Category: Nintendo News

Animal Crossing: New Horizons got a major update at the beginning of this year bumping the game up to Version 3.0.

This included the Resort Hotel, run by the Kapp’n family, and also Luna’s new Slumber Island, which you can decorate with all your items. Now, in an update to the Nintendo Music app this week, Nintendo has added tracks from both of these parts of the game.

Here’s the full the list of tracks included in this update, joining the existing Animal Crossing: New Horizons album containing over 400 tracks, which was led by sound director Kazumi Totaka.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 3.0 Update Music

Hotel

• Hotel
• Hotel Decorating
• Hotel VIP
• Hotel Jingle

Slumber Island

• Slumber Island – Clear Afternoon
  
• Slumber Island – Rainy Afternoon
• Slumber Island – Snowy Afternoon
• Slumber Island – Clear Evening
• Slumber Island – Rainy Evening
• Slumber Island – Snowy Evening

This latest update to the Nintendo Music app follows an update last week, which added 31 tracks from Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s new DLC Meetup in Bellabel Park. To access these tracks on this app, you’ll need to have an active Switch Online subscription.

If you haven’t tried out the Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update yet, it also includes expanded home storage, new movement options, improved crafting & cooking, and much more. There’s a paid Switch 2 update as well that comes with improved resolution and graphics, mouse controls and expanded online features.

What do you think of the latest update for Nintendo Music? What other albums would you like to see added? Sound off in the comments below.

Earlier this month, we covered a story about Nintendo teasing a new update for the Battle mode in Mario Kart World.

As part of the game’s latest update today, bumping the title up to Version 1.6.0, Bob-omb Blast has been added. You’ll be able to have 10 Bob-ombs on hand at once, and the distance these items can be thrown all depends on how long you hold down the L Button.

“Bob-omb Blast has come to Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2! Use nothing but Bob-ombs to burst the balloons of your rivals, racking up points along the way. Score the most points to win in this returning battle mode!”

Apart from this update to the game’s Battle mode, Nintendo has also made some general updates. This includes adjustments to the performance of the Bullet Bill and boomerang, and various other changes. And last but not least are multiple fixes to improve the overall gameplay experience.

Here’s the full rundown, courtesy of Nintendo’s official support page:

Mario Kart World – Version 1.6.0 (Released 30th March 2026)

General

• Added Bob-omb Blast as a Battle mode.
  • You can have up to 10 Bob-ombs on hand at a time.
  • The distance Bob-ombs can be thrown depends on how long you hold the L Button.
• Adjusted the performance of Bullet Bill.
  • Increased their range of lateral movement.
  • It is now easier to follow a shortcut route immediately after using Bullet Bill.
  • Increased Bullet Bill’s speed on parts of the Bowser’s Castle, Starview Peak, and Rainbow Road courses.
• Adjusted the performance of the boomerang.
  • Reduced the boomerang’s range.
  • Reduced the number of consecutive throws allowed.
• Adjusted the probability of items that can be obtained from item boxes during races.
• Adjusted the invincibility time after spinning or crashing during a race so that it varies depending on the character and vehicle.
  • The heavier the weight, the longer the invincibility time.
• Made it so that you won’t get crushed by things, such as Thwomps, while spinning or crashing.
• It is now possible to be hit by lightning and Spiny Shells immediately after being crushed by things, such as Thwomps.
• Made it so that things like Bob-ombs and Bananas don’t bounce on top of the vines of Ivy Piranha Plants.
• When playing Single Player or 1p during Online Play and Wireless Play, up to two warnings will be displayed when items like Red Shells or Spiny Shells come from behind.
• Shortened the time until the roulette stops to determine the course in Online Play and Wireless Play.

