Prior to this week, the only options that Switch owners had to play the Kingdom Hearts franchise was via the cloud versions offered by Square Enix. However, with the new Switch and Switch 2 versions on the horizon, Square Enix has announced that Kingdom Hearts' Switch cloud versions are being delisted.

The following titles will be affected by the decision and no longer playable after today, June 9.

・Kingdom Hearts - HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX - Cloud Version
・Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Cloud Version
・Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC) Cloud Version
・Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece Cloud Version

Separately, those game collections ranged from $40 to $50, while Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece brought them all together for $90. The newly announced digital versions of Kingdom Hearts - HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX for Switch and Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] for Switch 2 are available for preorder now. Players who owned Switch cloud copies of previous Kingdom Hearts games are eligible to get a 50% discount on the following digital versions:

・Kingdom Hearts - HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX - (Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 version)
・Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (Nintendo Switch 2 version)
・Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC) (Nintendo Switch 2 version)
・Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] (Nintendo Switch 2 version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldMqRmTwy80

There will be a physical version of Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] for Switch 2, but the discount will not be offered for that compilation. There is one bright spot for players who owned cloud versions of these games. Square Enix has confirmed that the save data from those editions will be transferable to the Switch 2 digital versions.

As for the future of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, Kingdom Hearts 4 received a surprise teaser during today's Nintendo Direct. That came with the news that the Switch 2 port of Kingdom Hearts 4 will arrive alongside its counterparts on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. For now, the sequel doesn't have a release date.

The Guitar Hero series made be dead and gone, but in its place comes a new game called Stage Tour, and it's made by the latest evolution of the same studio that created Guitar Hero.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kckXRmcp_Uk

A critical component of any good music games is its tracklist, and the Embracer-owned RedOctane Games has announced the first seven tunes for Stage Tour. The officially licensed setlist includes songs from a range of genres, and features big-name bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, and Ghost.

Stage Tour songs, so far

• "RATATATA" by Babymetal & Electric Callboy
• "Get the Funk Out" by Extreme
• "Square Hammer" by Ghost
• "Mimi's Delivery Service" by Good Kid
• "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
• "Terminator Oscillator" by Static-X
• "Island in the Sun" by Weezer

RedOctane will announce more artists and tracks later this summer ahead of launch later this year on console and PC.

Just like Guitar Hero and Rock Band before it, Stage Tour allows players to group up or play music solo on guitar, drums, keyboard, and vocals.

Some of the in-game guitars for Stage Tour.

In terms of peripherals, players can buy a specially designed guitar controller made in partnership with Gibson's Kramer, along with a modulator guitar kit. Additionally, Stage Tour features in-game guitars from Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer, including the iconic Gibson SG.

The Monument of Triumph update is the final content update for Destiny 2. When I first began playing the game a decade ago, I was instantly hooked. Over the years I've made friends, experienced the best long-running narrative in a game ever, and cleared all of my plans to be able to experience the newest raid, dungeon, or next story beat.

This time around it's a little different. There is no race to be prepared for, and my clan hasn't been frantically discussing the best builds or possible strategies. We're all just going to log in one final time, see what Bungie has made for us, and enjoy it for what it is.

It seems we're not alone in that sentiment, as the Destiny 2 player count on Steam alone has shot up to more than 160,000 and climbing. Notably, the player count is peaking at almost double that of Marathon's highest recorded on SteamDB. It's not quite the lofty heights of the finale of The Final Shape, or the release of Lightfall, which saw 316,750 Guardians log in to discover what would happen after the Vanguard discovered the pyramid-shaped fleet of The Witness was approaching. Still, it's a statement to Sony that people do still care about Destiny. A lot.

As the player count soared, the old Destiny 2 traditions began to return in the form of server queues, error codes, and randomly getting kicked from an instance. It wouldn't be a Destiny 2 update without some technical issues, after all.

