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Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble rolls out on Switch
Looks like a ball
Nintendo Switch players can get things rolling with some serious monkey business in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, available now! Join AiAi and friends in their first new Super Monkey Ball experience in more than 10 years as they journey to discover the Legendary Banana, making new friends and foes along the way.
Become a party animal with friends and family joining in on the action in Battle Mode, with up to 2 local players or a whopping 16 online players battling it out. There’s also the all-new Adventure Mode, where you will journey through 200 newly crafted stages either solo or in 4-player co-op! Customize your character by picking from a barrel-full of apparel, including clothes, footwear, accessories – even the monkey ball itself so you can look your best while leaving the rest in the dust.
Digital Standard Edition ($49.99 MSRP)
- Base Game
Digital Deluxe Edition ($69.99 MSRP)
- Base Game
- SEGA Pass
As part of the SEGA Pass, six new additional playable characters will be added to the game over the coming months: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Beat, and Axel. Also included are 15 different customization items featuring costumes for Shadow the Hedgehog, NiGHTS, Gilius Thunderhead, and Majima.
The SEGA Pass and individual character packs will also be available separately for $24.99 and $4.99 each, respectively, so players who upgrade to the Digital Deluxe Edition will save on the bundle!
Physical “Legendary Banana” Edition ($49.99 MSRP)
- Main Game
- O-Sleeve (slip case)
- 40-Page Physical Artbook
- Reversible Cover
Those who pre-ordered the physical or digital editions of the game will also receive a special in-game banana costume as a customization item! Please note character customization items aren’t available for SEGA Pass characters.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed due out Sept. 24th, 2024, Collector’s Edition announced
What a work of art!
THQ Nordic today announced that Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed (SRP $59.99), will release on September 24, 2024, for Nintendo Switch. This faithful remake, developed by Purple Lamp in collaboration with Disney Games, is available for pre-order today!
Pre-order Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed now and receive the Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed – Costume Pack including Steam Boat Willie, Football, and Brave Little Tailor FOR FREE along with exclusive 24 hour early access on September 23 to the full game ahead of its worldwide release for consoles digitally.
For the ultimate Epic Mickey fans, we are thrilled to announce that pre-orders for the Collector’s Edition ($199.99) are now live as well! This exclusive special edition is a must-have for dedicated fans and collectors alike, with limited availability.
The Collector’s Edition includes:
- The full game Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
- A stunning 28 cm Mickey Mouse Statue, perfect for display
- An Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Keychain, a nod to Disney’s classic character
- A Vintage Mickey Mouse Tin Sign, adding a touch of nostalgia
- Six beautiful Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed postcards
- A Collector’s Steelbook for the ultimate presentation
- The Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Costume Pack, for added in-game fun
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, a faithful remake of the beloved classic adventure, is being developed by Purple Lamp in collaboration with Disney Games and published by THQ Nordic.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Features:
- Explore a reimagined Wasteland, full of Disney’s timeless characters and stories.
- Wield the magic brush: Paint to create, thinner to alter. Every choice shapes your story.
- Meet Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Disney’s original star, in a rich, narrative-driven world.
- Enjoy advanced gameplay with new abilities and enhanced visuals in a classic setting.
- Mickey has new moves such as dash, ground pound and sprinting.
- High replayability with multiple endings based on your unique playstyle and decisions.
Infinity Knights: Xross Kickstarter now live
Help bring this one to Switch
June 25, 2024 - Independent game developer Timesea Studio is thrilled to launch their crowdfunding campaign for Infinity Knights: Xross.
Announced last month, Infinity Knights: Xross brings back the magic of three-player couch co-op in the setting of fantastical RPG about a king and his Infinity Knights manipulating the rules of life and death. Drawing inspiration from classic RPGs such as Secret of Mana and Dark Cloud, Infinity Knight: Xross features meticulously-crafted pixel art, innovative gameplay systems, an engaging story, and music by Hiroki Kikuta (Secret of Mana, Indivisible), which can be heard in the Kickstarter trailer.
