Nintendo Switch 2's C button was a late addition, with a new interview stating it was added following a "very last-minute request."

The Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2's mysterious C button sparked debate ahead of the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, where it was revealed to be a dedicated button for the console's Discord-like GameChat feature. In a series of developer interviews posted on Nintendo's website diving into various aspects of the Switch 2's creation, Sumikazu Ono, a member of Nintendo's entertainment planning and development department, said the C button came as a result of making sure the GameChat feature was easy to use.

He said he thought the idea of having to pause the game and go to the home screen, find the right menu, make a chat room, and then return to the game (the way basically every other modern video game console does it) was "bothersome." That resulted in the idea of the C button.

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Season 3 is live in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 with the brand-new Shattered Veil map in Zombies. This map brings back the iconic Ray Gun Mark II Wonder Weapon from Black Ops 2, and it also introduces three different variants you can transform the gun into. Here, we explain all three variants and how to upgrade the Ray Gun Mark II in Shattered Veil.

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• Ray Gun Mark II variants explained

Ray Gun Mark II variants explained

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The latest season of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 adds a new battle pass and plenty of content, but it also gives players more control over their settings. This includes disabling cross-play functionality across Ranked Play modes and standard Black Ops 6 multiplayer matches.

With the launch of Season 3, Activision announced a plan to further crack down on Call of Duty cheaters and provide a hacker-free experience for players. Part of this includes new settings that allow players the ability to turn off cross-play in standard Black Ops 6 multiplayer matches, which was previously a feature only available to disable in Ranked Play modes for BO6 and Warzone.

How to turn off cross-play in BO6 and Warzone

Step one: Launch Black Ops 6 or Warzone

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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will be released across both the Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, with the Switch 2 edition sporting enhanced visuals. There is one other reason the Switch 2 version might be the best way to play, and it has to do with the control options. Switch 2 features mouse controls for certain games, and the functionality in Metroid Prime 4 is especially notable for how seamless it is.

As noted in our Metroid Prime 4 hands-on impressions, the game features traditional dual-stick controls, gyro pointer controls similar to the Metroid Prime Trilogy on Wii, and mouse controls. What's most impressive about this array of options, though, is that you don't need to select them from a menu to swap between them. Instead, the game swaps between them contextually based on what you're doing. This is most impressive for the mouse controls, which simply turn on the moment you put your Joy-Con down sideways on a surface, transitioning it to mouse mode.

In the demo, this proved especially useful when facing off against a boss. While I could use mouse controls throughout, I had made my way through most of the demo using dual-stick controls like a traditional shooter. I found I wasn't quite getting the precision I wanted to hit the boss' weak points, though, so I swapped to mouse controls and found it much easier. The lack of friction is the standout, because I never had to enter a menu or even hit a button to swap. It just worked.

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A single image of the main menu of Nintendo Switch 2 has emerged, and it looks more like an iteration than an evolution of the original Nintendo Switch's menu.

To find this image, you need to look at the Nintendo webpage titled "About Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games." Scroll down to the section on "How to purchase an upgrade pack," and the image showing people how to navigate to the Switch 2's eShop gives us our first look at the UI. At a glance, it's quite similar to the menu you see after hitting the home button on Nintendo Switch. There's a gallery of game art in the middle, from which Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World are presumably launched. Above, you can see the time of day, Wi-Fi connectivity, and battery charge remaining.

This is the first official image of the Switch 2's main menu from Nintendo.

At the bottom of the screen, players can see which Joy-Cons are connected and a row of icons. Some of these icons are very similar to those on Switch 1, specifically the Nintendo Switch Online, Album, Controllers, System Settings, and Sleep Mode ones. The Nintendo eShop icon has been redesigned to a darker shade of orange, and ones that could be for features like Virtual Game Cards, GameChat, and GameShare appear alongside it. There's also an unknown icon represented by a green sheet of paper. This could be a redesigned News icon or something else entirely.

