Category: Nintendo News

Koei Tecmo’s recent release Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake got an update earlier this week for multiple platforms, but the Switch 2 wasn’t included. Fortunately, it’s now officially landed on Nintendo’s hybrid platform.

This latest update for the Japanese horror title contains a bunch of adjustments, and also increases and reduces various things. Here’s the full rundown, courtesy of the game’s webpage:

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake – Version 1.03.02 (March 2026)

*Release Version Update (Ver.1.03.02) for Nintendo Switch™ 2

• – Increased the number of film items placed in certain locations.
• – Reduced the number of points required to exchange for Herbal Medicine in the Points Exchange menu.
• – Increased the damage bonus granted during Fatal Frame shots.
• – Reduced the amount of HP recovered by ghosts that have become aggravated.
• – Reduced the amount of damage required to end the aggravated state.
• – Reduced the likelihood of the following wraiths becoming aggravated:・ Man Killed by Kusabi
  ・ Priest
  ・ The Entrapped
  
• – Adjusted HP and the amount of damage required to trigger a Shutter Chance for the following wraiths:
  ・ Succumbed Man
  ・ Succumbed Woman
  ・ The Sickle Bearer
  ・ The Seeker
  ・ The Pole Bearer
  ・ Man Killed by Kusabi
  ・ Woman Killed by Kusabi

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If you haven’t already played Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake, there’s a demo you can check out on the Switch 2 eShop right now. The game’s save data will also carry over after you’ve experienced the “early stages of the game”.

We’ve also got a review up on Nintendo Life. The game’s got great atmosphere and thankfully hits more than it misses, even if there are some performance problems.

“Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a solid, but uneven remake that nonetheless stands as a strong reminder of the cool ideas that this franchise brings to the table.”

Have you tried out this game on the Switch 2 yet? How about the demo? Let us know.

Sega hasn’t taken its foot off the pedal since Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds launched last September, and on top of a huge update this week, it’s also shared an “updated” post-launch roadmap.

In case you missed it, this follows the announcement of three more free DLC characters earlier this week.

As you can see in Q2 2026, we’re getting the paid Mega Man DLC (now confirmed for next week), and the three new free DLC characters will follow in April and May. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Avatar are also currently on track for a Q3 2026 release, and joining them will be three more free DLC racers.

Alongside this, Sega has today announced a demo update for select platforms (but it does not include the Switch version). This “free demo update”, which is offline single-player, adds Extreme Gear Machines (updating the machine count to 15).

Although a game demo is listed alongside the Switch 2 version on the eShop, it’s actually the Switch version, so if you download it, you won’t have access to Extreme Machines. If Sega releases an updated version of the demo for Nintendo’s platforms, we’ll let you know.

And if you do decide to purchase the full game after playing any version of the demo, save data will carry over. However, Time Trial results will not be uploaded to the leaderboard of the full version.

Have you tried out Sonic Racing on the Switch or Switch 2 yet? What do you think about the game’s DLC roadmap so far? Let us know in the comments.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection launched for the Switch 2 and multiple other platforms last week, and Capcom is eager to know what fans think about the latest entry in this spin-off series.

If you fill out its new survey, you’ll receive a free digital wallpaper for mobile and PC, which you can see below. Capcom mentions how it also plans to offer the next survey for this game in “around three months”, so be on the lookout for that!

“Share your thoughts on #MHStories3 with us in this first user survey, and get a digital wallpaper! We’ll be sharing the next survey in around three months, so stay tuned.” http://bit.ly/MHST3Survey1

As for the questions in this survey, you’ll be asked things like if you’ve bought the game yet, what games you’ve played in the series, what version you purchased, if you’ve completed it yet, and how many hours you’ve played. There is also a written segment where you can mention what you liked and disliked about the new entry.

If you want to find out more about the Switch 2 version of Monster Hunter Stories 3, check out our review. There’s also a demo available on the eShop and your save data will carry over to the full game.

How has your experience been with Monster Hunter Stories 3 so far? Let us know in the comments.

Nintendo has ramped up its store demos for first-party titles since the launch of the Switch 2, and the latest one available is for Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup In Bellabel Park.

