The release of Pokémon Pokopia has seemingly led to a surge in Nintendo’s share price following its early critical and commercial success.
According to Bloomberg (thanks, VGC), the game being sold out in numerous outlets across the US and UK has caused a bit of a positive uplift amongst investors after a few months of downturn. Nintendo’s share price has jumped up by around 15% over the last two days, going from 8,503 JPY on 9th March to a current total of 9,932 JPY.
Hideki Yasuda, senior analyst at Toyo Securites, points directly to Pokopia as a driving factor, stating “The Pokémon game was a dark horse. It was totally off people’s radar, making its popularity a positive development.
Of course, Nintendo still has a way to go if it wants to reach the heights of 2025, during which its share price hit 14,400 JPY, a record for the company.
A lot of folks are understandably keen to see what the rest of the year looks like for the Switch 2, but we think it’s safe to say that many have greatly underestimated how popular Pokopia would be.
What are your thoughts on this recent surge for Nintendo’s share price? Leave a comment in the usual place and let us know.
One of our very favourite underrated gems on Switch, PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, got a surprise sequel last month with the arrival of The Mermaid’s Curse. To celebrate the launch, Famitsu sat down with series director Takanari Ishiyama and Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii (the former also worked on Dragon Quest X) for a good old natter about game writing.
While most of the chat was dedicated to Paranormasight and each writer’s approach to narrative and game scenario, the sworded topic of localisation was also brought into the limelight after Ishiyama wondered whether his specific word choices in the Japanese release would have nearly as much impact when translated overseas.
After decades of Dragon Quest translations, Horii seems like precisely the kind of person to comment on such worries, and comment he did. “When it comes to English, the flavour tends to get lost in many ways,” the legendary game designer said (translated by Automaton), “things inevitably end up sounding simplistic.”
It all comes down to the foundational differences between the languages, according to Horii, and while voice acting has certainly helped with the players’ understanding of tone, something is still lost along the way. “I’ve come to accept that English is a simple language, so there’s no helping it,” he said.
Ishiyama pointed to the wide range of Japanese first-person pronouns, compared to the English “I”, as an example. As explained by Automaton, while the likes of ‘ore’, ‘boku’, ‘washi’ and ‘watashi’ might be used in Japanese to reflect the speaker’s age, gender etc., everything is simplified down to “I” in English.
Of course, such changes haven’t stopped us from enjoying these games in the English language — quite the opposite, in fact — but it’s always interesting to hear about things that are lost in translation, especially from a pair of game designers as accomplished as these two!
Are there any translation tweaks that you wish had made it into an English release? Let us know in the comments.
After what’s felt like a lifetime, Capcom finally confirmed Mega Man: Dual Override, the latest entry in the iconic side-scrolling action series. Scheduled to launch on Switch and Switch 2 in 2027, there’s not a whole lot we know about the game at this early stage, but what we do now know is that Mega Man 11 voice actor Ben Diskin won’t be returning to voice the Blue Bomber.
Speaking in a thread on Bluesky, Diskin confirmed that he was asked to come back for the upcoming title, but Capcom was unwilling to provide a union contract. Despite offering assurances that Diskin’s voice wouldn’t be for AI development in the future, Diskin felt that due to the volatile state of the industry right now, he couldn’t take the risk.
Here’s a look at Diskin’s full statement:
“With a broken Blue Bomber heart, I am no longer the voice of Mega Man.
“I was asked to return for Mega Man: Dual Override, but only on the condition I work without the protections of a union contract. I was told there are “full A.I. protections in place that guarantee in writing that [my] voice will never be used for A.I. development” but was also told “with certainty, from [Capcom], that the project will not go union.”
“While I certainly appreciate the acknowledgement of the concern around AI, working without a contract I can realistically enforce isn’t something I can risk. The only way to enforce non-union contracts like this involves personally taking giant companies like Capcom to court and suing if I thought they’d used AI. I don’t have the mental, emotional, or monetary strength to survive a protracted legal fight.
“In my heart, I want to believe Capcom would never use AI… But in my HEAD, I’m aware that basically every major corporation is looking to incorporate generative AI to save money. The video game industry is facing record layoffs and huge amounts of uncertainty. I need a union contract to feel safe. (Also, as an aside, I don’t think it makes sense to strike for over 11 months to get enforceable AI abuse protections and then turn right around and go back to work without them.)
“I truly wish Capcom was at least willing to speak with SAG-AFTRA about doing this game union. I expressed that I’d even be willing to work on a LOWER-budget union contract if it meant this flipped. It genuinely wasn’t about the money for me.
“It’s been an honor voicing Mega Man in Mega Man 11, the best-selling game in the series’ history and watching Mega Man reclaim his rightful place as a gaming icon. I hope Mega Man: Dual Override is even more successful than 11 and that everyone enjoys all the hard work the devs are putting into it.
“Good luck out there, Mega!” I just wish I could have been there with you.”
So we’ll have to wait and see who Capcom has lined up to replace Diskin. It’s likely we won’t hear anything for quite some time given the game’s rather vague 2027 release window, but we’ll be sure to let you know as soon as we can.
