Category: Nintendo News

Accessory maker Genki is famous for producing a wide range of Switch-related items over the past few years, and the Covert Dock range has always been one of my personal favourites.

With the original Switch, the Covert Dock enabled me to leave my OEM Switch Dock at home and take my console on the road without the added bulk, meaning I could hook the Switch up to any TV, no matter where I was, with the minimum of fuss.

Obviously, the arrival of the Switch 2 has introduced additional power demands, which render the older Covert Docks obsolete, but Genki has countered this with the launch of its third-gen model. This offers 64W charging (up from 45W on the Covert Dock 2) and can handle 14K/120 video (up from 4K/60).

As before, the Covert Dock 3 ($69.99) has three ports: USB-C (with DisplayPort 1.2), HDMI 2.1 and USB-A. USB-C handles your video input and allows you to connect systems like the Switch 2, Steam Deck, ROG Ally and more; basically anything that handles video over USB-C – it will top up the battery of the connected device at the same time. It can also charge other devices, like your laptop and smartphone. The HDMI connects to your display, while the old-fashioned USB-A is there for charging accessories and the like.

At 116g and smaller than the charger that comes with my Apple Mac laptop, the Covert Dock 3 is pretty much the only charger you need – and it comes with the added bonus of doubling as a dock for all of the leading handheld gaming systems of the day.

Given Nintendo’s penchant for updating its hardware and rendering third-party docks useless, Genki tells us that this shouldn’t be an issue with the Covert Dock 3.

“We’ve had a lot of questions about Nintendo releasing a future firmware update for NS2 that could interfere with Covert Dock 3 functionality,” the company tells us. “We don’t anticipate this being an issue, but we designed Covert Dock 3 to be firmware updatable just in case. We commit to providing firmware updates if needed and would host the file on either the Covert Dock 3 product page on our website, via email, or on our Discord.”

Genki is twinning the Covert Dock 3 with an update of one of its other popular products, the ShadowCast 3 Pro ($89.99). This marks the most significant redesign of the ShadowCast project since it first launched back in 2021. I wasn’t really convinced by the concept then; while the idea of a capture card which is small enough to fit inside your Switch dock was novel, it felt very much like a solution in search of a problem.

However, fast-forward to 2026, and this latest iteration has become much more useful. The ShadowCast 3 can handle 1080p/120, 1440p/120 and 4K/60 video capture, and runs under Genki’s blissfully streamlined software for a hassle-free streaming and capture experience (you can use it with third-party apps too – in fact, Genki is partnering with Camo Studio as its iPad app works brilliantly with the ShadowCast 3).

Like the previous two models, the ShadowCast 3 is small – but the bonus here is that you get an HDMI Passthrough module that provides an additional HDMI port with zero latency for one screen while streaming and recording on another.

It’s possible to pair the Covert Dock 3 and ShadowCast 3 to create the ultimate on-the-road video capture setup, which will be very handy for content creators and video game journalists (like myself) who often need to grab footage while they’re attending conventions or on studio videos.

Genki has always been good at giving its products a unique visual hook with each refresh, and I think these third-gen offerings are the most visually appealing yet. The combination of dark blue plastic and translucent orange is really eye-catching, and I like that the two products complement one another aesthetically when used together.

Both are priced quite reasonably, too – in fact, you can buy both for less than some of the leading video capture options on the market. As a novice video creator, I couldn’t say for sure if the ShadowCast 3 is a match for the leading examples on the market, but it suits my modest needs – and twinning it with the Covert Dock 3 creates a slimline recording solution that does more than enough for me personally.

US retailer Best Buy has a Super Mario Bros. game card case offer live that’s tied into the plumber’s 40th anniversary year, and we’re actually a little jealous of our pals across the pond.

As highlighted by the redoubtable Wario 64, you’ll need to buy any two Mario games from their list of 38 (that’s including physical and digital options) to qualify for the SteelBook-style case. It’s got all the usual ‘while stocks last’ disclaimer, although you’d hope there would be a substantial amount given that it’s Super bloody Mario we’re talking about here.

