Starbear: Taxi is Now Available on Steam and is 15% off!*

A fast-paced, VR-native title that really delivers. Race a spaceship taxi around Starbear’s tiny, futuristic city to deliver busy bear passengers to their desired destinations. Bears gotta be places too, you know?!

*Offer ends May 10 at 10AM Pacific Time

Alongside the launch of Warmind, a new season of gameplay updates begins for all players of Destiny 2, including powerful upgrades to Exotic weapons, the introduction of Ranked Crucible play, new Crucible maps, Private Matches, Heroic Strike Modifiers, Multi-Emote, additional Vault Space, and much more.

These Season 3 updates will be available to all players of Destiny 2, regardless of Warmind ownership. Full Patch Notes will be published on May 8.

Exotic Weapon Tuning will enhance some of the most unique items in your personal arsenal. 

Seasonal Crucible Rankings will deliver new ways to earn bragging rights and some coveted weapons in the competitive arena.

New Crucible Maps will give every player new spaces to fight in the Crucible. All matchmade playlists will feature Meltdown and Solitude.  

Private Matches will give you full control over your competitive experience. Set your own match and invite willing combatants to play.

[Note: You’ll need to purchase the Expansion to use the new maps in Private Matches.]

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Juicy Realm is Now Available on Steam and is 10% off!*

Juicy Realm is a roguelike game in which players must square off against bizarre fruits all across the world. The line between the animal and the plant world has become blurred, and the food chain has been completely disrupted. Humans, upon making this incredible discovery, have set up outposts along the border of the aggressive plants’ habitat for investigations, defense, and in preparation for what may come. You take the role of a soldier on the front lines charged with confronting this strange new enemy.

*Offer ends May 10 at 10AM Pacific Time

From the get-go, Nintendo has said that its decision to bring some of its brands to iOS and Android games was ultimately in the hopes that those titles would lure mobile players to Nintendo’s own hardware and, according to current Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima, those efforts may be starting to pay off.

In the translated transcript of a Q&A with Nintendo investors, Kimishima notes that Nintendo’s smart-device business a driving force behind what one investor described as a “relatively large percentage of Nintendo Switch sales” from countries outside of Japan, the Americas, and Europe when compared to past Nintendo consoles.

Kimishima notes that Nintendo’s customer base in Asia and the Middle East in particular is growing thanks to the fact that new players in those areas have been introduced to Nintendo IP first through its smartphone games like Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and are seeking out and purchasing Nintendo Switch systems as a result. 

This resonates with comments Nintendo’s incoming president Shuntaro Furukawa made to the Japanese publication Nikkei just recently, explaining that the company is looking forward to bolstering hardware sales in the Middle East and South East Asia and that he envisions Nintendo’s future efforts in mobile as a $900 million business.

Across all regions, the Nintendo Switch has sold 17.79 million units in just over one year, with roughly 15 million of those sales falling during the 2017-2018 fiscal year that concluded March 31. Even with nearly 18 million units sold, Nintendo predicts that the Switch will sell 20 million additional units during the 2018-2019 fiscal year, something it hopes to achieve by appealing to people that may have never played a Nintendo console before.

“In this second year, the initiatives we are planning come from our recognition that we also have to challenge ourselves to delivering Nintendo Switch into the hands of consumers who have never played a Nintendo platform before, and to those [that] have played before, but not recently,” Kimishima explained in the Q&A. “In order to sell more units than we did last fiscal year, the software lineup we have planned is meant to attract people, including those who have not been playing video games recently.”

Thursday has arrived once more, bringing with it another weekly update to all of Nintendo’s current eShop fronts. We’ve got plenty of indie sleeper hits, classic retro throwbacks and big titles all waiting to tempt their way into your virtual collection. As always, feel free to add a vote in the poll and a comment or two with your potential purchases below. Enjoy!

Switch eShop

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo, $59.99) – Barrel blast into a critically acclaimed Donkey Kong adventure as this beloved franchise makes its Nintendo Switch debut with a (banana) bunch of new features. Traverse islands packed with platforming perfection and nonstop action as the classic Kongs in the original game, or mix things up by playing the story as Funky Kong in new Funky Mode for a more approachable experience for players of all ages and skill levels. The Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze game will be available on May 4. Read our review.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition (WayForward, $27) – Save the day as belly dancing half-genie Shantae, conquer Sequin Land as the evil Risky Boots in “Pirate Queen’s Quest” and swap between Sky, Bolo and Rottytops in “Friends to the End!” Use multiple abilities while in different forms: wall jump as Ninja Shantae, soak up sun as Beach Shantae and serve justice as Officer Shantae. The Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition game will be available on May 8. Read our review.

