On the eve of the Nintendo Switch 2's launch, there's one question on everyone's mind: When, exactly, will the shiny new console they preordered arrive?

It's a question that is surprisingly difficult to answer. While one might assume Switch 2 preorders to arrive on launch day, June 5, one look at social media shows that is far from the case. There is frustration from those with Switch 2 preorders who have had their preorders canceled last minute. Others are dealing with vague arrival times that makes it unclear if it will arrive on launch day or some time later. Some have preorders that are set to arrive almost a week later, adding to the confusion.

Among those of us here at GameSpot, there are at least two people who preordered at Target who apparently won't get their Switch 2 orders until June 11. Another who ordered from Walmart is set to have theirs delivered by launch day, but the exact timing is unclear, with Walmart stating it will arrive before 10 PM despite previous guarantees of delivery by 9 AM.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

It's a herculean task to pick out a new display for your computer. They're not cheap (and that's definitely not going to change in 2025), and there are so many of them. Some are better for office work, some are better for gaming, and some are so good that they can handle both with aplomb. A variety of companies showed their latest displays off at Computex, the annual computing convention held in Taipei, Taiwan, and these are the screens from the show that are worth keeping your eye on, both figuratively and literally.

OLED is getting better and better

OLED displays can be stunning, with perfect blacks and vibrant colors making for a stunning picture (as long as you can stand OLED flicker). But there have long been well-founded concerns about burn-in. The last thing you want to see when you're trying to play an immersive first-person RPG is the ghost of your taskbar at the bottom of the screen. But thanks to built-in features like MSI's OLED Care, this problem is getting better. The company showed off a monitor it's been running with its OLED Care 2.0 tech that has remained on for three years with a static image showing for eight hours a day--with about an hour of burn-in prevention across that time--and no signs of burn-in to be found. These new monitors will ship with OLED Care 3.0, an improved version of the tech. In other words, OLED is A-OK.

MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 - Hyper-fast Refresh and AI OLED Care

The name might be a mouthful, but this monitor has some great features to make note of. The 27-inch, 1440p display offers a maximum refresh rate of 500Hz--that's up to 500 frames per second, eSports players--and is rated with VESA ClearMR 21000 and DisplayHDR True Black 500 certifications. The former indicates a very high level of clarity in motion; ClearMR 21000 is the highest possible rating and indicates that the screen has 195 clear pixels for every blurry one. True Black 500 rates the screen's contrast and color; 500 is a mid-range number in terms of ratings, which go up to True Black 1000, but it's still an excellent place for a screen to be color and contrast-wise.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The June 2025 lineup of PC games for Humble Choice subscribers has been revealed, and this month, you can look forward to slaying heretics in an old-school boomer-shooter, explore Nosgoth in all its remastered glory, and embark on a slaycation to recharge your batteries.

Sign up for Humble Choice

In case you've not heard of it, Humble Choice is a $12 monthly subscription service that offers a monthly batch of PC games that are yours to keep forever, even if you decide to cancel your membership. There are other perks to this membership as well, including exclusive discounts at the Humble store and access to the Humble Vault--an additional rotating library of games that's only available to members.

Humble Choice June 2025 Games

• Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
• Dungeons of Hinterberg
• Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered
• Nobody Wants To Die
• Tchia
• Sker Ritual
• Biped
• Havendock

This is a pretty good selection this month, with the highlight here being Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered. This launched last year and was priced at $30--but you can get it for under $20 in a Steam sale--and it's a great remaster of the classic Soul Reaver games. You're getting improved visuals and a modern control scheme, making this the best way to play these cult-classic games. Dungeons of Hinterberg is another noteworthy title, as it's essentially The Legend of Zelda mixed with the aesthetics of a Tintin comic book. The game has some satisfying dungeons to conquer during the day, and at night, you can forge relationships that'll have an impact on your progress.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

XDefiant, the free-to-play, first-person arena shooter developed and published by Ubisoft, is officially offline. The servers are now closed, according to a post on the games' official X page.

The servers are now closed - Thank you to everyone who played the game ❤️
XDefiant logging off - o7

— XDefiant (@PlayXDefiant) June 4, 2025

XDefiant's days have been numbered since Ubisoft announced that the game would be shut down in December 2024. An announcement shared on XDefiant's X page said that the shooter didn't gain enough traction with players and that it was too much to "sensibly continue."

"Free-to-play, in particular, is a long journey," executive producer Mark Rubin wrote in the post. "Many free-to-play games take a long time to find their footing and become profitable. It's a long journey that Ubisoft and the team's working on the game were prepared to make until very recently. But unfortunately, the journey became too much to sensibly continue."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

April Fool's Day pranks in the gaming world have been coming true more often lately, Sometimes that's because companies decide after the fact to roll out as real what was once a joke. Other times, it's because companies use the "holiday" prank to announce new products. It can get confusing, but in the case of CRKD's limited-edition Goat Simulator controllers, seeing is baaa-lieving. They're real, and their uncommon form factors and colorful artwork make them a sight to behold--and actually hold.