There is still a petition running to get Sony and Bungie to consider making Destiny 3, although the creator of that petition, Luckyy10p, says it's been made to "send a message" rather than a genuine belief that this could turn the tide of the game's future. But if any decision makers from those companies are reading this article, we do, in fact, really want Destiny 3.

I never played much Star Fox as a kid. Save for maybe a few minutes here and there at a friend or cousin's house, I've basically not played the series whatsoever. So I was safely out on playing the new one arriving this summer for Switch 2. But a funny thing happened this morning: We actually learned who is making it--something that oddly doesn't happen much with Nintendo games until we can watch the credits--and the answer has completely changed my plans.

The New York-based Velan Studios was delighted to announce today that it's the development team working with Nintendo on Star Fox, and that the game is built on Velan's proprietary engine, Viper. If you don't know it by name, Velan is a fairly young team, established in 2016, with several games to its name. Of those, the most important one to me is Knockout City. The 3v3 dodgeball game was an incredibly fun arcade sports game, and I've never really gotten over the game coming offline a few years ago. It's one of my favorite games ever.

I've followed the team since then and have been enjoying its more recent release, Midnight Murder Club, a PvP shooter set in a completely darkened mansion that demands players rely on flashlights and sounds to track down their opponents. 

What these two very different games have in common, beyond their novel gameplay mechanics, is their abundance of charm. Both games offer ample opportunities for players to showcase their skills, but they were also soundtracked by the frequent laughter from those playing. There's a childlike heart to both games that can't be missed--what better way to capture a youthful spirit than things like dodgeball and hide-and-seek? 

https://bsky.app/profile/velanstudios.bsky.social/post/3mnuig2crp225

I don't know much about Star Fox, but to me, that sounds like the perfect team to take on a Nintendo franchise where players fly through space and perform daring combat maneuvers on an adventure with colorful characters. To the extent I can get away with "rooting" for a studio, a relatively small team that made one of my favorite games but has since suffered some commercial struggles seems to qualify.

I assume the publisher and developer rekindled their relationship from earlier to make Star Fox happen. Believe it or not, the team's very first game was Nintendo's Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, an augmented-reality racing game. Velan would later go on to use the same tech in a Hot Wheels game, too, and has also released a virtual-reality pinball game called Bounce Arcade. This type of portfolio suggests a team willing to try unconventional things, and to bring Star Fox back, I think you need to think outside the box. 

I'm excited to see Velan get called on for such a major project. As many players are surely returning to Star Fox as longtime fans hopeful for a revival that feels like it was worth the wait, I come to it from a decidedly different angle, but suddenly eager to play it, too.

The upcoming Death Stranding movie from Backrooms studio A24 and director Michael Sarnoski remains in development, and now Sarnoski has provided an update on how it's coming along and what fans can expect.

Sarnoski, who is also writing the script, told IGN he is "almost done" with it. Hideo Kojima, who is producing the movie, has seen drafts of the script and has passed along revisions, but there is no word on the specifics of the changes.

"Kojima has been really generous in letting me play in his world but letting me tell a story with my own characters and my own sort of corner of this world, but keeping it honest to the game and doing something that fans will really like. So it's been a great process so far, and I'm really excited to share it," he said.

Sarnoski also said he was impressed that Kojima recognized some of the nods he put into the script, including a reference to the 1985 movie Come and See.

"He just knows movies incredibly well. So that's been very cool to see," Sarnoski said. That's not surprising to hear, as Kojima says 70% of his body is made up of movies.

Sarnoski is known for directing the movies Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One. His next movie is The Death of Robin Hood, which stars Hugh Jackman as Robin Hood and releases on June 19.

Not a whole lot is known about the Death Stranding movie and how it may differ from the games, but Sarnoski previously talked about how his aim is to capture the soul and themes of the game, while featuring new characters.

Kojima himself was approached to direct the Death Stranding movie, but he declined. Kojima won't be “involved too much” because if he were, he would “start saying a lot of things.”

