!.05-Nintendo Life | Latest Updates

!.05-Nintendo Life | Latest Updates

Pokémon Sword And Shield Become First Entries Since Gold And Silver To Surpass 20 Million Sales

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 07:00 PM PST

Will likely overtake Gold and Silver lifetime sales.

Yesterday, Nintendo released its financials for the third quarter of the current fiscal year - revealing twenty-nine Switch games have sold over a million copies over the past nine months.

The highlight of the lot was Animal Crossing: New Horizons' sales but a few other games have also reached some exciting milestones. Pokémon Sword and Shield now have more than 20 million sales (shifting exactly 20.35 million copies, as of 31st December 2020) making them the third mainline Pokémon games in the history of the series to surpass the 20 million mark.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Video: 15 Exciting New Games Coming To Nintendo Switch In February

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 06:00 PM PST

Mario and more!

Wow, the first month of 2021 is already over! February marks the start of Nintendo's year, with the upcoming release Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury,

There's also plenty of other third-party stuff to enjoy like Little Nightmares II, Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection and Persona 5 Strikers. And towards the end of the month, we'll finally get our hands on Bravely Default II.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Nintendo Is "Replacing Its Multiplayer Server System" Dating Back To The Wii U And 3DS Era

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 05:00 PM PST

A long time coming.

Let's be real, Nintendo's online service hasn't always been the best. While it's always worked, it's not always necessarily been a completely stable experience across every game. While we won't name any specific titles, you probably already know the ones that haven't run quite as smoothly.

With this in mind, it seems Nintendo's online services are finally getting an update of sorts - with dataminer OatmealDome (via thomasnet_mc) detailing how Nintendo will be replacing its multiplayer server system, which has been around since the Wii U and 3DS era. It's doing this by swapping from 'NEX' to a newer system called 'NPLN'.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

A Journalist Asked Actual Kids What They Thought About The "Kids Play Too Many Video Games" Argument

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 02:00 PM PST

Anne Helen Petersen interviews children from 5 to 15 about their gaming habits.

Journalist Anne Helen Petersen is tired of the "alarmist rhetoric" around video games. She's not the only one. In her newsletter, Culture Study, Petersen has already spoken to psychologist Rachel Kowert about the fearmongering, satanic-panic-adjacent stigma around gaming, and how it's not new for parents to worry about these things, but that they "deserve so much more" from the media.

Unsatisfied with merely debating and disproving the tired takes from publications who should know better, Peterson published a piece on Sunday entitled "gaming, in kids' own words". It's one thing to argue, and another thing entirely to see something negative, and decide to put out something positive instead - but that's exactly what this piece intends to do. It's a salve for those of us who've had enough of uninformed pieces about the "dangers of gaming", and can remind us all that sometimes, kids know best.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Random: Which One Of These Cursed Game Boy Colors Is Your Favourite?

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 01:30 PM PST

Old Nintendo adverts: a treasure trove of weirdness.

The '90s were a wild time for video game adverts. Most of them were about genitalia in some way or another. A lot of them were about the anatomy of women. It really wasn't a great time, to be honest - but some adverts were a little less creepy than others.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Pokémon Translator Says That Games Can Help Kids Feel Smart In An Education System That's Failing Them

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 01:00 PM PST

If you can learn about IV breeding, you can learn anything.

We're tired of the takes that say that kids are playing too many games. Of course we are - we literally wouldn't have jobs at Nintendo Life if we hadn't spent way too many hours on Zelda, Mario, and friends. But there are still people out there who can see games for what they are: potential tools for children to explore, learn, and grow.

Doug Dinsdale is a game translator who's worked on Pokémon, Dragon Quest, Yakuza, and many more games. His real name is Nob Ogasawara, and he's likely the person who the Pokémon team named the Black Belt Pokémon Trainer "Nob" after. He took to Twitter yesterday to air a grievance he has with people who don't think their kids are smart, even when they show great ability through their love of games.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Nintendo Shows Off New Mario-Themed 7-Eleven Menu

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 12:30 PM PST

The Japan-exclusive food includes Yoshi, Bowser, and Peach.

