Gaming

All the announced Switch 2 games will make you buy the console

Open-world Mario Kart, 3D Donkey Kong platformer, a new FromSoftware title

Published

April 2, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

It’s safe to say that PC-based handheld consoles are now put on notice. After Nintendo’s more detailed announcement of the console, the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to reclaim its crown as the world’s best handheld console. While we have a breakdown of the console’s hardware here, it’s time to talk about the games you can play on the console.

Mario Kart World

The recently concluded Direct started off with a bang. It announced the upcoming Mario Kart World. Whereas the previous sneak peek showed off the game’s racing, the new trailer reveals something much more amazing than just a racing game.

For the first time, Mario Kart is an open-world game. Though you have the usual circuits and races, you also have the option to drive towards the next race. There’s also a free roam mode wherein you can just explore the world in your chosen car and character. It’s similar to arcade racers on other platforms such as Forza Horizon 5.

There’s a new mode called Knockout Tour which works like a battle royale. There are new cosmetics and power-ups. It’s definitely a revolution of the Mario Kart franchise.

Plus, it’s a launch day title, so you can get the new game as soon as the Switch 2 launches on June 5.

Donkey Kong Bananza

From the very beginning of the Direct to its ultimate end, here’s Donkey Kong Bananza. The presentation did not reveal a new 3D platformer for the Mario franchise. In lieu of that much-awaited announcement, Nintendo revealed a similar revolution for the Donkey Kong series.

Donkey Kong Bananza is the 3D platformer that we’ve been waiting for since Super Mario Odyssey. The platformer maximizes the Switch 2’s hardware. The graphics look amazing. Donkey Kong’s fur looks amazing. Plus, unlike Super Mario Odyssey, Bananza will feature destructible terrain. It’s not just Odyssey with a new skin; it’s something new.

Donkey Kong Bananza releases on July 17.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

The Zelda franchise is also getting a nod for the new generation. Developed in partnership with Koei Tecmo, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a new title in the Hyrule Warriors series. It also ties directly into Tears of the Kingdom.

Zelda — not Link! — finds herself in the past participating in the Imprisoning War. With the help of Hyrule’s mightiest warriors, she must fight against the forces of darkness to save Hyrule. Because it’s a Hyrule Warriors game, it’s more action-packed, compared to the laidback style of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

It will launch this winter.

Kirby Air Raiders

Finally, Kirby is also getting a new title for the upcoming console. Though it’s practically just a teaser than an actual trailer, Kirby Air Raiders will continue the original Air Ride launched way back during the GameCube era.

We don’t know much about the upcoming title yet, but it’s coming from the original director, Masahiro Sakurai.

It is coming in 2025.

The Duskbloods

We now live in a world where FromSoftware can announce a new title and franchise during a Nintendo Direct. Despite Nightreign still launching later this year, FromSoftware is already laying down the tracks for its next major franchise, The Duskbloods.

Upon first seeing the trailer, you will be forgiven for assuming a sequel to the widely successful Bloodborne. In fact, it uses much of the same language including blood and moonlight. But this is an entirely new franchise.

As is typical with all FromSoftware trailers, there’s a lot of mystery surrounding the new trailer. However, it does look like the game combines horror, cyberpunk, and the dark whimsy of Alice in Wonderland all into one title. It has the vibes of Lies of P. Then again, it’s FromSoftware, so we can assume something more.

The Duskbloods launches in 2026 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

This is one of the most recurring fever dreams for gamers. Is Silksong real? Fans of Hollow Knight know that, despite having the sequel announced six years ago, an actual release date is still a myth.

Nintendo just blew everything out of the water. In a brief four-second clip, the Direct announced that the much-awaited sequel to the widely successful Hollow Knight is launching this year. This was also supported by a tweet posted by Nintendo itself.

Is Silksong real? The Switch 2 wants to make it real.

Nintendo GameCube classics

As a new addition to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, the Switch 2 will give subscribers access to a growing library of Nintendo GameCube classics including The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and Soul Caliber II.

Tons of modern games coming to the Switch 2

When the Switch 2 was announced, we assumed that the console was going to function similarly to the original console. That is, it’s a console meant specifically for Nintendo’s game but sprinkled sporadically with a few third-party releases operating at lower specs. Nintendo is thinking differently.

Today’s most popular games are coming to the Switch 2. These aren’t shabby titles either. The Direct confirmed that massive games, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Borderlands 4, Yakuza 0, and Elden Ring, are playable on the new console.

The Switch 2 is making a statement, and it’s not looking good for the world of handheld consoles. Nintendo’s upcoming console is powerful enough to play modern games at a decent resolution. Plus, it can play Nintendo’s lineup of games, a feat you can’t do on other consoles.

Gaming

Street Fighter 6’s first Filipina fighter arrives August 3

Yasmine arrives in August.

Published

July 17, 2026

GadgetMatch

Capcom is celebrating the arrival of Yasmine, the first-ever Filipina character in the Street Fighter series, with an official community event in the Philippines this August.

The Official Street Fighter 6 ‘Yasmine’ Community Event takes place on August 9, 2026 at Salud! by Primera Bar & Restaurant in Palanan, Makati. Doors open at 2:00 PM, with tournament matches, community activities, giveaways, and free play sessions scheduled throughout the day.