It’s still early days for the Death Stranding movie and there is no word yet on a cast or a release date. Norman Reedus, who plays main character Sam in the Death Stranding games, has said he’s open to returning for the movie. A Death Stranding animated movie is also in the works, as part of the bigger Death Stranding universe.

As for the game series, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach came out in June 2025, and while Kojima has ideas for Death Stranding 3, he doesn’t plan to make it himself. Kojima is also working on the games OD and Physint.

A24 is also producing the Elden Ring movie, which is being directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Alex Garland.

Overwatch's next hero is a dual-wielding cyberpunk demon named Shion, developer Blizzard has revealed, and she looks like she's ripped straight from Cyberpunk 2077.

Shion is billed as "the most terrifying elder of the Hashimoto Clan," a Japanese criminal family that has ties to the global terrorist organization Talon and is behind the assassination of Sojiro Shimada, the father of Hanzo and Genji. That should make for some interesting story developments between the two brothers and Shion, with Kiriko and Mizuki also shown in artwork for the new season and presumably set to play a role as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKJL7JfIvNg

A new animated story trailer gives players their first proper glimpse at Shion in action, as she battles against Sojourn on top of a train in order to obtain a mysterious shipment critical to Talon's plans. Looking almost entirely cybernetic, with red horns and a stylish white suit, she certainly makes a strong first impression, standing out among Overwatch's already incredibly distinct and diverse cast of playable heroes.

The trailer doesn't give too much away in terms of what Shion's abilities or role might be, though she can be seen using two pistols and a knife. Her aggressive combat style and attitude is certainly giving Damage-role vibes, but we'll have to wait for Blizzard to reveal her toolkit to know for sure. In case her cyberpunk influences weren't obvious enough, she's also shown drifting around Tokyo on a motorcycle, Akira style.

Players won't have to wait long to see more of Shion. She'll be arriving in Overwatch Season 3 for free on June 16, as the game continues its 2026 Reign of Talon storyline.

Blizzard rebranded Overwatch 2 into simply Overwatch earlier this year in a massive update that added five new heroes at once. Blizzard additionally promised another new hero each season for the remainder of 2026, for a total of 10 new heroes this year. Season 2 introduced Sierra, a Damage hero with a grappling hook that saw players quickly complaining about her ultimate ability being too powerful. 

In other related news, some of Overwatch's most iconic characters are now in Fortnite.

During the June Nintendo Direct, Vampire Survivors developer Poncle announced an adaptation of the hit manga and anime series Jujutsu Kaisen, called Jujutsu Kaisen Rumble: Survivaton. Like Vampire Survivors, players will battle sinister forces--Cursed Spirits born from humanity's fears and anxieties--grow in power, and eventually become the strongest sorcerer on the block. The only catch is that this is a multiplayer game, and there's only room for one survivor when the clock runs out.

Up to eight players can compete online, and as you cut through enemies, you'll accumulate points. The top two players will face off in a duel, and only one of them will emerge victorious. Another cool feature directly inspired by the source material is how players can add rules once they gather 100 points. This is taken directly from the Culling Games arc of the Jujutsu Kaisen series, and allows for an opponent's momentum to be disrupted while you climb up the ranks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yffQAXMLSL0

As you'd expect, powerful bosses will also appear while you're exorcising Cursed Spirits, new characters can be unlocked by meeting certain conditions, and each sorcerer has a unique ability. Poncle says that the game roster will include over 20 Jujutsu Kaisen characters, each with their own skills and playstyle. The game launches later in 2026 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.

If you haven't seen Jujutsu Kaisen yet, then you've missed out on one of the hottest anime adaptations of the 2020s. The show follows Yuji Itadori after he swallows the cursed finger--no, really--of history's greatest and most malevolent sorcerer, Ryomen Sukuna, and becomes a vessel for the genocidal hedonist. Throw in outstanding animation, a killer soundtrack, and memorable characters like a talking panda, and you've got all the ingredients you need for a hit anime.