Fixed Issues

• Fixed an issue where the starting position would sometimes be incorrect.
• Fixed an issue where cows and other creatures that appeared through Kamek’s magic would fall through the ground.
• Fixed an issue where the display of Wiggler that appeared through Kamek’s magic would sometimes be incorrect.
• Fixed an issue where Thwomps or Rocky Wrench would appear in Airship Fortress or in the cannons in the race leading to Airship Fortress.
• Fixed an issue where the character would sometimes disappear from view when looking in the rearview mirror after using a Mega Mushroom.
• Fixed an issue where you could not return to a point before the Ivy Piranha Plant when using Rewind after transforming into a Bullet Bill.
• Fixed an issue where the item slot would not display correctly after using Boo and returning to Free Roam.
• Fixed an issue in Knockout Tour where players who passed through a checkpoint after the first-place player had already reached the goal would not be eliminated, even if their rank was outside the predetermined cutoff.
• Fixed an issue in Time Trials where the display of stacked tires would sometimes appear incorrectly.
• Fixed an issue in Free Roam where a fleeing Nabbit would fall through the ground.
• Fixed an issue in Events where scores were not displayed on the results screen during practice.
• Fixed an issue where the screen display would sometimes become distorted after selecting Change Character in Free Roam in Online Play.
• Fixed an issue in Knockout Tour and Online Play where rankings would sometimes be incorrect after passing through checkpoints.
• Fixed an issue where the selected event would disappear when a communication error occurred after selecting Online Play.
• Fixed an issue in Online Play and Wireless Play where rivals using Bullet Bill sometimes appeared not to be transformed.
• Fixed an issue where the final results were not displayed after spectating in Knockout Tour in Online Play or Wireless Play.
• Fixed an issue in Knockout Tour where the player being spectated would not change after that player was eliminated.
• Fixed an issue where the gliding distance could be excessively long during the race from Airship Fortress to Dry Bones Burnout.
• Fixed an issue where using the Feather while jumping in Shy Guy Bazaar during races from Airship Fortress or Wario Stadium to Shy Guy Bazaar could cause you to go off course.
• Fixed an issue where doing a wall ride in Shy Guy Bazaar during races from Airship Fortress or Wario Stadium to Shy Guy Bazaar could cause you to go off course.
• Fixed an issue in Bowser’s Castle where players could crash while driving over lava with a Dash Mushroom.
• Fixed an issue in Salty Salty Speedway where players would sometimes fall through the ground after being hit by lightning and shrinking.
• Fixed an issue when in a battle on DK Pass where you would sometimes not be returned to the course after using a Feather and ending up outside the course.
• Fixed an issue where using a Mega Mushroom near the fence in Dino Dino Jungle could cause you to be returned to the course.
• Fixed an issue in Koopa Beach where some buoys were buried in the ground.
• Fixed an issue in Mario Circuit where using a Mega Mushroom could cause the player to get stuck on a fence.
• Fixed an issue in Mario Circuit where players could sometimes be returned to the course when riding on a wall of blocks.
• Fixed an issue where players would sometimes be returned to the course when driving along the wall near the starting point of Faraway Oasis.
• Fixed an issue where Bloopers sometimes appeared dark in replays of Rainbow Road.
• Fixed an issue in Rainbow Road where Spike Balls that appeared through Kamek’s magic would sometimes move erratically.
• Fixed an issue where using the Feather to take a shortcut on Rainbow Road could sometimes cause incorrect final rankings.
• Fixed an issue where you would sometimes recover too far ahead if you fell off the course while gliding on Rainbow Road.
  • Time Trials ghosts that have encountered this issue may be removed from View Rankings without notice.
• Fixed an issue in the race from Wario Shipyard to Starview Peak where players could sometimes fall off the course while taking a shortcut.
• Fixed an issue where using a Mega Mushroom near the fence in Wario Stadium could cause the player to fall off the course.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

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The Bob-omb Blast mode joins the Balloon Battle and Coin Runners Battle mode options in Mario Kart World. Here are some additional screenshots and video footage of this returning mode, direct from Nintendo’s official Japanese website:

Will you be giving Bob-omb Blast a go? What do you think of the latest game update for Mario Kart World? Let us know in the comments.

