don’t have a Switch 2)5%
Has your Switch 2 sustained any injuries yet? Let us know about ’em in the comments.
This review was originally published in April 2015 alongside the Wii U eShop’s Virtual Console release. We’re updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of the game in theNintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack N64 library.
At the mere mention of Nintendo’s 64-bit console, many of us find it difficult not to get swept up by a wave of nostalgia. We drift through countless memories of flickering TV screens and eye-popping graphics, washing up on the shores of 3D gaming’s first bold steps onto a Nintendo platform. While it was Super Mario who first triple-jumped his way to the forefront of this revolution, it wasn’t long until the competition got…hairy.
Donkey Kong 64 originally swung onto store shelves back in 1999, at a time when British developer Rare had already impressed with such acclaimed N64 titles as Goldeneye 007 and Banjo-Kazooie. Anyone who’s played the latter will instantly pick up on the similarities that DK’s outing shares with the bear and the bird, but Rare’s key innovation this time around was the inclusion of a whopping five playable characters. Don’t get too excited just yet, though – you’ll need to rescue them first.
King K.Rool has set up shop right on the outskirts of DK Island, ready to blow the whole place to smithereens just as soon as his crew of slacker Kremlings manage to power up their deadly weapon. In true super-villain style, he’s managed to capture a few key members of the Kong family, but allows DK to run free and gather up enough golden bananas to confront the foul King head-on.
The game gets off to a slow start with a mandatory training section. In true 3D platformer fashion, you’ll be swimming, jumping, climbing, and brawling all throughout your adventure, so it’s worth taking the time to get comfortable. Fans of the Donkey Kong Country series will quickly realise that although the familiar faces are all here, things have changed…
Cranky Kong has decided to plumb the depths of scientific knowledge and create bubbling potions that grant new powers, while Funky Kong has gone completely gun-crazy, now intent on making sure the Kongs are fully locked and loaded with the latest gear.
Oh, and Wrinkly Kong? Yeah, she died, but that doesn’t stop her offering hints before each level. Throw in some musical instruments (because why not?), and you’ve got a hugely versatile set of abilities with which to explore, and sprawling levels that make full use of them all.
The graphics are fantastic for their time, with neat lighting effects, detailed textures, and lively animations that bring the characters to life. Seeing a soft-hearted Chunky Kong beg you not to choose him on the character select screen is a particular highlight, showcasing a sense of personality that’s become so associated with Rare’s adventures. Similarly, Grant Kirkhope’s soundtrack is as polished as ever; always fitting the moment and changing dynamically as you move from dark caves to hot desert sands.
Once you’ve finished with the initial tutorial, stepped out into the hub world and found your first golden banana, the game begins to build steam very quickly. It can get a bit overwhelming, with so many things to see and do that it feels downright excessive.
DK64 is a ‘collectathon’ through and through, with a plethora of items to find around every single corner. There are hundreds of bananas per level, as well as banana medals, coins and fairies, battle crowns, boss keys – and this isn’t even counting ammo for your weapons, crystal coconuts for your special abilities, or film for your camera.
It’s intense, and amplified by the fact that certain items are colour-coded so that only a specific member of the Kong family can pick them up. Having five playable characters sounds like a huge amount of fun on paper — especially since they all come with unique abilities — but it’s actually pretty frustrating in practice.
For example, you switch to Donkey Kong to pick up some yellow bananas and spot an ability pad that only Lanky can activate. So you go back to the ‘tag’ barrel, return with Lanky, only to find that the switch opens a door filled with coins that only Tiny can collect. This would be massively alleviated if you could change between Kongs on command, but it’s a chore having to go back and forth from specific points just to make sure you get everything.
The levels themselves range from the usual lush jungles to ghostly sunken galleons and intricate factories, with bosses to cap them off. There are 25 golden bananas to find all over each stage — five per character — and they can be picked up in any order at any time you like, offering a great sense of freedom.
There’s actually less of an emphasis here on platforming than you might expect, which is almost a relief given the number of times you’ll have to navigate the same areas, but the fun, creative worlds do help to alleviate the fatigue somewhat.
It’s a delicate complaint to make, since so many fans are quite happy to dive right into an expansive collectathon, but the key difference between this and other platformers is that a lot of your time with DK64 feels utterly repetitive. It’s not a difficult game by any means (save, perhaps, for the end boss), so it’s really only patience that rewards the player. You end up traversing a series of obstacles only to discover that you’ll need to do it again as a different Kong to activate a switch that unveils more switches. We much preferred shorter bursts of play to keep motivated, because there really is a great deal of satisfaction to be found in eventually clearing an area.
We’ll stress the point that this is a very beefy game, with upwards of 30 hours of gameplay just to reach the end credits. Going after that elusive 101% completion ranking will take even longer, and the inclusion of a fully compatible multiplayer mode makes for even better value. It’s standard enough, but serves up a decent dose of competitive splitscreen action.