The campaign has a funding goal of 55,000 AUD (Australian Dollars) and will run for 30 days. Rewards include all the essentials: the game (starting at approximately $23.50 USD), soundtrack, art book, and exclusive access to demo builds as well as the ability to contribute to the design of the game’s locations, enemies, items, and characters. Infinity Knights: Xross is live on Kickstarter today.
Infinity Knights: Xross innovates on classic JRPGs of yore with a clever system centered around The Armaments: weapons capable of reviving slain enemies. As Xross, the newest member of the Infinity Knights, players must master these weapons and explore both static and randomly-generated dungeons as they uncover the game’s deep story. Infinity Knights: Xross is planned for release on Nintendo Switch in late 2025.
Key Features
Cooperate with up to 3-player couch co-op action styled nostalgically and respectfully after SNES classics, Final Fantasy XI, Dark Cloud, and the Mana Series.
Engage in a finely-tuned combat system that adapts to different play styles with challenging hybrid hack-and-slash puzzle solver gameplay.
Strategize elements and weapons mid-combo to beat the game’s many unique bosses.
Manipulate death with the power of the Armaments, creating thought-provoking stories and unique situations through optional quests that expand on the game’s rich lore.
Adventure with many playable characters to explore unique static biomes and both static and randomly-generated dungeons, fighting to the very edges of the realm.
Enhance, expand, and develop the Kingdom to create opportunities for new friendships, quests, abilities, and inventory. Mine, fish, farm, craft, smith, and more!
Breathe easy with a different approach to difficulty and immersion, where anyone can play if they want to.
Atari Announces Expanded Edition of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration
For the diehard fans
Atari and developer Digital Eclipse are excited to announce a significant expansion to their acclaimed 2022 release Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection. The new version, entitled Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition, adds two new timelines and 39 games to the playable Atari retrospective. The game will release October 25 on Switch physically and digitally.
The physical release will include a Steelbook version for Nintendo Switch, which will come with Atari 2600 art cards, miniature arcade marquee signs, an Al Alcorn Replica Syzygy Co. business card, and a Steelbook case. The standard version will retail for $39.99 USD, and the Steelbook will retail for $49.99 USD.
The Wider World of Atari timeline, which includes 19 playable games and eight video segments, takes a series of deep dives into stories from Atari history, showing how Atari continued to influence creators and fans over the decades. New interviews, vintage ads, historical artifacts, and more have all been researched and presented with Digital Eclipse’s signature style. Highlights from the new timeline include a deep dive into Stern Electronics’ robot-blasting Berzerk; unusual and underappreciated innovations and hidden gems from the late 1980s; a spotlight on the artist Evelyn Seto, who helped create the iconic “Fuji” Atari logo; Pong creator Al Alcorn explaining the birth of Breakout; and an exploration of the fan base’s role in discovering unreleased prototypes, creating “homebrew” games, and preserving Atari history.
The First Console War timeline, which includes 20 playable games and half-dozen video segments, tells the story of the first major console war in the gaming industry between the Atari 2600 and Mattel’s Intellivision. The team at Digital Eclipse curates an exploration of the rivalry, including Mattel’s quixotic decision to create games for the competing Atari 2600. Highlights include a selection of M Network games, including some fan-favorites; a mix of Atari and M Network sports games, and some rare Atari 2600 and 5200 prototypes. New interview features include former Intellivision game director Don Daglow, M Network programmer Jane Terjung, Activision’s David Crane and Garry Kitchen, homebrew programmer Dennis Debro, and historians Leonard Herman and Mike Mika.
The new timelines and games will be offered to owners of the original Atari 50 release as DLCs later this year.
SelectaPlay Announces 5-Year Anniversary Physical Limited Edition of Touhou Luna Nights for Switch
What a night to be a fan
Indie publisher and distributor SelectaPlay is thrilled to announce a new publishing deal to release a physical 5-Year Anniversary Standard and Limited Collector’s Edition of the acclaimed Metroidvania Touhou Luna Nights for Nintendo Switch later in 2024. The physical, anniversary limited editions will be available from European and North American specialist retailers and will be the first time the game will be available on consoles outside of Asia.
Developed by Team Ladybug and WSS Playground and originally published by PLAYISM, Touhou Luna Nights is a Metroidvania title with a heavy emphasis on exploration and action. Originally created as a fan fiction game based on the world-renowned Touhou Project’, the game has received over 12,000 ‘overwhelmingly positive’ reviews on Steam.