What do you make of all of this? Share your thoughts with a comment down below.
Capcom’s new IP Pragmata got a demo not long ago and it seems the word about it is spreading. Following the downloads for this ‘Sketchbook’ trial reaching one million combined downloads across all platforms last month, we’ve now got an update.
The demo has now hit a whopping two million downloads, and to top it off, it’s also had two million wishlists.
“Hugh, look – I can’t believe millions of people are excited for our game!” PRAGMATA has reached 2 million wishlists, and 2 million demo downloads. Thank you so much for all your support.
Image: Capcom
It’s not clear how exactly this will all translate to the actual game sales, but it sure is looking promising for the new IP. We ran a poll after the previous update about demo downloads, and 42% of respondants said they would be getting the Pragmata, with 41% still on the fence about this new game.
The update on demo downloads follows Capcom’s news last week, revealing Pragmata would now arriving a little earlier than expected on 17th April 2026.
Have you downloaded this demo on the Switch 2 yet? Will you be getting the full game? Tell us in the comments.
Marvelous has issued a reminder today that it will be ending support for the Online Mode in Fashion Dreamer next week. The title was originally released for the Switch in 2023.
Although this mode is coming to an end, the Solo-Play Mode will continue to be available after this date. There’ll also be some adjustments made to this particular mode. This includes the distribution of creative keys, adjustment to e-points, and additional muse parts, photo poses, photo frames, furniture, walls and floors.
“Thank you for playing Fashion Dreamer. Support for Online Mode is scheduled to end on the following date: 17th of March, 2026 2AM UTC Solo-Play Mode will continue to be playable after Online Mode support ends.”
This update will be applied when you select the Online Mode after support for the Online Mode has ended. You can get the full rundown in the official notice below:
Image: Marvelous
The same developer involved with this title and the Style Savvy series is also responsible for a Switch dressmaking game known as Magical Craft. This was originally released in Japan in 2025, and a rating for the title was more recently spotted on the ESRB.
Did you ever play this game’s online mode? How do you feel about this service being discontinued? Let us know in the comments.
Yesterday, as part of the ongoing MAR10 Day celebrations, Nintendo locked in a May release date for the Switch 2 title, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book.
This was presented alongside a new trailer, and since then, the official game pages have gone live – revealing the new title’s estimated file size as well as the supposed price of the game in specific locations around the world.
In terms of the game’s file size, according to the official eShop, Yoshi’s new adventure is estimated to require 20.5GB of free space to play. If you’re curious to know how this compares to Nintendo’s other Switch 2 releases, games such as Donkey Kong Bananza is under 10GB, while Mario Kart World is around 22GB. Zelda‘s upgraded versions are also about 20GB.
As for the pricing of Yoshi’s new Switch 2 title, according to the UK and European eShop it will be £49.99 / 59,99€. As a comparison, Donkey Kong Bananza is £58.99/69,99€ and Mario Kart World is £66.99/79,99€. Over in Japan, the Mysterious Book is listed at 6,980 yen. Meanwhile, games like Mario Tennis Fever are 7,980 yen, and Mario Kart World is 8,980 yen.
There is no official confirmation of pricing for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book in North America just yet, but it seems it will cheaper than certain other first-party Switch 2 titles across multiple regions. We’ll let you know when we hear more.
What are your thoughts about the price and file size for this new Yoshi title? Let us know.
This title originally arrived on the Switch, Switch 2 and other platforms last October and has already received some patches since then. As for this latest one, which bumps it up to Version 1.0.2.0, it’s made some subtle but significant updates.
While this update for the two-in-one RPG package isn’t the biggest, there are still some notable updates included in this latest patch. This includes some difficulty adjustments, improvements like faster ship movement in the second game, and a fix for a bug tied to Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake bonus items.
Here’s the full rundown (via Steam):
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake (March 2026)
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Update – An update (version 1.0.2.0) for the game was released on 03/09/2026.
The patch contains the following changes:
DRAGON QUEST I
The way the protagonist’s attributes change when leveling up on the “Dragon Quest” and “Draconian Quest” difficulties has been adjusted.
DRAGON QUEST II
The ship now moves faster.
A bug which could cause the screen to freeze after fading to black when players obtained the Yggdrasil leaf in Yggdrasil’s Arbour has been fixed.
Miscellaneous Updates
More “Traveller’s Tips” entries have been added concerning game systems and progress.
A bug which left players with DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake save data unable to claim bonus items on SteamDeck has been fixed.
Other minor bugs have been fixed.
If you haven’t already tried out Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, it’s well worth a look if you’re a fan of the series and RPGs in general.
“Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a deeply satisfying follow-up to last year’s remake project, closing out the Erdrick trilogy on a fittingly high note. A gorgeous art style, tons of new content and quality-of-life updates, and a wonderful soundtrack all combine to make this one an easy recommendation for any retro JRPG fans.”
In case you somehow missed it, Square Enix also released Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined for Switch 2 and Switch last month.