Inside there’s space for what looks like 24 game cards, so if you’re a physical game lover looking for a convenient way to store your Game(-Key) Cards, this looks like a fetching Mario-themed option.

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There’s a mix of Switch 1 and 2 games in the offer including Karts, Partys, sports, and spin-offs. The catch? You’ll need to pay full price for both to qualify for the case. Aye, there’s the rub. There’s always a rub. Still, it’s a nice-looking case.

Elsewhere, according to an ad (once again posted again by Mr. 64), Target has a free Mario Galaxy Movie poster offer going and a “$100 Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary Gift Card + Collectible Case” which appears to be a totally different non-cart-carrying case with eShop credit inside, again with limited quantities. And “no rain checks”, apparently.

Anyhow, some neat Mario-related stuff tied to the anniversary which kicked off back in September last year. We’ll be keeping an eye on if this swag appears at other outlets or — fingers-crossed — in other territories.

Let us know if you’ll be paying top dollar to get your hands on one of these.

Back in the heady beforetimes of 2018, we reviewed a little indie game from Berzerk Studio that did exactly what it said on the tin. Just Shapes & Beats, a self-described ‘musical bullet hell’ , had you manoeuvring a little shape to avoid taking a beating from an environment keyed in to whatever banging chiptune track the level was built around.

If you haven’t played it, you really should because it’s excellent (ergo the ‘Excellent – 9/10’ on the end of our review). If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to play it, here’s one: Eight years on, it’s finally getting a physical release.

Fangamer is putting out the Canadian team’s first Switch game in July, priced at $35/€39. For your cash you get the game on cart, naturally, plus an instruction manual, poster, and sticker sheet.

Here’s a little PR blurb and some better pics of the bits:

Just Shapes & Beats debuted to rave reviews in 2018, and Berzerk has kept the party bumpin’ ever since via several free content updates, delighting hundreds of thousands of players. Boosted by homages to other beloved titles through a Shovel Knight-themed Mixtape, a remix of Undertale’s Spider Dance, and a face-melting rendition of the Mortal Kombat movie’s theme, Just Shapes & Beats is a joyous blitz ready to make even the grumpiest goth kids crack a smile.

Back in 2018, one *checks notes* Gavin Lane wrote, “the sheer verve of Just Shapes & Beats is infectious. True to its name, the elements are simple, but Berzerk Studio explores and executes on its modest premise with an exceptional level of polish. It injects pure joy into the oppressive, pulsing panic of Super Hexagon and creates a celebratory explosion of the audio-visual in video games.”

If that sounds tasty, pre-order pages are live on Fangamer’s US and EU sites. Merge Games put out a physical version of the also-excellent Infernax, so it’s great to see the studio’s previous work get the cart treatment. Let us know below if you loved the game as much as we did.

As we get closer to the Switch 2’s first anniversary, more and more developers are starting to release updated versions of existing titles.

With this in mind, Genius Sonority has today announced a Switch 2 version of its role-playing title The New Denpa Men. After arriving on the Switch eShop in 2024, the Switch 2 version of this free-to-play will roll out next week on 6th April 2026.

This new version of the game will support cross-platform play with the existing versions on Switch and mobile devices. As for the improvements, players can look forward to “smoother visuals” thanks to a higher refresh rate, and there’ll be “enhanced visual quality” due to a higher resolution.

As for the game content, the gameplay experience will be “identical to the Switch version”. Paid items from in-game purchases will also be shared between the Switch and Switch 2 versions when using the same Nintendo account.

When The New Denpa Men launched on the Switch eShop, we gave it six out of ten stars calling it a goofy RPG with “the usual F2P irritations”.

“The New Denpa Men is pretty firmly in the middle of the pack when it comes to Switch’s freemium games. Simple, approachable gameplay makes it a great light JRPG for anyone looking for a basic introduction to the genre but, unsurprisingly, it scarcely holds a candle to classically designed games…And though the microtransactions and freemium elements don’t get too in the way of progressing the story, they are nonetheless a persistent annoyance that can drag the overall experience down.”

In some other Switch 2 news this week, Bandai Namco announced it’s releasing an enhanced edition of Little Nightmares II.