SelectaPlay will be responsible for creating, publishing, and distributing the physical retail versions of Touhou Luna Nights and will create a 5-Year Anniversary Standard and Special Limited Collector’s Edition of the game for fans to enjoy outside of Japan for the first time in five years.
The physical Touhou Luna Nights 5-Year Anniversary Standard Edition will include a printed colour manual and special sleeve, whereas fans can also get their hands on the Special Collector’s Limited Edition, which contains a host of additional in-box content. As well as a physical edition of the game and a printed manual, the Special Collector’s Edition also includes an original soundtrack double CD, three alternative inlays, a serialised certificate of authenticity and a Steel Book case all housed in a stunning collector’s oversized box.
Do You NintenKnow: June 2024
Test your trivia might!
Below is a set of clues for games that have a notable US release date anniversary (5, 10, 15, etc.) in the current month. See if you can figure out the title before clicking the blurred image to find out if you were correct! Head down to the comments when you’re finished and reminisce about the personal memories that were dredged up. Remember that these are going by the release date in the United States. Have fun!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: AU/NZ Championship 2024 Promo Video
Get your motor runnin'
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 3 are 3 of the biggest games on Switch, and that’s especially true when it comes to the competitive scene. Nintendo loves to put together tournaments around the world to bring together the best of the best players in regions to strut their stuff, and soon enough it’ll be time for those in Australia and New Zealand to showcase their skills once more.
Nintendo AUS/NZ recently announced preliminary details for their upcoming Championship series for the above-mentioned games, and you can see the specifics for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe below.
Week 1: 12:00pm - 6:00pm AEST / 2:00pm - 8:00pm NZST
- Qualifier 1 - 29th June - Tournament Code: 2002-0622-5963
- Qualifier 2 - 30th June - Tournament Code: 0167-3059-1787
- Qualifier 3 - 01st July - Tournament Code: 4816-6080-1579
Week 2: 9:00am - 3:00pm AEST / 11:00am - 5:00pm NZST
- Qualifier 4 - 05th July - Tournament Code: 4287-8307-9979
- Qualifier 5 - 06th July - Tournament Code: 4130-3766-2763
- Qualifier 6 - 07th July - Tournament Code: 1193-6927-3899
Next wave of Mario 'Play & Redeem' icons now available
Pick your power-up
The next wave of Switch icons themed around various Mario franchises are now available via the Nintendo Switch Online for users who have played the associated games. This set features characters and backgrounds from Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Mario Odyssey. You can see all of the icons up for grabs here.
As per usual, the character icons themselves are 10 Platinum Points, while the borders and backgrounds are 5 Platinum Points a piece.
For these particular icons, fans will have needed to play the associated game across 3 or more sessions separated by at least 24 hours within the last month, so, if you’re hoping to grab a future wave, it may be time to start your latest Mario playthrough.
F-ZERO 99 comes to Tetris 99 on June 28th, 2024
I guess that makes this Tetris 198?
Nintendo has announced the 41st MAXIMUS CUP event for Tetris 99. This time around, the theme is F-ZERO 99, another of Nintendo’s battle royale offerings for Nintendo Switch Online members. The event will begin this weekend on June 28th, 2024, and run until July 1st, 2024. Players who accumulate 100 event points during this time will unlock a new F-Zero 99 theme.
Speed. Precision. Strategy. The skills needed to reach the top spot in the large-scale multiplayer races of F-ZERO 99 will also serve you well when the Tetris 99 41st MAXIMUS CUP rounds the bend. So, get ready to tap into your competitive spirit and lock in for the Line-Clearing, Tetrimino-turning showdown. Avoid sputtering out and you may even make it past your rivals to land in the winner’s circle.
The Tetris® 99 41st MAXIMUS CUP event runs from 12 a.m. PT on June 28 to 11:59 p.m. PT on July 1. To participate, you’ll need to be a Nintendo Switch Online member and play the Tetris 99 online mode during the event period. You’ll earn event points based on your placement in each match. Once you’ve accumulated a total of 100 event points, a new theme will unlock, featuring art, music and Tetrimino designs inspired by the F-Zero 99 game!
European hardware/software sales for May 2024
A pretty quiet month all around
The latest gaming sales data for Europe have come in, and it gives us a look at how things went down in May of 2024. Let’s kick things off with the top 10 software sales of the month. Please note that Nintendo titles mentioned in the top 10 do not include digital sales, while other titles do.
Next, we have some general info on software and industry-wide sales for the month as well.
- 11.6 million games were sold across European markets in May
- this marks a drop of nearly 17% year-on-year
Finally, we have data on the hardware side of things.
- 311,000 hardware units were sold in May 2023, a drop of 40% year-on-year
- Switch saw the biggest drop in sales compared to last year, due to Zelda: TotK software and hardware launching this time in 2023
Comedy duo Yoiko checks out Luigi's Mansion 2 HD (UPDATE)
Scaring up new footage
Nintendo is back with another video featuring Yoiko, a popular comedy duo in Japan. Once again, the comedians have visited their friends at Nintendo to go hands-on with a game, but this time around they’re enjoying a game that needs little introduction.
Yoiko is a Japanese comic duo from Konohana-ku, Osaka that is employed by the comedy talent agency Shochiku Geino. Yoiko are known otakus, and the duo (kombi) was originally formed under the pretense of Shinya Arino as the boke (stooge) and Masaru Hamaguchi as the tsukkomi (straightman), but as time went on and Hamaguchi’s “natural stupidness” started to shine through, the duo became known as “the duo with no real distinction between the boke and the tsukkomi”.
In today’s video, Yoiko sits down to play the upcoming Switch revamp of Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. While the video might not have a translation, it still offers up plenty of gameplay from the Switch revamp. Give it a watch and scrub through the video to see all kinds of gameplay footage not seen anywhere else!
UPDATE: Nintendo has released the second installment of their Yoiko X Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD series, and you can give it a watch below.
Isometric puzzler "Tiny Lands 2" comes to Switch in 2025
Spot the difference
Multi-awarded indie game developer Hyper Three Studio will be launching Tiny Lands 2, a relaxing low-poly isometric puzzle game, on Steam and Nintendo Switch in 2025. The game is the sequel of the highly acclaimed Tiny Lands, and it was selected for the Wholesome Direct 2024 two weeks ago. Since then, it has gained 6.5k wishlists on Steam and has been featured on top sites such as IGN, Famitsu and GameSpark.
Tiny Lands 2 takes the ‘find the differences’ adventure to new heights with stunning 3D dioramas. Explore beautifully handcrafted scenes from any angle and enjoy a relaxing, photorealistic experience.
Explore these photorealistic miniature dioramas, play with friends in local co-op mode, uncover hidden collectibles, and enjoy a relaxed gameplay experience with no time limits or penalties
The game offers color blind accessibility, local 2-player mode, in-game achievements, a hint system, non-linear gameplay, one-handed playability, a soothing background, and a relaxed, timer-free experience ideal for casual gaming and streaming.
Features
- Color blind accessibility.
- 2 Local player mode.
- In-game achievements.
- Hint system.
- Non-linear experience.
- Comfy to play with only 1 hand!
- Original soothing background.
- Great for just chatting and streaming!
- Easy to pick up and put down.
- No pressure, no timer, just chill, go at your own pace.
Sprout Valley "Summer" DLC now live
Bringing the heat
Summer is here, and with it players can now discover new lands in Sprout Valley. This huge update expands the world with new biomes, decorations, recipes, and bring more color to the already vibrant game. Can Nico visit all these lands during one summer? Will he be able to catch every unique fish? With the players’ help nothing is impossible! Sprout Valley: Summer is now available on Nintendo Switch – all farmers aboard!
Sprout Valley, the cozy farming simulator, has seen many content updates and DLCs since its launch in 2023. This time, Nico sighted entirely new lands on the horizon – islands covered in sandy beaches, stone cliffs, and evergreen jungles. These new biomes are not just eye-candy – they come with their own unique plants and materials.
With the new resources from these areas, players will be able to craft new bamboo and cactus furniture to decorate Nico’s home, automate their fishing, and drink some delicious cactus juice. As they travel, the players and adorable kitten farmer can also fish out unique, biome-exclusive catches like the stone fish or the sand fish.
Last week, players were also greeted by a pet-focused patch that added buffs to their traveling companions. Speedy rabbits, energetic turtles, and very lucky black cats can now buff Nico via their special abilities. Now it’s time for them to accompany the kitten farmer on many boat adventures!
Visual Novel Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom releasing on August 1st for the Nintendo Switch
eastasiasoft has revealed that their visual novel ‘Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom’ will be released on August 1st, 2024, for the Nintendo Switch. The game includes both Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms and Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds with a new revised English translation.
Nintendo eShop pre-orders will start on July 4th, 2024, with a 10% discount until July 31st. You can pre-order the normal/limited physical editions in Play-Asia.
More about the game:
Two legendary visual novels come together in Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom, a remastered compilation of Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms and Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds, each among the most beloved entries in the acclaimed Japanese otome series. Players take the role of young heroine Chizuru as she is surrounded by the handsome warriors of the Shinsengumi. As battle ensues, who will emerge victorious, and who will claim Chizuru’s heart?
Embrace the political and interpersonal drama of feudalism while navigating romantic scenarios and witnessing events inspired by Japanese history, brought to life through beautifully illustrated cutscenes and passionate dialogue sequences. Explore multiple story routes across both epic visual novels, renowned by long-time fans of the series while serving as a standalone jumping-on point for new players.
This updated version includes revised text for the best possible experience, making Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom the definitive way for players to enjoy the game!
- Take the role of a young heroine surrounded by handsome suitors!
- Immerse yourself in a feudalistic setting inspired by the rich history of Japan
- Explore two complete otome visual novel adventures and meet an unforgettable cast of characters!
- Navigate dramatic dialogue, making key decisions for Chizuru to decide her story route and love interest.
- Enjoy beautifully illustrated cutscenes and unlock CGs in the gallery as you progress!
Shroom Siege, the team-based arcade action platformer from developer Upside Down Bird, germinates on Nintendo Switch in 2025.
Be a fungi and enlist in the mushroom militia. Aim for victory in one of three ways: Shrine, Shogun, and Poop! Collect and offer small orbs as tribute for a Shrive Victory. Clash swords and eliminate the opposing team’s Shogun three times to secure a Shogun Victory. Push a poopy payload across the map to plant a Poop Victory.
Play with friends in local or online 4v4 matchmaking to test those shroom skills.
More about the game:
The fungus kingdom spreads its tendrils and controls surrounding insectoids to claim dominance. Start as a mini mushroom with the power to infect and sway the minds of mightier life forms. Show off superior shroom strategy in 4v4 multiplayer madness.
Strive for victory in three ways: Shrine, Shogun, and…Poop?! Master multiple mounts to outwit opposing fungi, such as the merciless Mantis, equipped with razor-sharp claws to cut down the competition. Win three of the following Victories to emerge triumphant:
- Shrine Victory: Command Minions to collect enough small orbs to offer as sufficient tribute to surrounding shrines. Watch for danger and move quick! Minions respawn indefinitely, so going for the Shrine means playing it safe.
- Shogun Victory: Eliminate the opposing Shogun three times. Control the mighty flying Shogun and cut down any adversary lower than them with its samurai sword. High-risk, high-reward: fatal missteps bring the other team closer to their own Shogun Victory!
- Poop Victory: Force foes to smell the stench of defeat by mounting a Dung Beetle to slooowly roll a poopy payload to the opposite side of the map. Winners often report this as the most satisfying way to win. Losers often claim it’s the most humiliating.
Each single-screen map makes all characters and strategies visible at all times. Beyond quick reflexes and witty tactics, Shroom Siege also encourages communication and coordination. Gather friends locally or play online, forming two teams of four with cross-platform functionality. Join matchmaking alone or with a squad and test those shroom skills around the world.
“The original version of Shroom Siege was created during the 2023 Global Game Jam,” said Ben Hamrick, Developer at Upside Down Bird. “Like a mushroom, the project kept growing, and we hope others will enjoy our wacky, fast-paced multiplayer game.”