Meet Yasmine, Street Fighter 6’s first Filipina fighter

Yasmine joins Street Fighter 6 as the first playable character in the game’s Year 4 roster.

According to Capcom, she learned to fight alongside her older brother under the guidance of her grandfather. After her brother’s disappearance, she returns to combat using high-speed Eskrima techniques while wielding a Karambit knife.

She is joined in the Year 4 lineup by Arjun, Tifa from the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, and Bosch. Her release also coincides with balance updates for the entire Street Fighter 6 roster.

Yasmine becomes available on August 3, 2026 for players who own the Year 4 Character Pass or Year 4 Ultimate Pass.

Community tournament and exclusive merchandise

The Makati event will feature a double-elimination tournament, beginning with Best-of-3 matches before switching to Best-of-5 during the Top 8 Finals.

The schedule includes:

2:00 PM: Doors Open, Player Check-in, Controller Button Checks, and Free Play Warmups
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM: Welcome Speech & Official Street Fighter 6 Yasmine Gameplay Showcase
3:15 PM – 5:00 PM: Tournament Pools
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Top 8 Finals (Main Stage Broadcast) & Prize Presentation Ceremony for Champion, 2nd and 3rd Placements.
6:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Premium Community Giveaways, Group Photo Ops, and Closing Remarks
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Free Play and Community Networking

Attendees can also receive exclusive event merchandise while supplies last, including a Yasmine-themed T-shirt, lanyard, keychains, and themed food and refreshments.

Capcom says admission is subject to venue capacity and will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Watch the event online

Fans who cannot attend in person can watch the tournament live through the Capcom Asia Official YouTube Channeland the Enduins Games Official YouTube Channel.

Capcom also teased additional announcements, including appearances from cosplay personalities, fighting game veterans, and content creators, which will be revealed closer to the event.

Street Fighter 6 Yasmine community event details

Date: August 9, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Venue: Salud! by Primera Bar & Restaurant, Palanan, Makati City
Tournament: Double-elimination (FT2, Top 8 FT3)
Livestream: Capcom Asia Official YouTube Channel and Enduins Games Official YouTube Channel

Gaming

Most of the world’s PlayStations will be officially useless by 2028

PlayStation’s disastrous no-disc policy is now a lot worse than you thought.

Published

July 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Last week, we lamented the loss of the PlayStation disc. As we described, the loss isn’t just a major blow to nostalgia for aging gamers, but it also puts a huge question mark on game ownership. Well, there’s another wrinkle that the world is slowly realizing. By deleting physical discs, PlayStation has effectively blockaded their entire service from countries without an official online store.

If you haven’t heard, PlayStation is ceasing the production of physical discs for new games starting 2028. The console will become an all-digital platform. Now, we can blather on and on about how this sucks for ownership, but all gamers will still have access to games online at the very least. Right?

Wrong.

Not every country has an official PlayStation Store or the ability to create a PSN account. In fact, a staggering amount don’t; 121 countries (or 62 percent of the entire world) don’t have official access to the online storefront.

If you live in any of these countries, you’re likely familiar with some unofficial solutions: that is, setting your country elsewhere where the store exists. But, because it’s an unofficial solution, doing this is technically against PlayStation’s policies and can result in bans.

That being said, as noted by users on Reddit, this means that, on a very technical and legal level, these 121 countries will no longer be able to buy physical or digital games starting 2028. Because of a clarified policy, you can still play older games, but if you want to play the latest Call of Duty or NBA 2K, you are out of luck.

There’s no official list of affected countries, other than those collated by others manually. But if you’ve never been able to set your own country on the PlayStation Network, you’re a part of it.

Gaming

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced comes to life at Skypark Macau

Themed event lets fans experience the game in real life from July 17 to 26

Published

July 13, 2026

GadgetMatch

Assassin’s Creed fans are invited to celebrate the launch of Black Flag Resynced through a limited-time themed experience at the Skypark Macau Tower.

The experience will run from July 17 to 26, and will feature elements from the title brought into a real-world setting. There’s themed installations, photo opportunities, and exclusive event rewards.

Aside from that, there is a concept art gallery and replica props inspired by the action-adventure.

The experience opens to the public from 11:00 A.M. on Friday, and will remain available until the last Sunday of the month.

It will be more fulfilling to come on the first day, as there will be exclusive merchandise sold only on July 17.

Guests who purchase the game on-site, or present proof of purchase of the game at the event will be eligible to redeem an exclusive item, available only until supplies last.

Moreover, those who complete an eligible activity during the Assassin’s Creed event period at Skypark Macau will receive a paper scroll replica of the “Letter for Duncan Walpole”, while supplies last.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a faithful remake of 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. Rebuilt from the ground up and powered by the latest Anvil engine, the game features updated visuals, enriched gameplay, and new narrative content.

Set during the Golden Age of Piracy, the game invites players to sail the Caribbean as Edward Kenway. The rebellious pirate captain is drawn into the centuries-old conflict between Assassins and Templars.

As the protagonist pursues glory and fortune, he crosses paths with legendary figures such as Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Calico Jack. All this while the fate of everything the pirates have built hangs in the balance.

The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.