You may recall our coverage of the special "Ichiban Kuji" lottery that Japanese 7-Eleven stores have been enjoying these past few days, with prizes ranging from alarm clocks to soap dispenser. You may specifically recall the Mario's Mix Roll, a special spaghetti sandwich made to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. You may recall feeling hungry and a little bit confused. Well, Nintendo has just released the full menu, so let the confusion/hunger continue!

Everyone's favourite dinosaur-horse is represented with a traditional melonpan, a criss-crossed green bread filled with melon-flavoured custard and whipped cream.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Ring Fit Adventure Might Be The Best-Selling New JRPG Of This Generation

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 12:00 PM PST

Yes, it's a JRPG. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

Kids who grew up in the '90s fondly remember Final Fantasy and Pokémon as their first JRPGs. Kids who grew up in the 2000s might have nostalgic feelings over Dragon Quest, Fire Emblem, Xenoblade, or Persona. Apparently, children born in the last few years will one day recall playing their favourite retro JRPG: Ring Fit Adventure.

After checking out Nintendo's latest sales figures, games journalist Imran Khan noted that the exercise game is the best-selling new JRPG of this generation. That might sound crazy, but remember that huge sellers like Pokémon Sword and Shield, the Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Dragon Quest XI are not new - they're all sequels.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

JRPG Cris Tales Gets New July Release Date On Switch

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 11:30 AM PST

And there's a new trailer, too.

Cris Tales, the upcoming JRPG love letter from Modus Games, will now launch on Switch and other platforms this July, it's been confirmed.

Originally planned to launch back in November, the game was pushed back to ensure that the developers had "a chance to bring the best version" to fans who have been awaiting its release. The new July 2021 release window news is accompanied by a lovely new trailer that showcases just a few of the locales that you'll be exploring in the game.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

GameStop Founder Comments On The Reddit Frenzy, Says It's An "Honor" To Be Chosen

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 11:00 AM PST

Reddit users reportedly reply "stonks!! 🚀🚀🚀 💎🙌".

So, it turns out that the son of one of the founders of GameStop has been on r/wallstreetbets this whole time, watching the saga unfold. If you need a primer on what exactly we're talking about here, go read our coverage - we'll wait.

Ben Kusin, the Redditor in question, is one of the sons of Gary Kusin, the 69-year old founder of Babbage's, the store that would later be bought by Barnes and Noble in 1999, and renamed to GameStop. Kusin resigned as President in 1995, after the company merged with Software, Inc. Of course, that means that Kusin doesn't actually own GameStop any more, although he's probably rolling in enough dough that it doesn't really matter.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Kickstarter-Funded Game Ova Magica Looks Like Slime Rancher Plus Harvest Moon

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 10:30 AM PST

...Plus Pokémon, plus Rune Factory, plus Stardew Valley...

There have been a slew of Harvest Moon-likes lately on Kickstarter, including Swery's The Good Life, Sunhaven, My Time At Sandrock, and Sunnyside. Ova Magica is the newest of these, but with the added twist that there's also a monster ranching aspect, similar to Slime Rancher (which sadly isn't on Switch, though it really should be).

Although Ova Magica is still running its Kickstarter campaign, it reached its initial €20k (~£17,700) goal in less than three hours. It currently stands at just over €100,000 (~£88,400), with 1,479 backers. And yes, it's coming to Switch - they've even promised a physical release. The devs even noted that the game would not be a "port", but would be developed from the start with the Switch in mind.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Feature: Clammy Consoles, Humid Horrors, And Retro Regrets

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 10:00 AM PST

Don't try this at home.

A few years ago a clever, witty, and shockingly beautiful Nintendo Life writer had to spend a few boring days trawling numerous websites searching for a brand new and eye-wateringly expensive wafer-thin HDTV with which to replace their ageing and sadly then only semi-functional slightly less wafer-thin HDTV. This new triumph of technology and installment-based payment plans was even more HD than previous, lesser, HDs, and everyone in the house was very happy with this newest iteration of the rectangular entertainment window.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Nintendo Toys And Super Mario Meals Have Arrived At Burger King

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 09:30 AM PST

Available starting today in US and Canada.

Starting today, fans across the U.S., Canada and parts of Latin America can pick up a new range of Nintendo-themed toys from their local Burger King.

The toys will come bundled with King Jr Meals at participating restaurants and include toys inspired by a variety of Switch games. There are six toys to discover in total, based on Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Luigi's Mansion 3, Super Mario Maker 2, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Splatoon 2, and the promotion runs up until 15th March.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

GameStop Investors Are Paying It Forward By Donating Nintendo Switches To Children's Hospitals

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 09:00 AM PST

Stitches get Switches.

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the hospital. Robin Hood, Robin Hood, with his band of Nintendo Switches. Feared by the hedge fund investors, loved by the sick children, Robin Hooood, Robin Hooood, Robin Hooooood!

It might not be the most traditional of Robin Hood gestures, but it's certainly something you wouldn't see actual Wall Street investors doing. In a lovely twist on the GameStop story that's taking the internet by storm, Reddit user Lunar033 is "paying forward" the good fortune of r/wallstreetbets, the subreddit that started it all, by donating six Nintendo Switches, games, and accessories to Children's Minnesota Hospital.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Remember Castaway Paradise, The Animal Crossing-Meets-Farming Game? It's Finally Coming To Switch

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 08:30 AM PST

A fake worthy of Jolly Redd's Treasure Trawler.

The last time we wrote about Castaway Paradise, the free-to-play Facebook and iOS game that combines elements of Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, we said that the game might come to Wii U. That's right, folks! It's been a while since Castaway Paradise's 2014 release, and though it never came out on Wii U (to the chagrin of all five of us who owned one), it's finally making its way to the Nintendo Switch.

The game has seen re-releases on PS4 and Xbox One in 2018, as well as a Windows launch in 2015. Now, it's on a Nintendo system for the very first time, and although no release date has been officially mentioned, Harvest Moon fansite Fogu says to expect the game "sometime this spring".

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Review: Shing! - Will Test Your Patience More Than Your Fighting Skills

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 08:00 AM PST

Streets of Rage (quit).

Mass Creation's Shing! is a side-scrolling beat 'em up in the traditional Streets of Rage mould that valiantly attempts to inject a little originality into the genre by utilizing a unique control scheme which sees player's attacks assigned to the right thumbstick, rather than the usual button-bashing way of things. It's an admirable idea and one that possibly could have worked out rather well, if it wasn't for the fact the game suffers from – amongst other things – a combination of frustrating performance issues, shoddy combat and scrappy enemy placement, resulting in an experience that'll test your patience more than it will your fighting skills.

Shing! tells the story of a bunch of street-wise fighters, protectors of a mysterious magical object known as the Starseed, who are called into action when a bunch of evil Yokai take off with their charge and won't give it back. Rude! As far as narratives go, it's around about the level you'd expect from the side-scrolling beat 'em up genre, but here it manages to annoy more than usual due to the childish, sexist, mind-numbingly unfunny writing involved. In an attempt, we guess, to be edgy and humorous, Shing! decides to write its male characters as chauvinistic, pea-brained idiots, while turning its duo of female fighters into big-boobed sisters who do little more than partake in "bitch-fights" or sit around in swimming pools with their breasts out in the cutscenes that bookend the game's laborious levels.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Nintendo Shares Release Schedule For 2021 And Beyond, And It's Looking Pretty Bare

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 07:30 AM PST

Major Switch release windows reconfirmed.

As it always does when a new financial report is due, Nintendo has published an updated look at its upcoming release schedule. As you might expect, though, things aren't quite as exciting as they could be.

Below, you'll find a list of Nintendo's major releases planned for 2021 and beyond (so not including third-party releases). It's a pretty bare-bones schedule, but delays and development issues are to be expected right now what with the pandemic raging on as strong as ever, and we're sure there are plenty of new titles being worked on behind the scenes.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp's New "Pecan's House Cookie" Event Goes Live

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 07:15 AM PST

Just how did she fit entire rooms inside a fortune cookie...

Animal Crossing: New Horizons might be dominating sales on the Switch recently – reaching over 31 million units since launch – but mobile entry Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is still getting regular updates. The latest event, titled "Pecan's House Cookie", launches today.

You'll receive fortune cookies from Pecan – our friendly but snooty squirrel villager – each containing one random item. Amongst the 3-star options going, you can receive flower-deck stairs, new outfit items and a lawn rug.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Netflix Officially Announces Sonic Prime, A New 3D Animated Series

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 07:00 AM PST

Featuring 24 episodes.

And there we have it, Netflix has now officially confirmed that a brand new Sonic series will be launching on the platform in 2022.