Tying into the Goat Sim franchise's 10th anniversary, CRKD's Nitro Deck for Switch and the NEO S controller for Switch, mobile, and PC, have both been given goat makeovers, complete with the character's signature stretchy tongue roaming all over the face of either gamepad. You may know these controllers from past limited-edition models like the CRKD Fortnite collection from earlier this year. There's also the Fortnite Festival-specific edition for the musically inclined.

The Nitro Deck is a docking station into which you insert your Switch screen. It's compatible with either the classic Switch or the Switch OLED, and the USB-C-based dock locks the screen securely into place--I tried shaking mine out for science, and I (thankfully) failed.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The latest update is live in Fallout 76, with Season 21: Gone Fission revolving around a new fishing mechanic and fish-related quests. Here we'll guide you through everything you need to know to complete the latest fishing story mission for Fallout 76, including how to fish, upgrade fishing rods, and catch legendary fish and Axolotl.

Table of Contents [hide]

• How to unlock fishing in Fallout 76
• How to start Casting Off quest

How to unlock fishing in Fallout 76

In order to start fishing in Fallout 76, you'll first need to start the new "Casting Off" fishing questline found in Season 21: Gone Fission. This quest will give you your first fishing rod and get you started with the mechanics.

How to start Casting Off questThe Mire region is the swampy area located on the right side of the map.

Head to the Mire region of the Appalachia map. Then, open your Pip-Boy and tune the radio to listen to the "Linda-Lee Shortwave Signal" that's broadcasting in the area. This leads you to a new area on the map called the Fisherman's Rest. Here, you'll meet new characters, including The Fisherman, Captain Raymon Clark, and Linda-Lee. Reaching this destination should give you the Casting Off side quest, but if not, try talking to the Fisherman character to initiate it.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

June is full of celebrations, including Pride Month, Men's Health Month, ALS Awareness Month, and Black Music Month, and now one more can be added to the list: Video Game Month. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow officially proclaimed June as Video Game Month in Toronto earlier this week, celebrating video games, but also the proud Canadian studios and developers.

Starting June 7, the city will hold more than 40 events, ranging from high-profile esports competitions and professional summits to indie game spotlights and showcases. Many events are free and open to the public, where citizens can explore, play, and connect with Toronto's gaming and digital landscape.

"Toronto's gaming industry reflects the best of our city. It is creative, diverse, and forward-thinking," Chow said in a statement. "Video Game Month is an invitation to celebrate this growing sector and the talented people behind it and to discover how gaming connects with art, innovation, and our local communities."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Like Astro's Playroom and Aperture Desk Job before it, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour seems to be a really fun, immersive little tech demo for players to learn all about what their shiny new toys and accessories can do. However, unlike Astro's Playroom and Aperture Desk Job, many players were irked to discover that Welcome Tour costs another $10 on top of the $450-$500 those same players are throwing down for the privilege. But today, eagle-eyed players exploring Nintendo of Japan's product page for Welcome Tour (via Nintendo Soup) noticed a tidbit that might irk less-spendy players a little more.

For those who can't read Japanese, the bottom of the page has a notice stating that three of the minigames in Welcome Tour require separate peripherals. While it doesn't state what the games are precisely, one will require a USB camera, one will require a Switch 2 controller with the GL/GR buttons, and one will require that your Switch 2 is plugged into a 4K TV.

Granted, Nintendo isn't asking players to buy a Steel Battalion controller or anything;, in two cases, it's equipment players may already own. For the USB camera, the Switch 2 actually supports pretty much any old USB camera one may have lying around the house, plus it's not like anyone needed more reasons to throw down for that Piranha Plant camera. As for 4K TVs, around two-thirds of homes in the U.S. own one already. But the controller is the odd one out. The GL/GR buttons are specifically the new, programmable buttons located on the underside of the Switch 2 Charging Grip controller and the new Pro controller.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Epic Games has announced that it's going to start phasing out physical Fortnite V-Buck cards that folks can buy in stores, and will replace them with gift cards that have a set dollar amount. The changeover begins this month in the United States and much of Europe, and will roll out to the rest of the world sometime later. And anyone who buys one of these gift cards between now and the end of 2026 will receive a free skin, a new variation of the sock monkey skin Monks.

The skin you'll unlock by using one of the new Epic gift cards.

This marks a pretty big change, as these cards are not really Fortnite cards at all, but are instead Epic Game Store gift cards that can be used in Fortnite, Rocket League, Fall Guys or anything else that is available for purchase on EGS. The reason for doing this isn't too tough to parse. V-Buck cards allowed you to redeem them on any platform you chose, but these EGS gift cards must be used on EGS itself--presumably allowing Epic a way to avoid paying a percentage to those platform holders on V-Buck purchases. Since your V-Bucks are cross-platform aside from those bought on a Switch, it won't be much of an inconvenience for most folks.