It’s not every day we celebrate a film release here on Nintendo Life, but this week is a little different with the arrival of the Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

The new movie begins its rollout in cinemas on 1st April 2026, and according to Deadline, it’s expected to bank around $350 million worldwide. The first impressions are also beginning to appear online, and if you were a fan of the first movie, you should enjoy this latest adventure.

VGC’s Andy Robinson said there’s a lot of heart in the new movie, describing it as a “100-minute sugar rush, with fan service galore, that starts at 90mph and barely stops for a breath”. Creator and YouTuber Matt Ramos also had a lot of praise for the film, suggesting it just might be Illumination’s “most beautiful looking movie” and noting how the movie sets up “so much for the future”.

You’ll also want to apparently hang around for the credits, as there are two post-credit scenes included. This second movie sees Chris Pratt, Jack Black and various other cast members reprise their roles. And they’re joined by news faces such as Brie Larson as Rosalina, and Benny Safdie as Bowser’s son.

This brings us to our question and poll – will you be watching the Super Mario Galaxy Movie at some point while it’s in cinemas, or are you going to hold out for the home cinema release. As always, let us know in the comments.

Will you be watching the Super Mario Galaxy Movie? (861 votes)

1. Yes, I’m going to the cinema on opening day/week47%
2. Yeah, at some point while it’s in cinemas21%
3. Maybe, I’m still thinking about it3%
4. I’m not sure at this point  0.8%
5. I’m waiting for the reviews / fan feedback1%
6. I’ll wait for a streaming service release10%
7. I’ll wait for a physical disc release3%
8. I haven’t even watched the first movie yet…5%
9. No, I’m going to give this a miss8%

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream got a surprise demo or ‘Welcome Version’ on the Switch eShop last week following a round of previews for the upcoming life-sim/quirk generator.

The demo includes the Mii creator from the game proper, and the internet has busied itself not just making their Miis say questionable things (thanks to a lack of language filter for island names,) but also creating Miis of all shapes and sided as if we were back on the Mii Plaza in the good ol’ Wii days.

In a step up from the 3DS entry, and picking up where Miitopia left off, Living the Dream features a more extensive customisation suite, including face paint, which has opened up a whole new world of Mii-making potential. People have even been employing styluses to get even finer detail, and the results are extremely impressive.

We’ve seen some cracking characters rendered thanks to the demo version, so we thought we’d round up some of the best and oh-my-god-I-can’t-look-away Tomodachi Life Miis we’ve seen so far. Some are putting the new tools to excellent use, while others are just executing a simple idea beautifully.

We’re planning to add to this list over time — so let us know in the comments if you see something particularly amazing — but let’s crack on, in no particular order, with the first batch, shall we? Starting with something simple but effective…

The Best Tomodachi Life Switch Miis We’ve Seen

Froakie

Bowser & Mario

Beedle

King K. Rool & Kremlings

Strangely realistic

This one from NoahTheManimator is an example of how different and more realistic it’s possible to make your Miis look with the new tools.

Olimar

Springtrap (FNAF)

Pearl & Marina

Kirby

Does what it says on the tin via @kirbyearthbound.

All in the details

@ju5tash on Tiktok has several amazing examples.

Mario & Lady Bow

Peoiple have been recreating classic sprite art, as in ‪@somariblue‘s Mario example here (and Lady Bow is pretty great, too).

Totodiile

Blink and you’ll miss it

@d1edre.bsky. on Bluesky shows how to get your Splatoon Miis’ eyes blinking perfectly.

Blobby Blobby Blobby!

And to finish off, vidyagame writer, former Nintendo Life staffer, and current Nintendo Life contributor Kate Gray created this masterpiece in honour of a British institution.

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That’s just a small selection but we’ve seen robots in disguise, more Pokémon and FNAF, and some breathtakingly realistic-looking Miis. Let us know your favourites below, and shout if you find something else equally great – we may well add them to the pool!