Meanwhile, Poncle remains busy with other projects, like a brand-new expansion for Vampire Survivors and a spin-off set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The developer also announced the formation of Survivaton, a new label dedicated to Survivors-like projects, and the formation of the studio's Japan branch.

Xenoblade Chronicles has been one of Nintendo's most significant JRPG series in recent years, but also at a scope pushing the original Switch hardware beyond its limits. So if you've been waiting for a better opportunity to experience these games, Nintendo has announced during the summer Nintendo Direct that all three mainline games will be receiving Nintendo Switch 2 editions. And the first game is out digitally today.

Originally released for Wii, the first Xenoblade Chronicles almost wasn't released outside of Japan until a fan campaign convinced Nintendo to localise the game. Since then, it's earned a reputation for being one of the best JRPGs, with epic storylines set on vast semi-open world environments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTaD8maruNs

While there was a free Switch 2 update for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 that improved its performance, the newly announced Switch 2 editions mean that all three mainline games will be getting enhanced visuals and performance, giving you the most definitive version of each game.

That doesn't mean this is just for newcomers, since if you already bought these games on Switch, there's also an upgrade path as with other Switch 2 Edition releases. But for fans who have already put in hundreds of hours across Bionis, Alrest, and Mira, there are also exclusive new features to make revisiting worthwhile. That includes a new high-speed vehicle in the first game, new mercenary squad battles in the second game, and new wave-based challenges in the third game.

Fortunately, given the time sink these games are, Nintendo has wisely opted to spread these releases out. The Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is out digitally today, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is out digitally on July 30, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is out December 3. Each of these upgrades is priced at $10 for owners of the Switch 1 versions.

007 First Light has been a big success for IO Interactive, which developed and published the James Bond game, but now that Amazon owns the franchise, what's going to happen with a potential sequel? That question remains unanswered, but now Amazon Game Studios boss Jeff Gattis has shed more light on the situation and strongly suggested that a sequel is a matter of when, not if.

Speaking to IGN, Gattis first clarified his original comments, saying he never said that Amazon Game Studios would publish "the next one."

Earlier in June, Gattis said a potential First Light sequel would be "done by MGM, and theoretically, by Amazon Game Studios." This prompted some concerns that IO might not be involved in a potential follow-up. But Gattis said people "unfortunately" ran with the theory that Amazon would publish a possible First Light sequel. Gattis clarified that he never actually said that.

"No, IO's been great. They've been great partners. In fact, I was over there visiting them in Copenhagen a couple of months ago. The game's doing great. Let's let the game breathe and have its day," Gattis said.

Given the critical and commercial success of First Light, many fans want to see a sequel, and they want IO to return as its developer. That remains to be seen, but Gattis said, "Seems like a sequel should be made."

“Trust that we're going to be smart about this,” Gattis added. “I mean, it's market appetite. As long as we feel there's a desire for players to have the game, it’s safe to say it's going to be made.”

IO CEO Hakan Abrak recently revealed that First Light has sold 3 million copies and should be profitable.

Should IO get to make a First Light sequel, Abrak said he expects costs to come down. He said 2016’s Hitman cost $78 million to make, while its sequel cost $48 million and was made two years after. The third one, meanwhile, was developed in 20 months and cost $19 million. Abrak said some developers increase scope and ambition with sequels, but IO has a different plan in place.

“Ambition is not necessarily that it’s more expensive. Ambition is, the platform you build, how do you keep giving amazing experiences from that and how do you iterate on a sequel from that in a smart way, where it’s retroactively maybe lifting the first one as well, like we did with World of Assassination? Some of this approach to concept and ambition, one could think could be applied to Bond as well,” he said.

In other news, First Light is set to expand further this year with a Switch 2 edition this summer and lots of new content.

Today, during the Nintendo Direct livestream, Nintendo announced that you can give the new Star Fox a test flight later today with a new demo out now on the Switch 2 eShop.