These demos for this new Mario Wonder experience can be found at “select” retailers located in the US. As usual, this includes Best Buy, GameStop, Target and Walmart.

This follows the release of a Mario Tennis Fever demo on these same kiosks last month. Some other playable demos at these stores allow you to experience games such as Donkey Kong Bananza and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (this also extends to stores located in Canada).

The Switch 2 Edition and Meetup in Bellabel Park will be released next week on 26th March 2026. We went hands on with the title last month, so if you’re curious to find out more about how it plays ahead of launch, be sure to check out our preview.

Nintendo is also releasing some new amiibo alongside this game and earlier this month Talking Flower arrived on shelves.

Will you be checking out this demo? How about the full release when it arrives next week? Let us know in the comments.

McDonald’s marked the release of The Super Mario Bros. Movie back in 2023 with a line of tie-in Happy Meal toys, so it will come as no surprise to hear that the fast food chain is doing the same for the sequel.

The chain’s North American branch has today revealed a first look at its Super Mario Galaxy Movie toys, featuring 12 keychains with a different movie character on ’em. These toys will be cropping up in restaurants throughout the region from 26th March.

A TikTok from the official McDonald’s account gave us a close look at the full Galaxy Movie range, which we’ve listed below in alphabetical order:

• Birdo
• Bowser
• Bowser Jr.
• Bowser Jr. (Wonder)
• Luigi (Frog Suit)
• Luma
• Mario
• Mario (Fire Flower)
• Princess Peach
• Rosalina
• Toad
• Yoshi

For the first movie, we saw drastically different Happy Meal toys in Europe compared to those available in North America — the former opting for a build-your-own cardboard design over NA’s plastic figures. It remains to be seen whether such differences will crop up this time around, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for the big reveal.

What do you make of these Happy Meal toys? Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.

We are back with another look at the latest Japanese physical charts from Famitsu, and despite some newbies entering the standings, Pokémon Pokopia remains firmly at the top.

It was another big week for TPC’s latest, with Ditto & co. summoning up another 117,029 sales to its name. This meant that Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection debuted at 2nd and 3rd on Switch 2 and PS5, respectively, while Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake arrived in fifth and eighth.

All those newbies mean there weren’t many spaces for the old favourites this week, but Mario Kart World, Mario Tennis Fever and Animal Crossing: New Horizons still managed to cling onto a spot, while Resident Evil Requiem hung around in fourth on PS5.

Here’s a look at the top ten:

Position	Game	Platform	Unit Sales (9th-15th Mar)	Total Unit Sales
1	Pokémon Pokopia	Switch 2	117,029	658,400
2	Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection	Switch 2	37,718	NEW
3	Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection	PS5	17,188	NEW
4	Resident Evil Requiem	PS5	12,787	191,619
5	Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake	PS5	12,115	NEW
6	Mario Kart World	Switch 2	8,280	2,865,062
7	Mario Tennis Fever	Switch 2	7,311	83,142
8	Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake	Switch 2	6,436	NEW
9	Animal Crossing: New Horizons	Switch	5,038	8,402,335
10	Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Switch 2	4,535	88,130

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Aside from the Switch 2’s continued dominance, the hardware chart has seen a bit of a shakeup this week, with the PS5 Digital Edition narrowly outselling the Switch OLED, and the Standard Switch outselling the Lite.

Despite the order switch-up, the Switch 1 SKUs still come out on top over the PS5, with Nintendo’s old systems pulling in 19,941 total sales last week, and the PS5 models racking up 12,886.

Let’s have a look at the full hardware charts:

Position	Console	Unit Sales (9th-15th Mar)	Lifetime Unit Sales
1	Switch 2	96,950	4,804,273
2	PlayStation 5 Digital Edition	8,014	1,215,775
3	Switch OLED	7,813	9,501,877
4	Switch	7,314	20,256,142
5	Switch Lite	4,814	6,889,681
6	PlayStation 5	2,554	5,904,185
7	PlayStation 5 Pro	2,318	333,515
8	Xbox Series X	134	325,343
9	Xbox Series S	85	341,370
10	Xbox Series X Digital Edition	77	28,642
11	PlayStation 4	26	7,930,391

< Previous charts

What are your thoughts on this week’s Japanese charts? Let us know down below.