Toplan’s classic shump series Truxton is making a surprise return this year with a brand new game, the first in 34 years, with Truxton Extreme (thanks, Gematsu!).

Developed by Tatsujin and published by Clear River Games, the game is coming to Switch 2 on 30th July 2026 for $24.99 / €22.99 (standard digital edition), and $29.99 / €27.99 for (deluxe version). A physical release for Switch 2 has been confirmed and it’ll be a little pricier, at $49.99 / €44.99.

The big evolution with Truxton Extreme comes in the visuals, which are now in full 3D, though the classic top-down design remains in-tact. Composer Masahiro Yuge returns for the score, and you’ll be able to blast through the game in Story Mode, Arcade Mode, or a co-op Team Mode.

The original Truxton was a hit in Japanese arcades in 1988, before coming to the Mega Drive / Genesis the following year. A sequel followed in 1992, but the series has otherwise been dormant.

But so far, it sounds like Extreme is more than just a throwback; here’s a rundown of the game from Steam:

IT’S ON LIKE TRUXTON!
Truxton Extreme delivers white-hot shooter thrills for masters and novices alike. Take down hordes of alien invaders with your Power Shot, Truxton Beam, Thunder Laser, Homing Shot, Star‑mine Shot, and more! Don’t forget to breathe as you face off against gigantic bosses in the ultimate battle for humanity’s survival

RETRO FURY, MODERN FIREPOWER
The game’s content, sound, and visuals have all evolved since the 80s. Truxton Extreme is now fully rendered in 3D while preserving the series’ iconic design. Staring insect-like faces, writhing metal tentacles, long mechanical serpents, glowing eye-like lights, and spikes… In Truxton Extreme, you’ll face your worst nightmares—and blow them to pieces!

A SOUNDTRACK TO SAVE THE WORLD
Truxton has always been famous for its soundtrack, and Truxton Extreme is no exception. Original mastermind Masahiro Yuge returns with an explosive new score, packed with excitement and atmosphere. Experience iconic Truxton tracks reimagined from the original games alongside brand-new music. It’s the best of both worlds!

TOGETHER OR ALONE?
There are multiple ways to enjoy Truxton Extreme. The main mode is Story, where you follow three characters, level up as you go, and experience the narrative through an epic (and animated) manga series. For traditionalists, there’s Arcade, and if you want more firepower, Team will let you play together with a friend and share your lives and score. Then there’s a blistering score-attack Arena, Training and Tutorial too!

THE MASTER OF UNLOCKING
Do you love unlocking bonus content in games? Well, it’s your lucky day! In Model Viewer, you can check out the enemies you’ve defeated. And don’t forget to visit the mysterious Pipiru Village, home of all the cute Pipiru creatures. What happens when you evolve their home…?

THE PIANO PROGRAMMER WITH LASER DREAMS
Truxton was conceived by Masahiro Yuge during his time at Toaplan, with the goal of creating a scrolling shooter where muscle memory was key. But Yuge wasn’t just a programmer, he was a classically trained pianist, bringing a unique and critically acclaimed approach to game design

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Have you played Truxton or Truxton 2? Will you be checking out the new game later this year? Shoot us a comment and let us know.

Dataminers have reportedly discovered a potential new in-game item for Pokémon GO that throws Pokéballs and spins Pokéstops automatically, potentially rendering a whole bunch of physical accessories obsolete.

As covered by IGN, code has been datamined by PokeMiners and posted in its Discord server, revealing the following description:

“A gadget that automatically throws Pokéballs and spins PokéStops for you while exploring.”

It’s admittedly not a lot to go on, so it remains to be seen just how this supposed ‘gadget’ might be implemented into the game – if it is indeed real.

Users on Reddit have speculated that it might be a premium feature limited to certain periods of time or specific events. There’s even speculation that different price tiers could be required for specific Pokéballs, like Great Balls or Ultra Balls.