The demo was announced alongside a new look at the full release, with missions on Solar and Zoness among the included footage. The demo, meanwhile, will include the game's tutorial, as well as Meteo, one of the adventure's early missions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL6e98lg644&pp=0gcJCTkLAYcqIYzv

The new Star Fox, a remake of Star Fox 64, was announced during a surprise Nintendo Direct that released on May 6 that showed over 15 minutes of gameplay. It features updated graphics, new cutscenes expanding the original game's story, and a online multiplayer battle mode.

Today's Nintendo Direct also confirmed the long-rumored remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, as well as new footage from Kingdom Hearts IV, which hasn't been seen since its debut trailer in 2022. Multiple Switch 2 versions of existing games were also announced, including Lies of P, Devil May Cry 5, and Dragon's Dogma II: Dark Arisen.

Star Fox is set to launch June 25 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo executive Yoshiaki Koizumi revealed that "a new story in the Xenoblade series is about to begin" at today's Nintendo Direct. Xenoblade Genesis is coming to Switch 2 in 2027.

The reveal trailer for Xenoblade Genesis starts with a narrator saying that "Anima was the source for all things." This leads to describing the different elements in the world, like water, fire, and wind. Apparently, there are certain warriors who can utilize Anima, named Vesselai.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/2064355280284954774

Xenoblade Genesis appears to follow a young woman who receives a blade that is then imbued with an Anima crystone. This seems like a focal point of the RPG's story, with the narrator noting: "Every aspect of your life at Leukos--academic and otherwise--will be intwined with that stone."

In addition, we see this unnamed protagonist riding a horse-like creature, which wouldn't look out of place in a Studio Ghibli movie. Another character is seen mounted on top of a dragon. Overall, Xenoblade Genesis seems to lean harder into a fantasy setting than the Chronicles games.

Nintendo is staying light on details so far, but it's intriguing that Xenoblade Genesis is referred to as "a new beginning for the Xenoblade series" in the company's press release.

Every Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive (So Far) View Images

Today, Nintendo announced that Minecraft will be coming to Switch 2 in 2026, with improvements over its Switch 1 counterpart.

The Switch 2 supports backwards compatibility, so Minecraft has been playable on the console since launch. However, the Switch 2 version brings enhanced lighting and shadow effects, meaning owners of the newest console will have an improved experience.

https://youtu.be/pBL7nJLH8ro

The game was rated for Switch 2 on the ESRB classification database in recent weeks, leading many to believe a Switch 2 version was on its way. The motto is: Always trust the ESRB ratings.

There's good news for Switch 1 owners wanting to play on the Switch 2 too, as the Nintendo Direct announcement confirmed that your progression can be transferred across consoles and versions.

There's no firm release date for the Switch 2 version of Minecraft, although it is confirmed to be available before the end of 2026.

After announcing that three collections of Kingdom Hearts games are coming to Switch 2, the June 2026 Nintendo Direct revealed a fresh look at the elusive Kingdom Hearts 4--which will be available on Nintendo's console when it launches.

Granted, we still don't have any idea when Kingdom Hearts 4 is out, as the new trailer lacked a release window of any sort. But the video, about a minute and a half long, contains glimpses of Sora, Strelitzia (yes, from the mobile game), and other faces new to Sora in the mysterious, Shibuya-like city of Quadratum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIpQz_9zQS0

The trailer begins with a cloaked figure (who could be one of several characters in the franchise, quite frankly) before cutting to Sora in an epic fight against what looks like a kaiju-sized Pureblood Heartless.

Other characters appear in the trailer, including a mask-wearing character who might be Vali from the mobile game Dark Road, and Organization XIII member Luxord, who's sporting a fancy suit. It also looks like young Xehanort is holding an umbrella for Sora--his appearance would be strange, seeing how Kingdom Hearts 3 was meant to wrap up Xehanort's story.

And of course, Donald and Goofy are around, but they don't appear alongside Sora in this trailer. Presumably, this game leaves off on the cliffhanger of Kingdom Hearts 3, with the rest of the cast searching for Sora, who faded away at the end of that game as a result of saving Kairi.

