Gaming

The hidden costs of the Nintendo Switch 2

How much to upgrade your games? Is the Joy-Con durable?

Published

April 8, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

Last week’s Nintendo Direct painted an extremely positive picture of the Switch 2. It did, however, leave a few questions unanswered. Now, we’re beginning to learn more about the unreleased console, and the rose-tinted glasses are slowly coming off. If you’re planning to get the Switch 2 in June, here are a few more costs you need to think about.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Let’s start with the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. After pulling the wraps from the console, Nintendo announced a small game to showcase its features. It shrinks the player down to expl0re the inner workings of the console, while offering small mini-games for a more practice demonstration. The Welcome Tour is essentially a tech demo akin to PlayStation’s Astro’s Playroom. The main difference is that the former is a paid game.

The game’s announcement as a paid product sparked the first questionable moment of the Direct. How is a more interactive instruction manual not free? If you’re still interested to get the software, we now know how much it will cost: US$ 9.99.

To be fair, it’s smaller than a full-priced game, but it’s still ten dollars more than free.

Game upgrades for the Nintendo Switch 2

Most users will likely skip the Welcome Tour. However, it’s a bit more difficult to skip game upgrades.

Games made for the original Switch are naturally compatible with the Switch 2. However, to maximize the new console’s hardware, a few games will have a Switch 2 edition. Owners of the original game can pay a small sum to upgrade them to the new version, which will tout enhanced resolutions and framerates.

During the Direct, Nintendo did not reveal how much an upgrade will cost. Now, we have a better idea.

Nintendo has just announced, via IGN, that upgrading Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will cost an additional US$ 9.99 apiece. This means that, all in all, they’ll cost US$ 70 and US$ 80, respectively. Upgrades for other compatible games are currently unannounced, but they will likely cost the same.

Arguably, players can do without the upgrade. After all, the games are still playable in their current states.

All the accessories

Even if you can skip the Welcome Tour or the upgrades, it’s practically impossible to live without the new Joy-Cons. Now, we’ve known the price of the controllers since the Direct. A pair will cost an eye-watering US$ 89.99.

With enough care, a pair of Joy-Cons should last a long time, so you don’t need to keep buying new ones. However, a new piece of information makes the price even more important.

Despite prevalent drifting controversies with the original Joy-Con, the new controllers will not use Hall Effect joysticks, making them potentially prone to the same issues of the original. According to Nintendo, the new Joy-Cons are constructed differently to mitigate the drifting issues.

However, without an actual years-long test, we can’t tell just how durable the new controllers are. In the meantime, it’s fair to assume that purchasing multiple Joy-Cons is still in our future, and they don’t come cheap.

While we’re on the subject, the Switch 2’s other accessories are also costly. For example, the new Camera will cost US$ 49.99. A charging grip will cost US$ 34.99. A carrying case with a screen protector inside will cost US$ 34.99.

A potential price increase?

Finally, let’s talk about the effect of ongoing tariffs coming from the United States. Soon after the Direct, President Trump announced a wave of tariffs against a number of countries. Because of how interdependent the world is, a tariff affecting a large country will ultimately affect the products made in another country.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is no different. As a result of the global sanctions, Nintendo indefinitely delayed the start of the console’s preorder period in the United States, while it’s evaluating the economic impact of the tariffs. It’s entirely possible that the last hidden fee of the Switch 2 that we don’t know about is a price increase right before the launch on June 5.

Related Topics:Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2

Gaming

Tides of Annihilation opens first public demo at Gamescom 2026

First hands-on

Published

August 6, 2026

Leez

Tides of Annihilation will make its public playable debut at Gamescom 2026.

Developer Eclipse Glow Games announced that attendees can try an extended demo of the upcoming action-adventure game during the event in Cologne, Germany. Players can find the demo at Hall 6, Booth B-050 inside Koelnmesse.

The studio will also reveal a new trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, before the show floor opens.

Demo offers more exploration and combat

The Gamescom demo gives players a longer look at Tides of Annihilation. It features branching paths that lead to different exploration routes and combat encounters. Players can also explore key locations and experience several of the game’s biggest set pieces.

