Gaming

8 new facts about the Nintendo Switch

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Nintendo’s cool new console was announced back in October, but most of the juicy info was kept under wraps; that ends now.

The brains behind the Switch took the stage earlier today to make lots of important announcements for the tablet-like console that can be docked and connected to a television, or taken with you wherever you go with its detachable controllers.

Unless you watched the whole event and took down notes, it’s tough to keep track of everything. We’ll make things easier for you with some of the more interesting points:

It won’t be region-locked

Something all gamers frown upon is region-locking; this means you can only play games from the same region where your console was bought (e.g., Japanese games on a Japanese console, US games on a US console). That won’t apply to the Switch, so you can buy games from anywhere in the world without worrying about it not working on your unit.

Online play will be free, for now

Until fall of 2017 (end of September), playing online with the Switch will be free, and then you’ll have to pay for a monthly subscription to continue the service. The good news is you’ll get a free classic NES or SNES game each month. Which ones exactly, we’re not sure yet.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be a launch title

Zelda fans, rejoice! The latest installment in the long-time series will launch along with the console. It’s been the go-to game during promotional demos for the Switch, and it looks fantastic so far.

Super Mario Odyssey is its first Mario game

No Nintendo console is complete without a Mario game. The open-world Super Mario Odyssey is its first, and it’s a lot like Mario 64 on the Nintendo 64. Expect it to hit stores in time for the holiday season at the end of 2017.

The tablet part will last a decent amount of time

Everyone’s worry about the detachable part of the console is its battery life. According to Nintendo, the tablet should last more than six hours on a single charge. But that’s for light gaming; titles like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will run for only three hours before needing a recharge through the USB Type-C port — same as what your smartphone probably uses.

The tablet’s specs are good enough

Like any modern-day slate, the display’s pixel resolution is vital for sharp visuals. For the Switch’s case, its tablet has a resolution of 1280 x 720 on its 6.2-inch capacitive touchscreen. Not so great, but needed to maintain a lengthy battery life. It also has 32GB of built-in storage that may be expanded using a microSD card.

Joy-Con controllers will be expensive

Although you get a pair of Joy-Con controllers in the package, buying extra sets will cost you a pretty penny. A new pair will cost $80, and buying only one of the two will set you back $50. Their charging grip costs only $30, and the Pro version of the controller retails for $70.

In exchange for the high prices, the controllers offer lots of features, such as motion detection, object detection, and advanced vibration feedback, plus two sets of colors to choose from: neon red and neon blue, or plain gray.

The Switch will retail for $300 and ship soon

For all the goodies you get in the box, $300 is a pretty good deal, especially when you compare it to the other current-generation consoles, the Sony PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It’ll be available in the US by March 3 — that’s less than two months to go! Japan, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries may get it on the same day.

[irp posts=”7107″ name=”Here’s the first trailer of Nintendo’s Switch console”]

Gaming

Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game

Is this the beginning of the end for the PlayStation 4?

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When can we declare that a console is officially dead? Is it as soon as the launch of the next generation? Is it when games no longer come out on the console? Recently, Call of Duty has confirmed that the next game will not be available anymore on the PlayStation 4, which presents an important question: Is the PlayStation 4 officially dead?

Call of Duty is one of the most persistent gaming franchises today. The last entry, Black Ops 7, is still available for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Both consoles were launched over twelve years ago. (If that doesn’t make you old, the current generation was launched almost six years ago.)

As such, the franchise is one of the last stalwarts keeping the past generation alive. This week, Call of Duty, via a post on X, confirmed that the next game will not arrive on the PlayStation 4. Presumably, this also means the Xbox One.

Currently, we don’t have details about the upcoming game yet. But a new entry is confirmed to arrive later this year.

With the departure of the Call of Duty franchise, it’s fair to ask what will become of the old generation moving forward. Over the years, developers have started shying away from the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Since the franchise still maintains a steady fan base today, a lot of PlayStation 4 users might be forced to make an upgrade to play the latest entry.

SEE ALSO: PC Game Pass gets cheaper, but Call of Duty delays are coming

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Gaming

Stranger Than Heaven is a Yakuza prequel with Snoop Dogg

The story spans different eras and regions across half a century in Japan.

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In my review of Yakuza Kiwami 3, I groaned about how every new entry in the Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchise — original and remake — looked identical with each other. I ended that playthrough hoping desperately for a new era. Thankfully, those hopes did not fall on deaf ears. In its first trailer, the upcoming Stranger Than Heaven showed off an interesting reimagining of the Yakuza universe. Oh, and Snoop Dogg is in it.

First announced back in late 2024 as Project Century, Stranger Than Heaven has now confirmed itself as a prequel to the prequel to the Yakuza games. It didn’t start that way, though. When it was announced, there was hope that the then-untitled game featured a new story disconnected from Yakuza. It looks like the final game is making the best of both worlds.

Stranger Than Heaven chronicles the rise of the infamous Tojo Clan. Unless this is decidedly different from the Tojo Clan in the Yakuza series, this is the clearest sign that this is, in fact, a prequel.

Makoto Daito, a Japanese boy living in Chicago, escapes America to forge a new life in Japan. Along the way, he meets Orpheus, a smuggler played by Snoop Dogg, who drags Makoto into the criminal underworld. Eventually, Makoto decides to do things his own way by creating a new crime family called the Tojo Clan.

Unlike other games in the series, Stranger Than Heaven spans different eras and regions in Japan, starting with Fukuoka in 1915 and ending with Kamurocho in 1965. It will also have different fighting mechanics by mapping the left and right bumpers/triggers to left and right attacks.

Off the bat, Stranger Than Heaven looks like a new era for the series. It launches winter this year for all major platforms.

SEE ALSO: Now Playing: Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties

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Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches October 6

Pre-orders now live

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Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is set to launch on October 6, 2026, bringing a new high-speed twist to the Star Wars universe. The game is published by Secret Mode and developed by Fuse Games. It arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with support for up to 12 players.

Pre-orders are now open across Standard, Deluxe, and Collector’s Editions. Pricing starts at $59.99 for the Standard Edition, with both digital and physical versions available depending on platform.

A different kind of Star Wars story

Set in the lawless Outer Rim, the game introduces the Galactic League—an unsanctioned racing circuit where skill matters more than destiny. You play as a mysterious pilot named Shade, navigating a single-player campaign built on rivalries, alliances, and unfinished business.

There’s no Force or prophecy here. Instead, the focus is on build strategy and racing mastery. Players can customize three types of repulsorcraft and even take on classic podracers, blending familiar Star Wars elements with a more competitive, arcade-style edge.

Multiplayer supports online races where players can test their builds and driving skills against others.

Pre-order bonuses and editions

All pre-orders include a bonus livery usable across vehicles, with platform-specific colors, plus a Player Banner background for multiplayer.

The Deluxe Edition adds three extra vehicles, exclusive Arcade events, a livery pack, and cosmetic upgrades like new player banners and insignias. It also includes a digital art book featuring early designs of characters, locations, and vehicles.

Collector’s Edition for dedicated pilots

For collectors, the physical Collector’s Edition bundles a model of the Kor Sarun: Darc X landspeeder, themed patches, a printed art book, and a steel case housed in premium packaging. It also includes all Deluxe Edition digital content.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with pre-orders now available.

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