Conclusion
If you’ve got a hankering for some walnuts, peanuts, and pineapple smells, as well as a jungle full of collectibles to seek out and claim for your own, then Donkey Kong 64 is a very safe bet indeed. Whether you’re a newcomer or a nostalgic fan stopping by once more, there’s a huge amount to see and do on DK Island, and plenty of fun discoveries (playable arcade cabinets!!) to make along the way.
In the harsh light of modern opinion, however, some of the rose-tinted sheen has definitely worn off, and a sense of repetition sets in before too long. The excitement of multiple playable characters is dampened by colour-coded pickups, forcing you to retread old ground five times to collect everything. This will still appeal to some, but definitely frustrate others. DK64 is an imperfect adventure-platformer with a bunch of personality, so if you’re up for a challenge and have plenty of time to kill, then go ape!
In March, Japanese outlet Nikkei released a report about Nintendo working on a new Switch 2 revision to comply with European Union rules, which allow users to replace batteries in consumer electronics themselves.
There has been an update this week, with Nintendo’s official European website confirming “future compliant versions” of the Switch 2 for this region will come with “unique model numbers” and the additional code ‘OSM’ visible on the packaging, designating them as separate products.
As noted in the official compliance message below, this will come into effect from 18th February 2027. Here it is in full:
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries (Batteries Regulation)
Like the WEEE Directive, the Batteries Regulation aims to reduce the environmental impact of the manufacture, distribution, use, disposal and recycling of batteries and rechargeable batteries. In doing so, it forbids the supply of batteries and rechargeable batteries with certain hazardous metal content and sets out requirements for batteries’ labelling, safe removal from appliances, collection and recycling. Nintendo products are fully compliant with these requirements, and Nintendo cooperates fully with authorised regional institutions to facilitate the proper collection and environmentally sound recovery or disposal of its batteries.
In addition, the Regulation requires that from February 18th, 2027, batteries integrated into certain appliances and sold in the EU must be easily replaceable by end-users at any time during the lifetime of the product. Nintendo is implementing measures to comply with these requirements by preparing versions of products to meet the Regulation. For current products with model numbers starting with “BEE”, future compliant versions will have unique model numbers and the additional code “OSM” visible on the packaging, designating them as separate products for regulatory purposes.
As you might recall, ‘OSM’ was the mystery product code that sparked rumours of a new Switch 2 model earlier this year. Of course, as we now know, it is to comply with these rules in Europe.
It’s worth noting that, beyond facilitating end-user battery access without the need to disassemble the console, there may not be any easily noticeable cosmetic difference in the revised model. Nintendo quietly released a revision of the original Switch 1 model in 2019, offering improved battery life and also closing a security hole in the original hardware’s Nvidia chipset and it looked the same. So it’s not the first time it’s done revisions like this.
The Japanese firm also recently announced Switch 2 price revisions. These will come into effect this September in the West.
If we hear any significant developments, we’ll let you know.
Following the news Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis would be coming to the Switch 2, fans of Lara Croft have spotted an “AI-generated content disclosure” on the game’s Steam page.
Crystal Dynamics has now released an official response about its use of AI in this reimagining of the original 1996 release.
A representative of the developer shared the following comment with Eurogamer, explaining the goal to “empower” teams with these tools. According to the same reply, “all finished content” in the company’s products is apparently “human-crafted”.
“At Crystal Dynamics, we leverage AI tools to help our teams iterate on ideas faster and more efficiently, while ensuring that all finished content in the final product is human-crafted. Our goal is to empower the creativity and flexibility of our developers to deliver the highest-quality experiences for players everywhere.”
The disclosure on the Steam game page mentions how AI-assisted tools were used during development to “support some early exploration and temporary development content”. And “any AI-assisted assets were either replaced or refined by humans” to “maintain the creative and artistic vision” of the developers.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis will launch for the Switch 2 next year on 12th February 2027. You can find out more about the gameplay (and see it in motion) in our previous story here on Nintendo Life.
Will you be getting this game on the Switch 2? What are your thoughts about developers using AI tools to assist development? Let us know in the comments.
There appears to have been another ratings board leak, and this time it’s for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven R. This unannounced title is apparently on its way to the Switch and Switch 2.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven, an arena-style brawler featuring tag-team fighting, was previously released on PlayStation 3 & 4 in 2015 and 2016. It was developed by CyberConnect 2 and published by Bandai Namco, and the new game classification that’s surfaced comes from the Brazilian ratings board.
Although no details have been shared about this title just yet, it’s expected to be like the developer’s remaster of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R, which was released for the Switch in 2022, and featured new and expanded content, including season passes.
Of course, there’s been no official announcement just yet – so this is just a rating for now. If you would like to find out more about what to potentially expect, you can read the review for the PlayStation 4 version of the game on our sibling site Push Square.
Would you be interested in playing this title on the Switch or Switch 2? Let us know in the comments.