Fans of Dreamcast-era Sega, Yu Suzuki, and sailors rejoice! Officially revealed at Gamescom last year, and confirmed for ‘Nintendo platforms’, ININ Games has announced that Shenmue III Enhanced will be coming to the Switch 2 (and other platforms) “this year”, with physical pre-orders now live.

The trailer above gives an overview of the enhancements you can expect to see in this revamped version of the 2019 game. The Switch 2 cart will be a standard game card rather than a Game-Key Card, too, which should please fans of the genuine physical article. The blurb on ININ’s website (very confidently) emphasises this, too:

“Discover the ultimate Final Full Edition, completely bug-free, update-free, and fully included on the cartridge. No downloads, no patches, no waiting. Just the complete, perfectly optimized experience, ready to play.”

Naturally, there are also a couple of different versions of the game up for grabs in physical form. The Special Edition comes in a large box with a Making Of artbook and The Definitive History of Shenmue documentary on Blu-ray, while the Collector’s Edition also includes a different box with a manual, a wooden scroll and keychain, a figurine of Ryo Hazuki, and an Art Print bundle with assorted goodies.

Pre-orders are live via ININ’s website, with release for them all is set for “Q4 2026”. The base Switch 2 game is going for €54,99, the Special Edition at €74,99, and the Collector’s Edition a whopping €199,99, with the latter having a limited pre-order window closing on 4th May 2026.

This confirmation follows teases of a Switch 2 version, although previous discussion with the dev/publisher suggested that a Switch 1 release was a lock, with the Switch 2 version being a possibility. We’ve reached out for clarity on whether a Switch 1 version is still planned – we’ll update when we hear back.

This third entry in the Shenmue series started life as a Kickstarter back in 2015, and the resulting game stayed true to the Dreamcast originals, for better and worse. Our pals over at Push Square gave it a positive 7 /10 in their review, and we’re intrigued to see if the enhancements in this new version improve the experience.

Until then, let us know if you’re tempted by any of these physical releases, and if you’re looking forward to seeing Shenmue on a Switch for the first time ever.

After its big reveal at the end of last year, Poncle has today announced the release date for it’s wild-looking deckbuilding, dungeon-crawling Vampire Survivors spin-off, *inhales* Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors.

Crawlers will arrive on Switch 1 and 2 on 21st April for £9.99 / $9.99 / 9,99€, which, given how many hours we’ve poured into Vampire Survivors, feels like a small price to pay.

For those who have missed this one up until now, Crawlers seems to be just as addictive as its predecessor. This is a deckbuilding dungeon crawler, where you’ll be exploring familiar Vampire Survivors locales and taking out the enemies therein with your deck of cards.

There are some roguelike elements thrown in along the way (of course), so we can expect this one to gobble up a good amount of our time, too.

Here’s a rundown of the game’s key features and a handful of screenshots from its eShop page:

Snowballing, turn‑based carnage: Play cards in ascending mana order to land combos; each step multiplies the next card’s effect. Use Wilds to extend the stack and keep going to 10, 20, 30… Can you reach infinite?
Pick your pace: Either take your time and be tactical, or play turns as fast as you humanly can: The outcome is always accurate, we call it hyper for a reason!
Deck-Building: Accumulate experience and level up to gain new cards, headbutt chests for customization gems and power‑ups; chase weapon evolutions and summon survivors to trigger cascade of effects and break the game.
Crawling: Explore multi‑floor dungeons packed with something seldom seen in Vampire Survivors: functioning walls. And then all sorts of unique treasures and interactions. Find the shovel to dig into the next floor, that will most likely take place in the clouds!

Gosh, with only one month to go before this one comes out, we’d better get cracking with our backlogs now — lord knows we’ll struggle to get around to them post-launch…

Will you be checking out Vampire Crawlers next month? Let us know in the comments.