That said, there’s also a degree of optimism around the potential addition, with many bemoaning the idea of carrying around a physical accessory and keeping it charged. In terms of price, however, it might be worth considering whether a one-time payment for an accessory is better than the piecemeal micro-transactions that may be required for the in-game variant.

Again, none of this is confirmed at the time of writing, but it’s something we’re keen to keep an eye on in the coming days and weeks.

Would you be interested in an in-game auto catch ability for Pokémon GO? Let us know with a comment.

Production on the upcoming Tomb Raider series from Amazon MGM Studios has reportedly been paused after its star, Sophie Turner, suffered what’s said to be a “minor injury”.

In a statement to Deadline, the studio said the following:

“Sophie Turner recently experienced a minor injury. As a precaution, production has briefly paused to allow her time to recover. We look forward to resuming production as soon as possible.”

It’s not known whether Turner sustained the injury on set, but sources claim that the pause is expected to last around two weeks, with the crew being paid for its full duration.

There is currently no word on when Tomb Raider is expected to released. Production began in January this year, with the likes of Jason Isaacs, Sigourney Weaver, Martin Bobb-Semple, and more joining Sophie Turner.

Meanwhile, a recent update to Tomb Raider I-III Remastered drew complaints that the added costumes were created with the help of AI assets. Developer Aspyr provided a statement to deny the allegations, but nevertheless resolved to fix the technical bugs that surfaced as a result of the update.

Are you looking forward to the new Tomb Raider series from Amazon? Let us know your thoughts with a comment down below.

The latest UK Charts data is here, and it’s mostly a bit of a wet lettuce this week, with EA SPORTS FC 26 taking the lead once again.

However, the launch of Super Mario Bros. Wonder on the Switch 2 has helped the game storm back into the top ten to land at number 8. Quite a feat considering it was at number 29 last week. Switch 2 garnered 63% of the platform split, with Switch 1 making up the remaining 37%.

Elsewhere, Pokémon Pokopia retains its position at number 6, while both Mario Kart World and Resident Evil Requiem jump up one spot each to grab the silver and bronze medals respectively. Requiem is still selling best on PC and PS5, though the Switch 2 is ahead of the Xbox Series X|S, at least.

Here’s the full top 40, with platform breakdowns for games available on Switch, Switch 2, and other consoles:

Last Week	This Week	Game	Platform Split
2	1	EA Sports FC 26	PS5 49%, Switch 18%, PS4 12%, Switch 2 10%
3	2	Mario Kart World
4	3	Resident Evil Requiem	PC 53%, PS5 36%, Switch 2 8%, Xbox 3%
–	4	Nioh 3
1	5	Crimson Desert
6	6	Pokémon Pokopia
16	7	Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds	Switch 40%, PS5 37%, Switch 2 14%, Xbox 5%
29	8	Super Mario Bros. Wonder	Switch 2 63%, Switch 37%
8	9	Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
9	10	Pokémon Legends: Z-A	Switch 2 56%, Switch 44%
NEW	11	Life is Strange: Reunion
–	12	Hogwarts Legacy	PS5 50%, Switch 2 37%, Switch 7%, PS4 5%
5	13	WWE 2K26	PS5 77%, Xbox 13%, Switch 2 10%
10	14	F1 25
19	15	The Sims: Enchanted by Nature
–	16	Mortal Kombat 1
12	17	Animal Crossing: New Horizons	Switch 73%, Switch 2 27%
11	18	Minecraft
13	19	Donkey Kong Bananza
17	20	Grand Theft Auto V
38	21	Resident Evil 2
18	22	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
20	23	Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2
14	24	Split Fiction	PS5 67%, Switch 2 25%, Xbox 8%
24	25	Super Mario Party Jamboree
22	26	Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition
26	27	The Witcher III: Wild Hunt GOTY Edition
25	28	Nintendo Switch Sports
36	29	Resident Evil 3
37	30	EA Sports NHL 26
32	31	Tekken 8
15	32	Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga	PS5 38%, PS4 30%, Switch 17%, Xbox 16%
37	33	The Witcher III: Wild Hunt Complete Edition
–	34	Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions	PS5 62%, Switch 34%, Xbox 3%, PS4 1%
27	35	Battlefield 6
–	36	Dragon Quest VII Reimagined	PS5 60%, Switch 21%, Switch 2 16%, Xbox 3%
40	37	The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
21	38	Resident Evil 4
27	39	Monster Hunter Wilds
–	40	Assassin’s Creed Shadows	PS5 48%, Switch 2 39%, Xbox 13%

[Compiled by GfK]

< Last week’s charts

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That’s it for this week’s physical UK charts! Any surprises? Did you pick any of these games up? Let us know in the comments.

Last year, it was announced Pokémon’s Video Game Championships would shift across to Pokémon Champions in 2026.

With the “free-to-start” game’s release date now locked in for 8th April 2026, it’s been officially reconfirmed Pokémon’s VGC competitions will transition from Pokémon Scarlet & Violet to Champions as the “standard platform for all competitive matches” going forward.

The first major event putting Champions in the spotlight will be the Indianapolis Pokémon Regional Championships taking place in the US between 29th – 31st May 2026, with registration opening on 1st April 2026.

“VGC will transition to Pokémon Champions as the standard platform for all competitive matches with its launch on the Nintendo Switch systems on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.”

It’s also been confirmed that competitors won’t have to wait until the Indianapolis Regionals for an official event featuring Champions. ‘Global Challenge I’ will take place between 1st – 4th May 2026. Along with this, Champions will be used at some side events at Regional Championships during April and May.

As previously confirmed, this year’s Pokémon World Championships, taking place between 29th – 30th August 2026, will also use Pokémon Champions as its main battle platform. For more details about the regulation and format of the Pokémon VGC going forward, you can check out the Pokémon website.

Pokémon Champions will be available on the Switch, and Switch 2 users will also get a free update at launch featuring enhanced visual performance. This will follow with a mobile release at some point later this year.

How do you feel about Champions taking the spotlight in the competitive scene? Let us know in the comments.

The Switch 2 version of Digital Extremes’ free-to-play online action game Warframe launched this week, and as promised, it’s loaded with a bunch of next-generation enhancements.

If you haven’t already played it yourself, the development team has now shared its own side-by-side comparison trailer highlighting all of the improvements from higher resolution textures, “dramatically improved lighting”, DLSS support and a target frame rate of 60fps.

“The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Warframe lets you take your journey anywhere with a bevy of technical enhancements, including a target resolution of 1080p at 60 FPS, along with DLSS support, and much, much more.”

In comparison, the original release on the Switch averaged between 540p and 720p in docked mode, and the performance was 30fps.

In the Switch 2 version there is also Joy-Con 2 mouse support and other enhancements such as faster loading times. The Switch 2 release takes place alongside the game’s first major update of the year, “The Shadowgrapher“. Here’s a bit about what you can expect from this, along with a look:

“Our next standalone update will introduce the phenomenal 64th Warframe, Follie, along with her reality-blending, ink-based Abilities. Squad up and enter a canvas of chaos in the new Follie’s Hunt game mode, and witness the next, mecha-styled evolution of your favorite odd couple with the turbocharged Gauss Moto and imposing Grendel Turbis. Customize like never before with TennoGen Shadowgrapher and new cosmetic Mod variants known as Atragraphs.”

And if you log into Warframe on the Switch 2 between 25th March 2026 and 15th April 2026, you’ll also receive an “exclusive” Ambimanus Pack including the Vericres Warfan weapon, the Akomeogi Warfan weapon skin, Slicing Feathers Stance Mod, Affinity/Credit boosters and much more.

If you want to find out more about Warframe and what it has to offer, you can check out our review of the Switch version.

Will you be revisiting this title on the Switch 2? How are you finding the Switch 2 version so far? Tell us in the comments.