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Amazon has revealed the PC games that'll be coming to Prime Gaming in April, and this month, there's a rich selection of gangland drama, sci-fi adventues, and fashion crimes to check out. In total, there'll be 23 games on offer this month. As a reminder, all of the free games that you claim through Prime Gaming are yours to keep forever, even if your subscription expires. If you aren't a member, you can sign up for Amazon Prime for as little as one month to take advantage of the subscription and the freebies offered through it.

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One of the highlights this month is Mafia 3: Definitive Edition. Compared to the previous Mafia games, Mafia 3 offers a busier sandbox to explore while you embark on a tale of revenge. After his surrogate family is wiped out by the Italian Mafia, protagonist Lincoln Clay embarks on a mission to take down the Mafiaso responsible, while building a new family and crime syndicate in the process. The Definitive Edition comes with a lot of post-launch story content and various cosmetics bundled in as well.

With the Minecraft movie launching this week, you can also check out one of the spin-off games through Prime Gaming. Minecraft Legends is an action-strategy game that places a heavier emphasis on story, multiplayer, and tactics. While the combat mechanics can be a little rough, the attention to detail, cute character designs, and environments will likely make it a hit with younger members of the family looking for more Minecraft entertainment.

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Every now and then, GTA Online players get to suit up as a rare sasquatch, and Rockstar Games revealed the April 3 update adds the option to do so once again.

Rockstar has released a new update for GTA Online, bringing new shop discounts, nightclub bonuses, and the chance to shapeshift into the game's elusive Sasquatch. This is not an opportunity that happens often, but for a limited time, players can once again find the psychoactive peyote plants in GTA Online.

For those unfamiliar, a special Peyote Plant can be found in the hills above Grapeseed and allows players to morph into the elusive Sasquatch, assuming all of the weather conditions and prerequisites are met.

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Nintendo just recently announced the Switch 2, and the biggest takeaway for many was the price point: $450 for the standard edition and $500 for a bundle that includes Mario Kart World. Nintendo held its big Nintendo Direct to reveal this on April 2, which was the same day that US President Donald Trump began his so-called "Liberation" tariffs. With dozens of countries affected, some are wondering about the impact on the Switch 2. Here is what we know so far, and generally why we're seeing such high prices for Switch 2.

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• Nintendo Will "Feel The Impact" Of Tariffs

Nintendo Will "Feel The Impact" Of Tariffs

Analyst Daniel Ahmad of Niko Partners said Nintendo is likely to "feel the impact" of the tariffs on places like Vietnam and Japan where some Switch 2 units are produced. However, Ahmad doesn't believe Nintendo will raise the price of the Switch 2 as a result. At the same time, Ahmad said he doesn't foresee a scenario where the Switch 2 gets a price drop until 2030.

"The looming threat of reciprocal tariffs prior to the Switch 2 showcase will have also forced Nintendo to consider a higher price for the rest of the world," Ahmad said, noting that tariffs for Vietnam and Japan came in "higher than expected." (In Japan, the Switch 2 costs less.) It remains to be seen if the tariffs go into "full effect," however, Ahmad said, likely referring to Trump's on-again, off-again approach.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 debut answered a lot of questions surrounding the release date, price, and launch lineup, but there is still a lot left unanswered. One lingering question is whether the new system's magnetic Joy-Con controllers will be prone to the same stick-drift problem that was commonplace in the Switch 1 controllers, and Nintendo's answer didn't exactly put those concerns to rest.

During a Q&A with several of Nintendo's senior hardware development staff, the panel was asked if the new Joy-Con and Pro controllers for the Switch 2 have solved the stick drift-problem. Nintendo technology and development general manager Tetsuya Sasaki briefly fielded the question.

"As you may have witnessed and felt, the new Joy-Con 2 controllers for the Nintendo Switch 2 have been really designed from the ground up, from scratch, and they've been designed to have bigger movement and also smoother movement," Sasaki said.

