The Blog

This May, Pikmin Bloom is welcoming white and red lilies of the valley! Additionally, during this month, Pikmin with lilies of the valley blooming on their head will be stronger against mushrooms. Be sure to feed them some lily of the valley nectar before your next battle!

Throughout May, Big Flowers may occasionally bloom into plum blossoms, carnations, chrysanthemums, helleborus, cattleyas, hyacinths, sweet peas, and lilies of the valley when you plant regular red, yellow, white, or blue petals around them.

During May, fruit obtained from tackling mushrooms will give either regular, plum blossom, carnation, chrysanthemum, helleborus, cattleya, hyacinth, sweet pea, and lily of the valley nectar.

During May, Niantic will be celebrating Pikmin Bloom’s 2.5 Anniversary! As part of the celebrations, the Free Daily Gift Pack in the shop will contain petals for seasonal flowers only throughout the month. Don’t forget to redeem yours daily! Niantic will also be holding a dedicated 2.5 Anniversary event later in the month – stay tuned for details!

In May, Community Day will be held on the following dates: May 11th and 12th. Details to follow soon.

A few days ago we reported on how the latest patch for Tomb Raider I-III Remastered removed pinup posters from Tomb Raider III. At the time we had no clue if this was done intentionally or not but now we have an official response from the game’s developers.

Aspyr have officially commented on the matter and have clarified that this was a mistake made when updating the game’s textures and the posters will be restored in the next update. You can read the full statement down below.

There’s no word yet on when Patch 3 will go live but when it does we’ll be sure to let you know.

It’s been a notable day for Switch successor rumors, as just hours ago we heard rumblings of Nintendo’s next piece of hardware using magnets for its Joy-Con. Now we’re back with another supposed inside scoop on who Nintendo’s teaming with for what’s next.

According to Business Korea, which in turn mentions unnamed “industry sources,” Nintendo and Samsung are going buddy-buddy on the Switch’s successor. Here’s the new tidbits the article has to offer, including more talk of when the device could launch. Again, please note that this is all unconfirmed info a this time.

• the device will incorporate a significant amount of technology from Samsung Electronics
• this includes displays to memory and foundry services
• could launch as early as the second half of this year
• the parts industry has reportedly reached agreements for initial production contracts
• the device will likely use a Tegra T239 chip from Nvidia, made using Samsung’s 7LPH process
• high-value-added memory will also be manufactured by Samsung Electronics
• fifth-generation V-NAND expected to be incorporated into game cards and internal memory

BUNNY GARDEN has been updated to Ver. 1.0.1. You can see the patch notes for this update below.

An update is available for SAMURAI MAIDEN. You can see the patch notes for this update below.

Sky: Children of the Light has been updated to Ver. 0.25.1. You can see the patch notes for this update below.

Warframe’s next Cinematic Update from Digital Extremes, Jade Shadows, will stalk its way across all current platforms this June, bringing a new mission type, Clan Operation, cosmetic bundles, single-player Quest, and more. Today’s Devstream also debuted a teaser trailer for Protea Prime, a closer peek at Warframe: 1999, as well as a look at what to expect for day one of TennoCon 2024.

Highlights from the stream include:

Experience a story of love, loss, and sacrifice in Jade Shadows, introducing the latest single-player narrative Quest arriving this June welcoming the return of one of Warframe’s most infamous legacy characters, the Stalker. After the collapse of the Orokin Empire, he swore vengeance on the Warframes who destroyed it, eventually culminating in the first ever Cinematic Quest known as The Second Dream. Reconfront this ambivalent adversary to bring his long kept secrets to light since your last encounter together while discovering the 57th Warframe, the song of devastation, Jade.

Jade’s inspiration comes from the idea of “angelic choir soloists,” with her weapon designs embodying the ideas of Love, Hope, and Wonder, frequently found in classical choral arrangements. Jade Shadows will also introduce a new mission type, Ascension, a Stalker-themed ship cosmetic skin, even more TennoGen items, as well as a new Clan Operation: Belly of the Beast.

The Warframe crew gave a closer peek at the Prime form of the ultimate protector Warframe, Protea, with a new teaser trailer. Representing the height of technology and style from a bygone era, Protea Prime brings a myriad of devices to toss grenade clusters, fire plasma charges, dispense health and energy pickups, or rewind time itself. Alongside Protea Prime come two new Prime tech weapons: the dual daggers Okina Prime and single-handed Velox Prime pistol, all arriving on May 1.

Players looking forward to Warframe: 1999 got a small update with a fresh look at unreleased concept art of Protoframes Arthur and Aoi, as well as the Atomicycle. The team also discussed how they worked to create their own original “Warframe-inspired model” of a ‘90s era motorcycle. The next bundle of info for 1999 will take place at TennoCon’s keynote livestream (TennoLive) on Saturday, July 20.

A breakdown of the first day of TennoCon 2024 showcases how Digital Extremes is taking the record-breaking annual fan event to new heights, with more to offer attendees than ever before across two days. TennoCon’s first day will offer early access to merch booth operations and badge pickup as well as a 1999-themed celebration with free victuals and a special guest DJ to keep the good vibes going until 10 p.m. ET. Tune into the next Devstream in May for details around day two of TennoCon 2024 and the plethora of panels to attend.

Another Crab’s Treasure made its way to Switch today after being revealed roughly one year ago. The unique title clearly caught a lot of attention upon reveal, and many have been waiting patiently to pick the game up. That includes a rush of people who grabbed the game on day-one, as first day sales have surpassed 30k units worldwide.

Another Crab’s Treasure is a soulslike adventure set in a crumbling underwater world plagued by a mysterious curse. As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to withstand attacks from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell, and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean.

Along with the reveal of 30k units sold in 24 hours, developer Aggro Crab thanked fans for playing the game and said they were happy to see everyone having fun (but not too much, it IS a souls game).