“Gamescom will be an incredibly important moment for our team since this will be our first global playtest and we’re excited to see how first-time players experience our game,” said Ary Chen, Game Director and Co-CEO of Eclipse Glow Games.

“The team has poured heart, soul, and maybe even a few tears into developing the game over the last few years, and it’s finally our opportunity to share it with players. We’re looking forward to seeing their reaction.”

Members of the press and content creators can also schedule private hands-on sessions with the development team during the event.

Arthurian-inspired adventure

Tides of Annihilation blends fast-paced action with a Neo-Medieval vision of modern London. The story follows Gwendolyn after an Outworld invasion leaves the city in ruins.

Driven by a mission to save her sister, she travels between a shattered London and the mythical realm of Avalon. Along the way, she uncovers the mystery behind her newfound powers. She must also decide the fate of reality itself.

Eclipse Glow Games is developing Tides of Annihilation for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.

Gaming

Street Fighter 6 adds first Filipino fighter Yasmine to its roster

Eskrima fighter joins battle

Published

August 6, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Street Fighter 6 has officially welcomed Yasmine, making history as the first Filipino martial artist to join the franchise’s playable roster. The new character is now available across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 as part of the game’s Year 4 content.

Yasmine practices Eskrima, having learned the Filipino martial art alongside her older brother under their grandfather’s guidance. She wields Karambit knives in battle and embarks on a journey to find her missing brother.

Players can access Yasmine by purchasing the Year 4 Character Pass or Year 4 Ultimate Pass. Her default outfit features traditional Eskrima-inspired combat attire, while a school uniform serves as her second costume. In combat, she specializes in fast, aggressive attacks that build toward an enhanced Bayani Mode.

Yasmine is the first of four Year 4 fighters, followed by Arjun, Tifa from the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, and Bosch. Her release also arrives alongside battle balance adjustments affecting the entire roster.

Onimusha crossover arrives this week

Capcom also announced a limited-time collaboration between Street Fighter 6 and Onimusha. Running from August 7 to August 31, 2026, the event introduces Oni EX character colors, themed Battle Hub decorations, avatar items, and additional rewards for players who log in during the event.

The update also adds new Avatar Arcade courses, additional ending scenes, a Frame Meter option for Avatar Random Match, and refreshed Master ACT rewards.

Philippine launch event set for August 9

Capcom will celebrate Yasmine’s debut with an official Philippine community launch event on Sunday, August 9, at Salud! by Primera Bar & Restaurant in Palanan, Makati. The event runs from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM and features a double-elimination tournament, gameplay showcases, giveaways, and community activities.

Attendees can also receive limited-edition Yasmine merchandise, including event T-shirts, lanyards, and collectible keychains while supplies last. Special guests and cosplayers are also scheduled to appear. Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis and is subject to venue capacity.

Gaming

Gangstar Mirage City launches on August 20 with SEA localization

Join a faction now for a chance to win rewards

Published

August 5, 2026

GadgetMatch

Gangstar Mirage City is set for a full regional launch on August 20, with localization for the Southeast Asia region.

Published by Level Infinite, the free-to-play multiplayer, urban, open-world action game is available for download on iOS and Android.

The full regional release features an expanded open world, a new PvP Arena mode, and local languages.

In Gangstar Mirage City, players can team up for up to 4-man co-op heists, drive powerful vehicles, customize their arsenal, build an empire, and fight for control of Rooklyn City.

Players can register on gangstarmiragecity.com for in-game rewards.

In Southeast Asia, players can also register as a member of their respective local faction and get an exclusive in-game Avatar to represent their loyalty:

Philippines: Manila Brigade
Indonesia: War Kanda
Malaysia: Taiko Tedung
Thailand: SIAM APEX

Factions will be ranked based on how many players join and support them. The winning faction will enable all members to get 300 Diamonds, sent directly to their accounts.

Meanwhile, all players, including those who already began their journey in Rooklyn City with the soft launch last July, are invited to join the Global Vault Heist.

Reaching the final Registration Milestone will unlock the Full Tilt Vehicle Pack. These are the rewards up for grabs per milestone: