Gaming

Nintendo Direct June 2023: All the trailers you missed

A new 2D Mario, Detective Pikachu, and Pikmin 4

Published

June 21, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

A Nintendo Direct often includes only a handful of big announcements and a more overwhelming smattering of smaller titles. This time, however, Nintendo went with the big guns. If you’re a Mario fan, this month’s Direct is a treasure trove of new and upcoming titles.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Let’s get the biggest gun out of the way first. To cap off the direct, Nintendo announced a new 2D Mario game coming to the Switch. The platformer will focus on a new powerup called the Wonder Flower. After getting the Flower, “expect the unexpected,” as the Direct explains. The power-up causes a lot of different effects including making pipes come to life and stretching Mario vertically like a spring.

Besides the Wonder Flower, the game will also have an elephant-themed power-up to turn the player into the animal. Plus, Daisy is a playable character — going along with Mario, Luigi, Daisy, and Toad.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder will launch October 20, 2023.

Super Mario RPG

Older fans rejoice! The original Super Mario RPG from the SNES is getting a remaster for the Switch. Featuring updated graphics but the same gameplay, the upcoming title will drop on November 17, 2023.

To go along with the new game, Nintendo also teased two new titles: an upcoming Peach game and a remake of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon from the 3DS.

Pikmin 4

Though the Mario franchise got a well-deserved boost during this Direct, the spotlight is firmly on Pikmin 4. Releasing on July 21, the fourth entry in the series got a gameplay trailer to show off what players can do in the title. This time, players must repair their spaceship and find lost Pikmin with a rescue dog name Oatchi.

Plus, for the first time, players can explore at night. Night expeditions will feature a new type of Pikmin called Glow Pikmin. Creatures will also be more aggressive at night, adding an element of risk for nighttime explorers.

To go along with the new major release, Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2 are now available for the Switch.

Detective Pikachu Returns

Let’s not forget the Pokémon franchise. The Direct saw the debut of a new game in the Detective Pikachu series. In Detective Pikachu Returns, players are once again solving mysteries around town. Unfortunately, the trailer does not spoil what exactly those mysteries are. However, Mewtwo does pop up, so expect larger plotlines in the title.

Detective Pikachu Returns will drop on October 6, 2023.

WarioWare: Move It!

Finally, WarioWare: Move It! has finally received a launch date. The title will feature over 200 microgames involving the Joy-Cons. It encourages players to… well, move it. The movements involve a variety of activities including washing a dog and balancing through a Mario 64 sliding course.

WarioWare: Move It! will launch on November 3, 2023.

Old titles coming to the Nintendo Switch

If the Switch is your main console, you’re getting a variety of classic titles to play. First of all, the Batman Arkham trilogy in its entirety — including all three games and DLCs — is coming to the Switch. Also, Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 — which includes the first game, Sons of Liberty, Snake Eater, Snake’s Revenge — will bring the Metal Gear Solid franchise to the Switch. Just Dance 2024 is also confirmed for the console on October 24.

To round off the slate of announcements, Nintendo has also announced that Vampire Survivors is coming to the console on August 17. It will feature four-player couch co-op.

Gaming

Horizon Hunters Gathering is an upcoming co-op roguelite spinoff

If you liked Nightreign, you might like this.

Published

February 6, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

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.

Gaming

Valve is delaying the launch of the Steam Machine

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

Published

February 6, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

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.

Gaming

No new NVIDIA GPUs this year, report says

Once again, it’s because of AI.

Published

February 6, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

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.