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Nintendo Switch 2's accessibility features were absent from the April Nintendo Direct, but the company posted a brief overview on the console's website soon after. While the original Switch's features went little further beyond the choice to change the system's button mapping, Switch 2 includes several options under a dedicated "accessibility" submenu in the settings section.

Here, you can change button mapping, but also increase or decrease text size and implement bold font to make text stand out. Switch 2 lets you save button-mapping presets and add the feature to the "quick settings" menu that opens when you hold the home button, though Nintendo didn't show how many configurations you can save to one account.

The next setting changes the system's display colors. The default color scheme seems to be a white background with black text, and you can choose "invert colors" for a black background with white text and orange highlights or "grayscale." The accessibility menu also includes a zoom toggle that, when active, lets you tap the home button twice to zoom in on a selected spot. You can then move the zoomed-in screen around with one of the Joy-Con control sticks.

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One of the announcements from the April Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Direct event was a game called Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. The digital-only game explains the console's new features by dropping players into an enlarged Switch 2, with players walking around the surface of the console, reading signs, and playing demos that highlight the console's new features.

Many expected this to be a free offering, but it's a paid game. Just how much does it cost, though? In Japan, it's priced at ¥990. This works out to about $6.50 USD. Regional pricing varies, and Nintendo hasn't yet announced a price point for the US. GameSpot has contacted Nintendo in an attempt to find out.

"Through tech demos, minigames, and other interactions, players will get to know the new system inside and out in ways they may never have known about otherwise," Nintendo said of Welcome Tour.

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Marvel Rivals Season 2 is throwing one heck of a party with its newly revealed Hellfire Gala theme, and developer NetEase has released a new cinematic trailer showing off some of the sharp new looks players will likely be able to earn as part of the Season 2 battle pass.

The Hellfire Gala, hosted by the elite, wealthy, and powerful Hellfire Club, has become a recurring event in the Marvel universe--one that brings together mutants, superheroes, and the rich and famous for a night of top-tier fashion and secretive plots.

In Marvel Rivals Season 2, which begins April 11, the mutant Emma Frost is hosting the gala on the mutant island nation of Krakoa as a way of creating a temporary truce between the constantly fighting heroes and villains of the game's alternate Marvel universe. But every good party also has an infamous party-crasher, and in this case it's none other than the genocidal AI created by Hank Pym (aka Ant-Man)--Ultron.

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South of Midnight is Xbox's latest first-party game and the first release by Compulsion Games since the studio was acquired by Microsoft in 2018. The southern gothic action-adventure game has its roots in a style of gameplay that's reminiscent of the OG Xbox era, and pairs that with a modern story that hits pretty hard at times. If you're wondering how long South of Midnight takes to beat, we have your answer below, including a full list of all South of Midnight chapters so you can follow along with your own progress.

How long is South of Midnight?

South of Midnight is a linear action-adventure game full of platforming, third-person combat, and some light puzzle-solving elements. As such, it's not meant to take up your time for weeks on end. It's here for a good time, not a long time, so says our South of Midnight review.

A typical playthrough on normal difficulty will take you roughly 12-16 hours, depending on how well handle on the game's combat mechanics. Combat in the game is performed in closed-off sections of levels, so once you're in it, there's no easy way to escape it other than prevailing over the game's foes called Stigma. However, if you're defeated, you can load a save outside of the combat arena to catch your breath and maybe track down some more skill points before you try again.

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One of the big reveals from the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct this week was the announcement of a camera for the console's new GameChat feature that's accessible by pressing the C button. Nintendo has now further discussed GameChat in a three-part interview series, in which the company called GameChat a "defining" feature of the console and outlined the steps being taken to ensure safety when using the camera, especially for children.

Switch 2 design director Sumikazu Ono said Nintendo thought "a lot" about how to ensure GameChat is "safe and secure." Players will not be able to use GameChat with everyone on their friend list by default.