In the undersea society of Another Crab’s Treasure, trash is not only a way of life, but a valuable resource, used for everything from fashion to firearms. But with the presence of trash comes a mysterious infection known as the Gunk, which could spell doom for the entire ocean.

Samus Aran’s original adventure was the first time many of us saw pixels as more than just graphics. The planet Zebes was a real place: a lonely, haunted world full of dread and danger. It was art. It should come as no surprise, then, that nearly four decades later, the series continues to inspire modern pixel artists

Pixel Art: Metroid [ebook] is up for grabs right now, and it packs in 94 pages of fan-based Metroid pixel art goodness. There are works from over 125 artists included, and the ebook features a foreword by Simon Stafsnes Andersen, creator of Owlboy. Best of all, you can get this book for free if you act fast!

Until the end of today, you can download this fan-made Metroid ebook at no cost. All you have to do is use this link, click on add to cart, and use the promo code “PIXEL” to get the book for free. If you miss out on the opportunity for a free copy, you’ll be happy to know you can still snag the book later for just $5.

There’s never a dull moment in the world of Pokémon. No matter where you live, there’s always something Pokémon-related going on, and we’re breaking down the latest news on events, merch and more for the dedicated Pokémon fans out there.

First up is a collab between Pokémon Company and Aisin Trading for a line of Eevee-themed suitcases in Japan. There will be both small (H55 x W37 x 23 cm) and medium (H65.5 x W44.5 x 27.5 cm) sizes up for grabs, and they come in brown and cream colors based on Eevee’s fur. This series is set to launch in Japan sometime in May 2024.

Along with that, Mattel revealed the latest series of Pokémon MEGA building block sets. This next series features Pokémon Scarlet And Violet’s starter Pokémon Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. There are two options up for grabs, the Paldea Region Pokémon Set and Quaxly & Paras Set, and both of them are going to launch in Japan tomorrow, April 27th, 2024. There’s no word on their release outside of Japan at this time.

Games Done Quick, the grassroots speedrunning organization that’s raised $49.1 million in support of charity since its inception in 2010, has officially released its roster of accepted runs for its summer marathon, the aptly named Summer Games Done Quick (SGDQ) 2024. The full games list can be found here.

Taking place June 30-July 6 at the Hilton Minneapolis Downtown in Minnesota, fans will be able to attend in person and online to watch exciting speedruns of some of their favorite games, all while benefiting Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières, a nonprofit dedicated to delivering emergency medical aid to people in crisis, with humanitarian projects in more than 70 countries.

Viewers will be able to donate directly to Doctors Without Borders on GamesDoneQuick.com throughout the event. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the charity.

Believe it or not, its been a full year since Xenoblade Chronicles 3 received its 4th and final wave of DLC, titled Future Redeemed. In honor of the one-year anniversary, Xenoblade Chronicles character designer Masatsugu Saito shared the new piece of artwork above.

For those who don’t know, the Future Redeemed DLC offers a brand new original story scenario with a new main character and details events taking place before Xenoblade Chronicles 3. This completely original story tells a yet untold tale connecting all three of the main games in the Xenoblade Chronicles series.

In this adventure, new protagonist Matthew sets out with his ally “A” in a search for his missing sister and survivors from the city of Swordmarch following its devastation at the hands of Moebius.

Discover newly-added systems like Union Combos, enabling two characters to team up, and Affinity Goals that power up your characters based on the experiences they have along their journey.

It’s been awhile since we’ve had some Switch successor rumors that are worth diving into, but today a wave of details has been shared by Vandal, a source that’s been proven correct in the past through early details they shared on the Switch OLED.

Vandal has apparently heard some inside info on the Switch’s successor through various peripheral manufacturers, and the details pertain to the system’s controllers. It does appear that Nintendo is going to stick with the Joy-Con approach for Switch’s follow-up, but this new system will connect the controllers through magnets rather than the rigid rail system the current Switch employs. (h/t VGC)

Wondering what this means for the Joy-Con on Switch? It’s not confirmed at this time, but with a new attachment method, it might leave controller compatibility in the lurch between Switch and Switch’s successor. That said, reports state that the Switch Pro Controller will work with Switch’s successor no problem.

Did you know that April 27th is Kirby’s birthday? The character made his debut all the way back in 1992 with Kirby’s Dream Land on the Game Boy, thanks to the hard work of Masahiro Sakurai and many others at Nintendo and HAL. Now, here in 2024, Kirby is about to celebrate his 32nd anniversary, and a special piece of art has been released in the character’s honor.

The official Japanese X account for Kirby has shared the artwork above, which shows Kirby doing his favorite thing; eating! Kirby is seen gobbling up a cake for his birthday while other Waddle Dees struggle to not get swept up in food frenzy. Unfortunately, the post on X doesn’t mention what artist is behind the colorful art.

If you’re looking to celebrate Kirby on his 32nd birthday, there’s no greater place to turn to than Switch. Thanks to the Switch eShop and the various retro games available through a Switch Online membership, there are tons of classics and new titles up for grabs. You really can’t go wrong with any of them!

Looking to make yourself feel incredibly old? We’ve got the perfect stat to do so, as the Game Gear is officially celebrating its 33rd anniversary! In honor of the occasion, SEGA has put together a special tribute for the Game Gear that showcases the portable in all of its glory. Get ready for an overload of nostalgia!

Even if you didn’t own a Game Gear back in the day (or you were even around in its heyday!), there’s still more than enough ways to enjoy some of the portable’s classics. With the Switch alone, you can experience plenty of the Gear Gear’s best through various collections and revamps that SEGA and other devs have released over the year. Just dig a bit on the Switch eShop and you might be surprised with how much Gamer Gear content there is!