We are still a year out from the Sonic the Hedgehog 4 movie’s release date on 19th March 2027, but it’s never too early to start the marketing push, is it?

Today, Paramount and SEGA have shared a title reveal video confirming the return of Dr. Eggman and Shadow (with a dash of Sonic Boom, it seems), and Variety has lifted the lid on the film’s full cast list. Spoiler, it’s looking exceptionally stacked.

Alongside series mainstays Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrey, Idris Elba, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, and the recently revealed Kristen Bell, today’s cast list reveal also contains the likes of Matt Berry (What We Do In The Shadows, Toast of London), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation, The Last of Us) and the legendary Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Sexy Beast, Wonder Man).

Here’s the full cast list as it stands, courtesy of Variety:

• Jim Carrey
• Ben Schwartz
• Kristen Bell
• Idris Elba
• Keanu Reeves
• James Marsden
• Tika Sumpter
• Ben Kingsley
• Matt Berry
• Colleen O’Shaughnessey
• Lee Majdoub
• Nick Offerman
• Richard Ayoade

There’s no word on who these newbies will be voicing for the time being, though our money is on Big the Cat for Matt Berry… god, please.

We’ll have to wait for the marketing to step up a gear over the coming 12 months, but, rest assured, we’ll be excited to see where Sonic’s big-screen appearances go after a stellar third outing back in 2024.

What do you make of this cast list? Let us know your predictions for the newcomers in the comments.

Update [Thu 19th Mar 2026, 3:25pm]: Ember Lab has announced that Kena will arrive on the Switch 2 eShop next week, on Thursday 26th March.

The eShop page is live now – the game will set you back £35.99, although a 20% launch discount until 2nd April brings it down to £28.79.

You can check out the launch date trailer above, or the original Switch 2 reveal video in the original story below.

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Original Story: Back in 2021, you may recall the release of Ember Lab’s celebrated Kena: Bridge of Spirits on PS5 – perhaps you even played it on Sony’s consoles or PC. This lovely-looking indie adventure was snapped up by PlayStation in a timed exclusivity deal on consoles until it came to Xbox in 2024 – and it’s coming to Switch 2 “this Spring”.

The Switch 2 version will come with the Anniversary DLC and New Game+ mode included. Check out the reveal trailer below to get a better look at it.

If you’re not familiar with Kena, it’s a puzzle-y action-adventure affair where you play the eponymous spirit guide seeking to restore her village to its former glory. It took home several gongs in its release year, including Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game at The Geoff Awards 2021, so if this one passed you by — or if you’re not a fancy-pants, multi-console gamer — your chance to catch up on this indie darling is coming soon.

Here are a few more details about the NS2 version:

The Nintendo Switch 2 version comes complete with the Anniversary DLC, which features Charmstones, Spirit Guide Trials, Kena Outfits, and accessibility features. It also features New Game+ mode, which allows players who’ve completed the game to restart Kena’s journey with all of their previously unlocked abilities, including upgrades, outfits, Rot, and more, as well as redesigned and more challenging combat encounters.

Our friends at Push Square reviewed Kena when it first came out, awarding the PS5 version a respectable 7/10, saying “the wonderful visuals and music leave a strong impression, while the gameplay is simple but enjoyable.” It currently sits on a Metascore of 81 from 82 reviews, so critics certainly found a lot to love in this one.

And if you’re looking for another Nintendo connection, the creatives at Ember Lab were responsible for the exquisite Majora’s Mask-inspired short Terrible Fate back in 2016. Remember that? That’s the brand of spirit infused in Kena, so definitely worth your attention.

It was the studio’s debut game and the team is currently working on the sequel, Kena: Scars of Kosmora, due out this year on PS5. No word on whether that’ll be coming to Switch 2 in due course — Ember Lab has once again partnered with PS Studios, so a period of exclusivity seems likely — but it would make sense if this port does well.

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Asking around the NL office if anyone has played Kena, Ollie responded in the affirmative: “Aye, it’s decent.” Let us know below if you’ve played it before, or if you’re keen to check it out in the Spring (or the Autumn for you folks in the Southern Hemisphere).