"We assume some players will have somebody on their friend list who they've only played online with once, and yet somehow, they ended up accepting their friend request. Given that possibility, players might feel uncomfortable if suddenly everyone on their friend list can invite them to a video chat," Ono said. "With that in mind, during the initial setup, you can choose the friends you want to be able to chat with from your friend list before you start using GameChat."

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While Nintendo Switch 2 might be the biggest product release in June, that's not all we have to look forward to from Nintendo in the coming months. Nintendo has also revealed a slew of new Amiibo releasing alongside the console, including five for Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and three for Street Fighter 6. They're not yet available for preorder, but you can sign up to be notified when preorders officially open. Like most Amiibo, we're expecting these to be quite popular. Want to add them to your collection on June 5? Be sure to sign up for notifications so you don't miss out. Here's a closer look at all the upcoming Amiibo--though note that Mineru's Construct, the eighth Amiibo, is not yet listed at retailers and is expected later.

See all Amiibo at Walmart Zelda and Street Fighter Amiibo

• Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Tulin -- $20
• Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Yunobo -- $20
• Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Sidon -- $20
• Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Riju -- $20
• Street Fighter 6: Jamie -- $30
• Street Fighter 6: Luke -- $30
• Street Fighter 6: Kimberly -- $30

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Tulin $20 | Releases June 5

This Amiibo depicts the young Rito, Tulin, with the powerful Great Eagle Bow. Aside from serving as a fun companion for your desk or game room, the Amiibo is compatible with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom for cool in-game goodies, including exclusive fabric for the paraglider in Tears of the Kingdom.

See at Walmart See at Target Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Yunobo $20 | Releases June 5

Bring the Sage of Fire into your home with this sizable Amiibo. The President of YunoboCo is compatible with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, offering in-game extras and a special fabric for Link's glider in the latter.

See at Walmart See at Target Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Sidon $20 | Releases June 5

Sidon is the Sage of Water, and this Amiibo shows him wielding the Lightscale Trident that was passed down from Mipha. He's also adorned with a bunch of flashy jewelry you'd expect as the son of royalty. Like the other Amiibo, this one is compatible with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

See at Walmart See at Target Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Riju $20 | Releases June 5

This Amiibo depicts the Sage of Lightning entering battle with her two trusty scimitars and breezy Gerudo garb. Once again, you'll get some functionality with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, unlocking in-game like special paraglider fabric.

See at Walmart See at Target Street Fighter 6: Jamie $30 | Releases June 5

The defender of Chinatown strikes a pose with this flashy Amiibo, complete with a translucent blue background for added effect. The Amiibo can be scanned on Switch 2 to save your character outfits, control style, and button settings for the character, and you'll unlock mystery bonuses for the upcoming Switch 2 version of Street Fighter 6.

See at Walmart See at Target Street Fighter 6: Luke $30 | Releases June 5

Luke is throwing a vicious uppercut in this Amiibo, which only looks more violent thanks to the dramatic orange effect flowing behind his fist. Like the Jamie Amiibo, this one gets you lots of functionality with Street Fighter 6 on Switch 2.

See at Walmart See at Target Street Fighter 6: Kimberly $30 | Releases June 5

The aspiring ninja Kimberly comes to life with this Amiibo, as she's shown bounding across the landscape--a trail of pink dust in her wake. Add the Amiibo to your collection to gain exclusive in-game content for Street Fighter 6 or save your settings to the Amiibo for quick transfer.

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The final Amiibo is for Mineru's Construct. There's no confirmed release date beyond "coming soon," and a price is yet to be determined. It's looking like it'll be quite large, however, and it wouldn't be surprisingly if it costs more than the $20 price tag of the other Tears of the Kingdom products.

Mineru's Construct

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After a quick look during the first Mario Kart World sizzle reel and leaked merchandise, we finally got a full look at Donkey Kong's new design for the upcoming Donkey Kong Bananza. The brow was scaled back, giving him a kinder, rounder look closer to his design in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. It's not the first time Donkey Kong has been given a facelift. Originally looking like King Kong, he was completely overhauled with Rare's Donkey Kong Country franchise, and was designed by artist Kevin Bayliss.