Cast of the Seven Godsends (Merge Games, $12.99) – Cast of the Seven Godsends harks back to the days when classic 2D, run ’n gun, action-shooter games ruled the arcades. Four levels of difficulty, six worlds to conquer, twelve mid and end-of-level bosses, seven god-like armour sets, five basic weapons and thirty-five magic combat spells!

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM (Bandai Namco. $19.99) – Players will unleash powerful jutsu attacks, perform acrobatic evasive maneuvers and even run up walls and over water as they pursue their opponent for ninja supremacy. Players will be able to customize their character’s fighting style and recruit up to two support characters to put their own stamp on the action.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 (Bandai Namco, $19.99) – Impressively faithful to the universe of the anime, the game takes players through the Naruto Shippuden story arc with new battle systems enhancing the gameplay. Players must choose the right companions to fight alongside and together unleash explosive Team Special Techniques to lay waste to opponents.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 Full Burst (Bandai Namco $19.99) – NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 has been given a thorough overhaul for its FULL BURST comeback! Not least among the wealth of enhancements is the addition of the feverishly anticipated chapter in which Sasuke and Itachi take on Kabuto in a nail-biting confrontation.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy (Bandai Namco, $39.99) – All three entries in the NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Storm series are coming to the Nintendo Switch in a single package! Start with Naruto’s origins in Ultimate Ninja Storm, relive Shippuden and his ferocious battles with Akatsuki in Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, and experience the beginning of the Great Ninja War in Ultimate Ninja Storm 3, all in one game!

Raging Justice (Team17 Digital, $13.49) – Raging Justice is a classic beat ‘em up game of epic proportions, dragging the savage charm of the genre kicking and screaming into the 21st century! Available May 8.

SKYPEACE (Sonic Powered, $0.99) – Exhilarating yet simple action! Soar away into the sky at full speed!

Don’t Die, Mr Robot! DX (Digerati, $8.99) – Don’t Die, Mr. Robot! DX is a remixed version of the much-loved arcade bullet-hell avoid ’em up, completely remastered and rejuvenated for Nintendo Switch. Read our review.

Japanese Mah-jongg (ITL, $5.00) – You can enjoy Mah-jongg, one of major table games easily with Japanese Mah-jongg. 2 Players mode is enjoying competition with your friend by hiding your hand with single device.

Johnny Turbo’s Arcade: Sly Spy (FTE Games, $6.99) – It is the year 199X, Secret Agent Sly must protect the U.S. from a nuclear missile attack from the terrorist organization CWD (Council for World Domination). Play an arcade classic! Secret Agent: Use your jetpack and the golden gun and save the world from Evil.

Nihilumbra (Beautifun Games, $7.99) – Discover the beautiful world of Nihilumbra and join Born on his adventure to find himself whilst trying to escape from his inevitable curse.

Perfect Angle (Ivanovich Games, $9.99) – Challenge your mind with puzzles based on optical illusions. Find the perfect angle by rotating the camera to clean up the chaos and find a shocking story fraught with twists.

Professional Construction – The Simulation (United Independent Entertainment, $39.99) – Experience life on the construction site like the pros, and use heavy equipment and massive machinery. Enter an open world scenario to complete a large variety of assignments. There’s no way you can get bored repairing roads and doing so much more. A wide range of heavy construction equipment stands ready for your use. Utilise pavement milling, bulky cement mixers, powerful dump trucks, practical mini excavators and more!

Timberman VS (Forever Entertainment, $1.99) – The game loved by millions of players all around the world – Timberman, now has a brand new, polished axe! Are you world-class wood chopper? Enter the digital forest and find out! Discover the Nintendo Switch version of this classic, casual game – slice and dice trees in an arcade-style, challenge your friends and be the fastest timberman alive!

ACA NEOGEO STAKES WINNER (HAMSTER, $7.99) – “STAKES WINNER” is a realistic jockey action game released in 1995 by SNK. Use skills such as showing the whip, formation split and hyper dash, collect items on the course, and power-up your beloved horse in this multifaceted game. Ride with your horse through a variety of races as you aim to conquer the GI.

