Gaming

Nintendo Direct February 2024: Old games coming to the Switch

Former Xbox exclusives are also coming

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Elden Ring isn’t the only thing that grabbed the spotlight today. Nintendo has also hosted another Nintendo Direct. This time, the showcase is for third-party developers. Don’t expect Mario, Link, or Pokémon. (Pokémon Day is on February 27, though, so look out for that.) That said, there’s still a lot to look forward to. If you missed the latest Direct, here are the biggest trailers you missed.

Epic Mickey Rebrushed

A classic of the Wii era, Epic Mickey returns to the Switch. Mickey Mouse finds himself in control of a magical paintbrush. As creatures of ink start terrorizing the world of Disney, the titular mouse must traverse through classic stories to save the world.

Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection

It’s a great day for patient gamers. Continuing the trend, the Switch is getting the full slate of classic Star Wars Battlefront games in one collection. The classic collection will join other recent ones such as the newly released Tomb Raider collection.

Endless Ocean Luminous

Let’s keep this ball rolling. Another classic of the Wii era, Endless Ocean Luminous reintroduces the cozy sea exploration game to modern consoles. Much like the old title, the new game will feature over 500 species of sea animals to discover. It also features compatibility for up to 30 players in one map.

Xbox exclusives coming to Switch

In one of the most surprising moves of this Direct, the Nintendo Switch is getting some titles that were formerly exclusive to Xbox and PC. Specifically, the Switch will get Grounded and Pentiment. The former is a survival co-op title that has shrunken kids tackle the dangers of their backyard. The latter is a roleplaying game set in the Middle Ages.

Gaming

Horizon Hunters Gathering is an upcoming co-op roguelite spinoff

If you liked Nightreign, you might like this.

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Like Valve, the PlayStation’s tentpole franchises are allergic to the number 3. The Last of Us, the ongoing God of War arc, Spider-Man, and Horizon all don’t have a third game yet. These franchises, however, have all gotten rumors of spinoffs. Now, Horizon is getting more than just a rumor; an official co-op spinoff is happening. Say hello to Horizon Hunters Gathering!

Today, Guerilla unveiled Horizon Hunters Gathering, an official co-op roguelite set in the Horizon universe. The game will feature multiple players working to take down difficult enemies, bosses, and dungeons.

The title shares similarities with Elden Ring Nightreign. For one, players can choose between six characters with different roles. The main mode, called Machine Incursion, takes players to a wide map with powerups and roaming monsters. The map then has a shrinking ring that… well, you know what a shrinking ring does.

Horizon Hunters Gathering also has a different game mode called Cauldron Descent. Compared to the Nightreign type of gameplay, Cauldron Descent is a more traditional roguelite mode. Players enter a dangerous dungeon and choose alternate paths that vary in challenges.

Both game modes will be available through an upcoming closed playtest through the PlayStation Beta Program.

Because this is from Guerilla themselves, this is an official game. But it’s far from the only spinoff for the universe. Previously, NCSoft, a South Korean gaming studio, announced Horizon Steel Frontiers, an MMO set in the Horizon universe. Like Horizon Hunters Gathering, Steel Frontiers has an unknown launch date.

SEE ALSO: Horizon Steel Frontiers is an MMO set in the Horizon universe

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Gaming

Valve is delaying the launch of the Steam Machine

But it’s still scheduled for the first half of 2026.

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Overshadowed only by the Nintendo Switch 2, the upcoming Steam Machine was one of the most exciting gaming devices announced last year. Unfortunately, especially if you were waiting intently for the console’s launch, Valve is delaying the device by an undisclosed amount of time.

Initially, Valve anticipated a launch for the Steam Machine sometime in the first half of 2026. However, as the calendar rolls on into the second month of the year, the company has yet to announce either a price or a launch date for the console. Valve says that both should be out by now.

In a recent update, the company confirms that ongoing chip shortages have forced a reevaluation of the Steam Machine’s price and shipping date. This also goes for the Steam Controller and the Steam Frame. Valve is going back to the drawing board to figure out what is feasible for the console market.

On the bright side, Valve is still aiming to launch all three devices in the first half of the year. It’s just a matter of determining when that is.

The Steam Machine is just the latest in a growing line of devices affected by the chip shortage. Today, chipmakers are funneling their supplies to the supposed demand for AI servers. Naturally, more infrastructure means less chips reserved for regular consumers.

Also recently, NVIDIA was rumored to skip this year for a new GPU launch because of the AI “boom”. It’s the first time that this has happened in thirty years.

SEE ALSO: Valve announces its own console called the Steam Machine

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Gaming

No new NVIDIA GPUs this year, report says

Once again, it’s because of AI.

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Yesterday, AMD made the bold claim that the next-generation Xbox is coming next year. In a world drowning in manufactured hype for AI, hearing about GPUs going back to gaming is refreshing. NVIDIA, however, still has its pipelines clogged with artificial intelligence. According to reports, the company will not release new graphics cards this year.

This is unprecedented. A new graphics card is often a highlight for gamers every year. Even in recent times when prices beggar belief, a newly launched chip still generates hype.

Now, for the first time in thirty years, NVIDIA will not launch a new card in a calendar year (via The Information). Like a lot of things happening this year, AI is the culprit.

Buoyed by the dreams of billionaires, GPU companies are busy dedicating their stock of chips for AI servers. Because these servers artificially blew up the demand for GPUs, everything else that needs such a chip is projected to see a price hike this year. This includes smartphones, gaming consoles, and cars. Regular consumers have been left to deal with the aftermath of the imaginary AI boom.

According to The Information, NVIDIA’s current lineup is only partially composed of chips meant for gaming. Only around 8 percent of its revenue came from that segment in the first nine months of last year. In its defense, AI chips are much more profitable right now, but it’s still a big blow against consumers who just want to play games.

SEE ALSO: NVIDIA is the world’s first $4 trillion company

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