Besides Donald and Goofy, the trailer is lacking any Disney elements (or any Final Fantasy elements either), instead showing Sora wielding his keyblade in combat against baddies on city streets and office buildings. All in all, there's nothing really new in this trailer that we didn't see when Kingdom Hearts 4 was revealed over four years ago, but at least Switch 2 owners can rest easy knowing they'll be able to experience the madness too whenever it comes out.

During today's Nintendo Direct, a new chapter for episodic RPG Deltarune has been announced, and it's out later this month.

The follow-up from Toby Fox originally had its first chapter released for free in 2018 on PC, before the game officially went on sale for multiple platforms--and as a Nintendo Switch 2 launch title--which included the first four chapters.

Deltarune Chapter 5 will release on June 24, and will be available as a free update on all platforms if you already own the game. Fans who completed Chapter 4 would have noticed after the credits that Chapter 5 was confirmed for 2026. Its arrival a year later means the shortest wait for a new Deltarune chapter so far.

According to the game's menu screen, Deltarune is expected to consist of seven chapters, though it's not yet confirmed when these will release. As with Chapter 5, these will also be made available as free updates on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4.

Nintendo has officially revealed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake as part of its summer Nintendo Direct showcase. The reveal showed no gameplay--only a cinematic trailer about the boy from the forest who didn't have a fairy. It did, however, confirm a 2026 release date. More details are said to be coming later this year.

Rumors of an Ocarina of Time remake began to gather steam earlier this year when prominent leaker Nate the Hate reported on the game. He had also revealed a "classic-style" Star Fox game was on the way, and that report proved to be true when Nintendo lifted the veil on Star Fox in early May.

Needless to say, an Ocarina of Time remake is a big deal. Originally released for the N64, Ocarina of Time was met with critical acclaim, and its DNA can still be found in modern Legend of Zelda games, like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It was the first 3D Zelda game, laying a foundation for future games in the series with its trailblazing design at the time.

Multiple ports and remasters have been released over the decades, with the best version being the 3DS release, which added quality-of-life changes and made revisions to the challenging Water Dungeon.

The latest Nintendo Direct showcased several games from other platforms coming to Switch 2, with some including additional content.

Souls-like Lies of P, which originally came out in 2023, will have its Complete Edition release this year, coming with the prequel expansion Overture. Similarly, Devil May Cry 5 will release as the "Devil Hunter Edition," featuring post-release content like the inclusion of Vergil as a playable character.

Kingdom Hearts fans will eat well, as proper, native versions of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 Remix, 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts 3 + Re Mind are coming to Switch 2. Owners of the original Switch had to be content with cloud versions of those games, and they'll be able to transfer their save data from the cloud games to these new Switch 2 editions.

Stellar Blade is an interesting inclusion to the Switch 2 library--previously a PlayStation 5 console exclusive, it looks like developer Shift Up is self-publishing this port, as it will for the game's sequel. Minecraft is also getting a Switch 2 version, which should be a relief for those who find the game taxing on their original Switch hardware.

Here's the full list of new port announcements from the Direct:

• Lies of P: Complete Edition (August 6 Digital, October 2 Physical)
• Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition (June 23)
• Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] (October 8)
• Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen (October 9)
• Metaphor: ReFantazio (November 12)
• Stellar Blade (TBA 2026)
• Minecraft (TBA 2026)

Meanwhile, upcoming third-party games such as Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, Final Fantasy Resonance, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, and Rayman Legends Untold will release on Switch 2 alongside other platforms.

Nintendo’s Top-Selling Switch Games Of All Time View Images

From Software's next multiplayer experiment, The Duskbloods, is getting an online closed network test before the end of the summer, but no other real details, or a specific release date, were announced.