Will you be revisiting this game on the Switch 2? Did you play the original Switch release? Let us know in the comments.

If you plan to play the Switch release Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream on your Switch 2, there will be some slight improvements.

As detailed in Nintendo’s recently published FAQ, while there are “no differences in the software content”, the gameplay will take advantage of the Switch 2’s capabilities. For starters, this includes faster load times as well as GameChat support for users with an active Switch Online membership.

Additionally, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream runs at the “higher resolution” of 1080p in Switch 2’s handheld mode. Nintendo also notes how the full game “does not support” the Switch 2’s Handheld Mode Boost feature.

“When playing Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream in handheld mode on the Nintendo Switch 2, you can play at a higher resolution (1080p) than using handheld mode on Nintendo Switch, regardless of whether Handheld Mode Boost is enabled or disabled. For that reason, this game does not support Handheld Mode Boost.

“Handheld Mode Boost can be enabled while playing the Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream – Welcome Version demo, but you will not be able to use the touch screen.”

And if you’re wondering about Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, this Switch 2 feature won’t be supported. However, there are areas of the game that include support for touch controls when playing in handheld mode.

“While the game primarily uses button controls, some scenes, such as Mii creation and the Palette House workshop, also support touch controls. Joy-Con 2 mouse controls are not supported when playing on Nintendo Switch 2.”

You can see the full FAQ for Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream on Nintendo’s official website. It also confirms save data and islands are created separately for each user registered on a system, and notes how you can register up to 70 Miis.

For more information about the new Tomodachi Life, be sure to check out our previous “hands on” coverage here on Nintendo Life. There’s also the demo you can try out right now, with the full game releasing on 16th April 2026.

Will you be playing this game on the Switch 2? Are you planning to get it for Switch? Let us know in the comments.

The character roster in Street Fighter 6 is about to get even bigger, with Capcom confirming Ingrid will be returning as a paid DLC character in “late Spring” 2026.

Ingrid made her debut in the 2004/05 release Capcom Fighting Evolution, which was also part of the recent Capcom Fighting Collection 2. She also joined Street Fighter Alpha 3 UPPER in a title update for the same collection last August.

Here’s the description for Ingrid and you can get a “first glimpse” of the character in Street Fighter 6 in the trailer above:

“Your fate shall soon be linked. Ingrid, the final character to join the Street Fighter 6 Year 3 roster, is finally making her debut in late spring 2026! We’re excited to share a first glimpse that highlights her mysterious, yet charming presence.

“What is this place? What exactly is a Monoid? And who is she, really…? Stay tuned for more details coming soon! Bye-onara for now!”

As Capcom notes, more details about this character will be “coming soon”. This will include some actual gameplay footage of the character.

Ingrid is part of the ‘Year 3’ roster for Street Fighter 6’s season pass. She follows the release of Alex, C.Viper and Sagat.

On Switch 2, you can buy these characters individually, or purchase each Season Pass. There’s also the Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition, which contains the first two seasons of DLC characters.

What do you think about Ingrid joining Street Fighter 6? Who else would you like to see added to this roster? Let us know in the comments.

Following the first day box office results for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in the US, the opening day performance of Mario’s movie sequel globally has now been revealed.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has officially opened with a global box office figure of $68.4 million, putting it ahead of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which banked $66.4 million on its first day. Deadline also reports how several records have been broken.

Here are the opening day results for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie worldwide:

• Mexico with $6.7M scored the biggest Universal opening ever there and the second biggest animated opening ever. The first day beat Super Mario Bros‘ $5.9M
• UK & Ireland posted $4.3M, which is the second highest single-day preview figure for an animated film in the history of box office on the isle.
• Germany’s $3.8M reps the biggest animated opening of all-time and Universal’s biggest opening of all-time. The first movie posted a $2.8M first day.
• Spain‘s $3M was the second highest opening day for an animated title of all-time, as well as the 3rd biggest opening day of all-time behind Twilight and Inside Out 2. It was also an improvement upon the 2023’s $2.2M.
• France‘s $2.9M is the second biggest Illumination opening of all-time (and the biggest outside of holidays).
• Central America‘s $1.8M scored the second biggest opening day of all-time in the market, only behind Avengers: Endgame. Super Mario Bros did a reported $1.3M there.
• Austria‘s $700K repped the biggest Universal opening day of all-time in the market and the biggest Animation opening day of all-time.
• Other opening day grosses included Italy ($1.5M), Colombia ($1.1M) and Australia ($0.7M).

Once again, Galaxy banked $34 million in the US on its opening day – making it the “best opening day so far this year”, while also claiming the best “opening Wednesday” in April, taking the title from the first movie, which made $31.7 million.

As noted by the source, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will launch in locations such as Japan and Korea later this month, so expect more figures soon.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie currently has a critic score of 42% and an audience score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. In our review here on Nintendo Life, we gave this second film six out of ten stars, calling it a “faithful but overstuffed sequel“.

Have you seen the Super Mario Galaxy Movie yet? Let us know in the comments.

With the PlayStation 5’s price increase going into effect today, lots of us are concerned about the rising cost of video games in general. Xbox has already increased its Series X and S prices, but the Switch 2 has remained static since its launch last year.

But, in an interview on the Kit & Krysta podcast (below), a former Nintendo sales lead simply referred to as Sean believes that “unfortunately” Nintendo will eventually have to increase the price of the console.

Speculating on the potential of a price increase (from around 29:47), Sean believes that “there’s things that they can and seem to be doing to try and mitigate that, but I also look at this move on on software as, if I’m reading it correctly, a way to make a hardware price increase a little bit more palatable.”

A combination of inflation, tariffs, and recent memory price hikes due to AI demand are all factors, but the recent issues with oil prices are also a potential part of the problem, which Sean addresses.

“When oil goes through the roof, that’s not just shipping costs that go up… there’s other things that people may not realise. Helium is a by-product of producing oil. Helium is a key and unreplaceable ingredient in making semiconductors, which means hardware prices go up.”

It also affects cartridge manufacturing, too: “It’s an unreplaceable by-product of making silicon wafers, which means if you’re Nintendo and you’re producing cartridges, that’s going up as well.”

All of these ongoing factors and events are affecting each other, and Sean thinks that even though Nintendo “are able to make concessions in some areas, hardware prices are going to go up I think, eventually.”

The price decrease in digital software may be one way Nintendo is trying to offset the cost, Sean suspects, referring to the recently announced pricing change of Switch 2 exclusive games in North America and Canada, but that’s only a temporary fix, as there doesn’t appear to be an end to many of the issues hitting the industry right now.

“We’ve been through various phases with Nintendo through various economic turns and things,” Sean acknowledges, “but it does really feel like this time in particular, there’s just so many outside forces that are kind of forcing their hand in a way that they probably aren’t really used to in the past.”

Nintendo has been relatively coy about pricing the Switch 2 and potential price changes. Of course, multiple accessories, including the Switch 1, received a price increase in August 2025 in the US,

Since then, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has tried to stay cautious on price increases, saying Nintendo would “carefully consider” an increase, which will depend on things such as sales trends, costs, the market environment, and “other factors.”

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What do you think of Sean’s comments in the podcast? Let us know down below.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 launched on the Switch in October 2025, finally freeing the critically-acclaimed sequel from its Wii-shaped prison.

Unless you’ve had them on pre-order, you might have forgotten that a pair of accompanying amiibo figures were also announced alongside the Switch ports, and now – months after the games came out – they’re finally available.

Priced at £24.99 / $39.99 each, the two figures comprise of ‘Mario & Luma’ and ‘Rosalina & Lumas’ and will unlock in-game 1up Mushrooms or Life Mushrooms when scanned into the Switch or Switch 2.

They’re not cheap, then, and given the pretty inconsequential unlocks that they provide, we imagine many folks opting to buy these will be doing so for their looks, first and foremost. And they do look good, make no mistake; we think it’s clear that the overall quality of the amiibo has improved drastically since the days of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

So if you’re in the market for the new Galaxy amiibo figures, then check out the links below for some go-to outlets.

Are you tempted to pick up the new Mario Galaxy amiibo? Which one is your favourite? Let us know with a comment.