What do you think of this latest update for Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake? Is there anything else you would like to see adjusted or updated? Let us know in the comments.
“Enjoy MAR10 Day all year long with this pin set that celebrates the Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 games along with the Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary. The set includes two jumbo 2″ x 2″ collectible pins.”
Image: Nintendo
Nintendo is also selling a Super Mario Bros. 40th anniversary t-shirt on the My Nintendo Store. It’s priced at $34.99 USD / $47.99 CAD and is available in black and white. Nintendo has confirmed it will also be stocking these shirts at the New York and San Francisco Nintendo stores.
“This t-shirt features a large Super Mario™ 40th Anniversary logo on the chest with a smaller “Since 1985” design on the back just below the collar. A little retro and completely fun, grab yours while supplies last!:
As part of the MAR10 Day celebrations this week, Nintendo has also bolstered its Switch Online + Expansion Pack retro library with three more titles. Along with this, it’s revealed Mario will be getting his very own Lego minifigure!
What do you think of the latest Mario reward? How are you celebrating MAR10 Day and Mario’s 40th anniversary? Let us know in the comments.
Who wants more MAR10 news, specifically more Lego news? Nintendo and Lego have announced that we’re getting some brand new Mario sets in 2027.
But the big news here is that at last, we’re getting a proper Mario minifigure. We’ve been stuck with the chunky guy for such a long time we never thought this would actually happen. Why did it take you so long, Lego?
The teaser looks pretty good, too — whether the warp pipe is also part of the sets coming next year, we don’t know. Anyway, here’s a little look from Lego’s Instagram:
We don’t know what sets are coming next year, but we wonder whether there will be more minifigures to come? Surely.
This is the second bit of Lego news we’ve had today after the reveal of the 18+ Luigi Mario Kart set. And actually, it’s been a pretty busy MAR10 in general.
It’s that time of the year again when we Brits squint at our DAY / MONTH / YEAR calendar formation and try to see the ‘MAR10’ hidden inside. Yes, MAR10 Day is once again here, and it’s a particularly noteworthy one this time, being the 10th year that Nintendo has marked the occasion and the series’ 40th anniversary.
In the last two and a half years, an ominous presence has been subtly laying down roots in the background of our prized plumber’s escapades. It started as nothing more than a background blur, but I fear we’ve all been blind to its ever-increasing presence in the months since, and we’re now faced with not just an annoying NPC, but a main character in its own right. Its terrifying motto of growth and forward progression should be enough to send a shiver down anyone’s spine: onward and upward.
I am talking, of course, about the Talking Flower *a clap of thunder and lightning strikes outside*.
Remember back at the reveal for Super Mario Bros. Wonder, when everyone denounced this chatty little tour guide and its constant barrage of commentary? Such protest has been lost in the years since, and where has that left us? With enough game appearances and character merch that a ‘Talking Flower Joins The Fight!’ message for a future Smash Bros. game feels far more real than it has any right to.
On the bedside table?? No, absolutely not — Image: Nintendo
The truly scary part about the Talking Flower’s rise to fame is that it’s done so in the shadows, right under the noses of those of us who were quick to click the mute button on its quips back in 2023.
My feelings towards the Talking Flower have always been pretty neutral. I found its inclusion in Wonder to be perfectly harmless (far better than those darn Poplins, at least), though I fully expected it to be a one-and-done deal My surprise stems only from how, right when it seems to have wilted away, another one sprouts up in its place.
It arrived in Wonder, as you’ll no doubt remember, and there were some who even confessed to finding the little fella not quite as annoying as they had first imagined. And thus, the fire was lit. The Talking Flower started popping up in Nintendo Switch Online icons and merchandise. Toy manufacturer San-ei Boeki even rolled out a talking plushie for those who really wanted a little more “WoOoAAhh” in their lives.
Things went quiet in 2024, almost to suggest that the Talking Flower’s time in the limelight had come to an end. Dear reader, it had not.
The real kick in the teeth would come in January 2026, however, when Nintendo announced not only that the Talking Flower would be immortalised in amiibo form, but that it would be bundled in with the Captain Toad figure to forever taint an amiibo that we should have had years ago. Oh, the injustice!
And just like that, here we are. Unless Nintendo has some major surprises up its sleeve, we’ll be seeing more merch and game appearances from the Talking Flower in 2026 than we will from Link, Samus, Tom Nook and Captain Olimar combined. Is Talking Flower one of Nintendo’s big five now?
But hey, perhaps I’m alone in this. Perhaps there’s a group out there lobbying for more Talking Flower that I have simply been oblivious to for the past few years. If you’re a part of said group, congratulations, you’re clearly smashing it.
Do you want to see more from the Talking Flower, or has it already had its day? You can let me know which side of the argument you fall on in the following poll.
Do you want to see more Talking Flower appearances? (1,163 votes)
Yes! I love this little guy!32%
Eh, maybe a few more, but let’s not overdo it32%
No thank you, I’ve seen quite enough22%
Can I remove ALL Talking Flower appearances from my brain?14%
Are you team Talking Flower? Let us know where you’d like to see it bloom next in the comments.
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