The Duskbloods made a blink-and-you-missed-it appearance as part of the latest Nintendo Direct, with a new trailer that showed off the game's gothic setting and teased some of its story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0ij2uQ87nc

"Upon the ancient Blood Soverign's honor, we are monsters," a unshown character states while an old man readies a drink from a goblet and an image of a horrifying-looking blood moon is shown, giving off some extremely strong Bloodborne energy. "Each, vying for blood."

A subsequent press release confirmed that The Duskbloods is still scheduled for release in 2026.

Not much is known about The Duskbloods, aside from it being a multiplayer-focused action-RPG with pre-set (but customizable) characters to choose from, and that it is currently slated to release sometime this year.

Despite From Software's recent focus on multiplayer titles like The Duskbloods and Elden Ring Nightreign, studio head and The Duskbloods director Hidetaka Miyazaki said last year the developer is not abandoing single-player games and will continue to make titles that "embrace our more traditional style."

For more news, check out our round up of all the latest Nintendo Direct announcements.

Capcom and Nintendo have revealed Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen for Nintendo Switch 2, bringing the epic action-adventure sequel to the portable console later this year.

https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/2064348850324750526?s=20

Announced as part of the June 2026 Nintendo Direct, Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen arrives on October 9, with this new version of the title bringing some fresh additions and tweaks to gameplay. This expanded version of the title is also heading to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC as DLC for owners of the original version.

The trailer reveals that this version is an expanded take on the original release of Dragon's Dogma 2, and players can expect to explore the new region of Norgan. Plus, there is a new system that allows players to find spoils and appraise them, all to access a new series of weapons, armours, and skills. Hopefully more details on the expansion will be revealed soon.

 

For more news and announcements from today's event, be sure to check out our roundup of the biggest Nintendo Direct reveals.

 

Announced during the latest Nintendo Direct, Donkey Kong Bananza is getting additional content added to its paid DLC that will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. Puzzlingly, however, you'll only be able in play it for a limited time.

The DK Island and Emerald Rush DLC will soon allow you to dress up both Donkey Kong and Pauline in Mario Bros. outfits. Donkey Kong can equip Mario's recognizable red hat and blue overalls, while Pauline will be able to use Luigi's green hat and slap a mustache on her face. It's all rather cute and fitting for the series.

What's confusing are the limitations around it. Starting today, you'll be able to access the costumes for a limited time, with three additional waves coming in the next few months. Miss those allocated times, or all the waves entirely, and you'll not have access to the costumes again. It's an extremely strange way to celebrate Nintendo's biggest franchise, but also, somehow, entirely unsurprising for Nintendo.

You can access the DLC during the following times:

• June 9, 2026 - June 30, 2026
• July 14, 2026 - July 21, 2026
• August 4, 2026 - August 11, 2026
• August 25, 2026 - September 1, 2026

The bigger update for Donkey Kong fans came in the form of new achievements for classic Donkey Kong games. Starting with Donkey Kong 64, which was recently added to the N64 library of games, you'll be able to chase in-game challenges for digital card rewards. It's a lot like RetroAchivements, but baked into the Nintendo Switch 2's backwards-compatible catalogue.

Nintendo showed off a new limited-time Donkey Kong event for Switch Online subscribers on Switch 2 at today's Nintendo Direct. Called DK Challenge, the experience sees players completing tasks across Donkey Kong games, ranging from Donkey Kong Country to even Donkey Kong Bananza (if you own the Switch 2 exclusive).

DK Challenge is accessed through the Nintendo Switch Online app on the Switch 2 Home Screen. From there, tasks are available to complete: There's a mine-cart challenge in Donkey Kong Country, for example. By successfully finishing one of these mini-sessions, the game will reward you with challenge cards.

There are apparently easy challenges to get a feel for games, like Donkey Kong 3. But Nintendo noted there are harder tasks titled Developer Challenges to check out, too.

Later today will see DK Challenge go live, with the event running through September 1. It's only available on Switch 2. That wasn't the only Donkey Kong news either, as Nintendo revealed a Mario-inspired update for Donkey Kong Bananza.

Every Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive (So Far) View Images