From Sega, Wild Brain (Teletubbies, Degrassi, and Inspector Gadget) and Man of Action (Ben 10, Big Hero 6), the new animated series will be called Sonic Prime. It'll feature 24 episodes in total and is said to "draw upon the keystones of the brand," resulting in a "high-octane adventure where the fate of a strange new multiverse rests in gloved hands."

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Sony's MLB The Show Is No Longer A PlayStation Exclusive, But Where's The Switch Version?

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 06:55 AM PST

Update: Xbox edition confirmed, but no sign of a Nintendo edition.

Update: It's official, Sony is publishing a game on the Xbox, with MLB The Show 21 coming to the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One in April. This isn't massively shocking as it was previously announced that the series was going multi-platform (see the original story below), but where's the Switch version?

Nintendo responded via its official Twitter account to the 2019 announcement regarding the future of the franchise, but there's been no word on when MLB The Show is coming to Nintendo's console. As you can see, the console's name isn't present in the trailer above.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Here Are The Top Ten Best-Selling Nintendo Switch Games Of All Time

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 06:30 AM PST

The latest official figures are in.

Thanks to today's financial earnings release, in which Nintendo revealed that the Switch has now overtaken the 3DS's lifetime sales, we now have an updated list of the Switch's best-selling titles.

In recent years, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has consistently reigned supreme at the top of this list – it's perhaps no surprise, then, that the Mario Kart 8 titles have now become the best-selling of the series – but has Animal Crossing: New Horizons' finally managed zoom past Mario and co. for first position in this latest update?

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Guide: Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games And Accessories For February And March 2021

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 06:00 AM PST

Bowser's Fury and lots more.

We're now one entire month into 2021 and it's becoming clearer with each passing day that this year may turn out to be '2020: Part Deux'. The good gamers of the world are in need of diversion more than ever, and fortunately there are some rather fabulous-looking Switch games coming over the next month or two to lift your spirits (and lighten your wallets).

Below we've rounded up the biggest games and accessories making their way to retail in February and March 2021. Super Mario 3D World is Nintendo's first big release of the year and we cannot wait to dive furry head-first into the new Bowser's Fury content. At the tail end of the two-month period we've got Monster Hunter Rise bringing up the rear. Plenty of quality hours to be had from just those two, then, but there are more sizeable releases to choose from if cats and monsters aren't your bag.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

UK Charts: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Returns To Number One In A Solid Week For Nintendo

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 05:30 AM PST

Switch games make up half of top ten.

UK physical chart data is now in for the week ending 30th January, revealing that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has returned to its favoured top spot after a single week away.

The game lost out to Hitman 3 last week, which went straight to number one upon launch, but normal service has now resumed with Nintendo taking first and second places. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sits just behind Animal Crossing, with several other Switch exclusives also finding themselves in the top ten.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Nintendo's Raises Revenue Forecast For The Financial Year, Expects To Hit $5.34 Billion Profit

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 04:45 AM PST

Operating profits have increased by 98%.

We're hearing some impressive figures from Nintendo's latest financial report this morning. It's brought us news that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has sold over 31 million copies and how the Switch has finally overtaken the 3DS' lifetime sales. Commendable sales numbers, without question, but some of you may be wondering; how are the financial figures looking?

For the nine months ending on December 31st 2020, Nintendo revealed it has already reached its annual net sales target, taking in ¥1.4 trillion / $13.4 billion. That's a 37% increase on 2019's equivalent period and overseas sales made up three-quarters of this, with Japan accounting for 22.4%. Nintendo's operating profits have jumped, too, witnessing a 98% increase from 2019 at ¥521.1 billion / $5 billion total.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Mario Kart 8 Overtakes Mario Kart Wii As Best-Selling Series Entry

Posted: 01 Feb 2021 04:30 AM PST

Combining Wii U and Switch sales, that is.

Having published its latest quarterly financial results, it appears Nintendo is doing all right — if you define selling software by the truckload as Switch outperforms 3DS lifetime sales less than four years into its lifespan 'all right'.

One of the secrets to Nintendo's success is the evergreen appeal of its catalogue, with early 2017 releases such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe both featuring in the first-party best-sellers list, with sales of over 4 million and 8.6 million respectively in the April-December 2020 period.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com
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