Arcade Archives 10-Yard Fight (HAMSTER, $7.99) – “10-Yard Fight” is a sports game released in 1983 by IREM. Players can enjoy American football with its simple but intense play mechanics. Score touchdowns as you play against increasingly powerful opponents. This version also contains the 1984 version of VS 10-Yard Fight with the additional two-player mode.

Animal Super Squad (DoubleMoose, $9.99) – Animal Super Squad is a physics-based adventure game that lets you play as your favorite animal. Speed through a world full of dangers and bananas. Create your own levels, share them with the community, or forget all that nonsense and just play other people’s stuff.

3DS eShop

3D Retro Dungeon Puzzle Challenge (Skunk Software, $0.70) – A short puzzle adventure game with unique levels. One of the best games under $1. Only for New Nintendo 3DS.

Wii U eShop

Rainbow Snake (RandomSpin, $0.99) – Eating Food, Snake Painted In Different Colors. Collect a colorful snake and avoid the green walls. Over time, the snake is gaining speed!

Demos

Nintendo Switch

Aegis Defenders – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch)
Midnight Deluxe – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 4
Portal Knights – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch) – Available May 7

Activities

Too Cool for Hyrule: May My Nintendo Rewards – May is a special month for The Legend of Zelda fans! The Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition game for the Nintendo Switch system launches on May 18. To celebrate the game’s launch, My Nintendo is offering the Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask: Dire Moon Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu theme. You can redeem your My Nintendo points up to five times to receive up to five codes for the theme. Don’t forget to redeem your points for a wallpaper and a May calendar featuring the Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition game. Enjoy the month of May with great discounts on select games in the Legend of Zelda series. For more info, click here.

So that’s your lot for this week’s official update to the North American eShops. Feel free to leave a vote in the poll and a comment below…

Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia is Now Available on Steam!

From the multi-award-winning strategy series, A Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia combines huge real-time battles with engrossing turn-based campaign, set at a critical flashpoint in history. Anglo-Saxons, Gaelic clans and Viking settlers clash for control. What Kingdom will you build?

On May 8, Warmind launches and Season 3 begins.

Golden Age satellites slam into the surface of the Hellas Basin on Mars. Icy glaciers thaw, revealing the core of the Warmind Rasputin – and an ancient Hive army, bent on its destruction. 

Destiny 2 Expansion II: Warmind introduces new activities, new weapons and gear, more endgame content, and an all-new story. 

New Story

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Ana Bray, a Guardian long thought lost, searches for a connection to her past…one that could be hidden forever beneath the polar ice cap of Mars.

(Developer Insights video coming soon)

New Cooperative Endgame Activity

Escalation Protocol is a public, player-triggered event where players fight escalating waves of enemies and slay challenging bosses alongside their Fireteam and other brave Guardians on Mars. Locate and activate Escalation Protocol, and then survive seven waves of increasingly difficult combat waves to earn exclusive new armor and weapons.

(Developer Insights video coming soon)

New Raid Lair

Return to the Leviathan with a Fireteam of six to conquer the Spire of Stars, launching on Friday, May 11 at 10:00AM PT.

Season 3 Begins

Alongside the launch of Warmind, a new season of gameplay updates begins for all players of Destiny 2, including powerful upgrades to Exotic weapons, the introduction of Ranked Crucible play, new Crucible maps, Private Matches, Heroic Strike Modifiers, Multi-Emote, additional Vault Space, and much more.

These Season 3 updates will be available to all players of Destiny 2, regardless of Warmind ownership. Full Patch Notes will be published on May 8.

Exotic Weapon Tuning will enhance some of the most unique items in your personal arsenal. 

Seasonal Crucible Rankings will deliver new ways to earn bragging rights and some coveted weapons in the competitive arena.

New Crucible Maps will give every player new spaces to fight in the Crucible. All matchmade playlists will feature Meltdown and Solitude.  

Private Matches will give you full control over your competitive experience. Set your own match and invite willing combatants to play.

[Note: You’ll need to purchase the Expansion to use the new maps in Private Matches.]

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Destiny 2 – Expansion 2: Warmind launches on May 8 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Blizzard’s Battle.net app.