As with any redesign, no matter how mild or extreme, some fans have welcomed the new look while others aren't going bananas for it. Bayliss took to social media to say not only did he like the design, but that fans should embrace the change.

"I don't understand why there's any debate to be had," Bayliss posted. "It's still DK, only better looking. People need to embrace change more! All good things get better with age (I would say that though, since I've been doing this for almost 40 years now). Everyone, give a big warm welcome for the new DK!"

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If you've seen the trailers for A Minecraft Movie, you might be wondering exactly what filming was like. After all, the massive cubic world looks too good to be true live-action. However, for the most part, that's exactly what it is.

Speaking to GameSpot, director Jared Hess revealed that they actually built the massive sets that make up the Overworld. That made it so the actors weren't just acting against green screens.

"We built life-size Minecraft forests," he said. "The Minecraft village was all built, practically. These were ginormous sets." While some digital set extensions were used to build out the backgrounds, the majority of the world the cast worked in was fully visualized.

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One of the big surprises following this week's Switch 2 deep dive was the price tag for Mario Kart World, as the game has a "suggested" retail price of $80 ahead of its June 5 release. This is a major increase--especially at a time when consumers are still debating the value of high-profile games increasing from $60 to $70--and according to analysts, this could become the new standard for the industry.

In a breakdown of the Switch 2 and its pricing, analysts at Niko Partners discussed the impact of Mario Kart World and its price. "While there has been some sticker shock regarding the price of games increasing from $60 to $70 or $80, these price-points are set to become industry standard over the next two years, especially so for Nintendo first-party games," Niko Partners explained. "One reason for the higher price is the increased cost of the new and faster Game Cards themselves, with higher capacities being more expensive to manufacture than a PS5 Blu-ray disc."

It is worth noting that certain Switch 2 Game Cards will only contain keys on the cart that can be used to authenticate a purchase and then download a game directly to the console. Whether these games will cost $60 or $70 remains to be seen, but another Switch 2 game, Donkey Kong Bananza, does have an MSRP of $70. The other concern here is that Nintendo will likely set a new precedent for game prices with Mario Kart World, allowing other publishers to follow suit and also charge $80 for new games.

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In the span of two years, Jack Black has starred in three video game movies: The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Borderlands, and now A Minecraft Movie. Ahead of the premiere of his latest video game film, Black revealed that he's been an avid player of Balatro on mobile. But he's having a few problems with the game and could probably use some tips.

Like many of us, Black had trouble pronouncing the name Balatro while speaking with Xbox UK. He also noted that he uses his iPhone to play the game, but he's only unlocked the first deck while trying to obtain the blue deck. Black went on to express some frustration about the way the game deals with chance.

"It just makes me mad that so much of it seems to be luck," said Black. "No matter how good you are at it, you've got to get those... certain unlockable cards." Then Black looked at the camera and added, "Maybe you can give me some tips."

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Metroid fans have been waiting a long time for Metroid Prime 4. The game was announced at E3 2017 before being delayed and rebooted and delayed again, but even at the time of that reveal, it had been a decade since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption released. At one time it seemed like a game doomed by its own sky-high expectations. With the Switch 2 on the horizon, Beyond is finally real, and playable, and great. It's too early to say if it can rise above almost two decades of anticipation, but having now played it, I don't think it will be a victim of them.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is now part of the cross-generational push, representing both a swan song for the original Switch and a launch-window game for Switch 2. I only played the Switch 2 version, so I can't speak to differences in performance between the platforms--but it already appears to make for a very nice Switch 2 showpiece.

To start, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond looks gorgeous, managing to be reverent of the Prime art style while also updating and modernizing it to a new platform. Yes, Samus' face reflects in her visor when you fire a shot close to a wall, but this time she squints slightly in the direction of the light. Retro Studios is clearly exercising great care for stewarding this franchise, even down to the little touches.

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