The EGS gift cards will be sold in dividends of $15, $30, $50 and $100, none of which line up with the cost of anything you can buy in Fortnite, which will no doubt cause some frustration with players who use these cards. Despite that, there are some upsides to this change.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Nintendo Switch 2 is packing a hefty collection of improvements over its predecessor, including better visuals, improved performance, and more. However, like the original Switch, Nintendo's follow-up console is a hybrid device, which means it can be detached from its dock and played in handheld mode whenever you want to take it on the go. As such, you'll need to monitor its battery to ensure you have enough juice to get through a gaming session on the go. Good news: We have a few tips to help you improve the battery life of your Switch 2, allowing you to play for longer.

Table of Contents [hide]

• How to improve Switch 2 battery life

How to improve Switch 2 battery life

While most of these are common-sense solutions to your problem, one of them involves utilizing a special feature that Switch 2 offers. It addresses your Switch 2's battery on a longer timeline rather than your next play session, so it's a bit different than the other tips here, but still helpful from a different angle.

It's also worth noting that the game you are playing may be more or less demanding of the Switch 2's battery, so don't be surprised if using even all of these tips still nets variable results when you're playing Switch 2.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

For those wondering what the inside of the Nintendo Switch 2 looks like, the time is now. Consoles are now out in the wild in some regions, and it hasn't taken long for Nintendo Switch 2 reviews and hardware breakdowns to begin appearing online.

One such video by YouTube channel ProModding (via The Verge) shows what it's like to completely disassemble a Switch 2. While the teardown doesn't exactly reveal a ton of new Switch 2 information, it does show how to take apart Nintendo's new hardware for those who really want to (and don't mind voiding the warranty) and are equipped with the proper tools. It's mostly a process of removing lots of tiny screws, including a few Nintendo has hidden under various stickers that require some extra work to remove.

ProModding does make a few notes about the Switch 2 overall at the end of the video. One observation is that similarly to the Switch OLED, and as Nintendo recently explained, the Switch 2 screen does come with a protective film that it recommends not removing.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch Physical Edition)

$52 (was $70) | Get Switch 2 upgrade for $10

See at Amazon See at Walmart

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch Physical Edition)

$52.55 (was $60) | Get Switch 2 upgrade for $10

See at Walmart

Nintendo is taking a different stance when it comes to launch games for the Switch 2, as instead of dropping a bunch of them all at once on June 5, it's rolling out first-party titles at a more gradual pace throughout the year. The silver lining here is that you'll get more time to check out other games on the system, and if you've been looking play the critically acclaimed Legend of Zelda games Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom for the first time, the Switch 2 will offer the best graphical experience for you.

The catch here is that the "new" Switch 2 editions retail for a standard MSRP in line with brand-new Nintendo game releases--$70 for Breath of the Wild and $80 for Tears of the Kingdom--but you can save some cash by grabbing the Switch 1 version and the $10 upgrade pack instead.

Reminder: If you already own these games, you simply need to buy the $10 upgrade for each.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Noble Collection is responsible for a long list of premium chess sets. From the multi-tiered Star Trek Set to the ultra-expensive Lord of the Rings Set, the company is known for crafting incredible versions of the iconic board game. And right now, you can pick up the blocky Minecraft Chess Set for just $59 (was $69). Featuring a wood-like board with a grass-like playing field, your traditional pieces are replaced by iconic Minecraft characters and mobs. It’s a fun choice for fans of the game, especially at this new low price.

Minecraft Chess Set (The Noble Collection) $59 (was $69)

This is your standard game of chess, just with a Minecraft coat of paint. One side commands characters like Steve, Alex, villagers, horses, iron golems, and chickens, while the other offers pieces inspired by mobs such as creepers, the Ender Dragon, skeleton horses, and baby zombies. Pieces stand up to 4 inches tall and feature the same blocky proportions as found in the game, with each piece constructed to look like marbled stone or obsidian. The board can be separated into four pieces for easy storage, so it won’t take up much space in your treasure chest when not in use.

See at Amazon Minecraft Chess SetGallery

A Minecraft Movie is heading to home theaters this month, with an assortment of Blu-rays releasing on June 24. There’s a gorgeous 4K Steelbook available for $38, while Walmart has an exclusive Collector’s Crafting Table Edition--though this is only offered in standard Blu-ray. We’ve put together a comprehensive A Minecraft Movie preorder guide if you need help sifting through all your options.

If you’re seeking other chess sets, there are plenty of cool gaming and entertainment-inspired boards up for grabs, including more chess sets based on popular franchises like Minions, Jurassic Park, Batman, Mario. Many of them are currently on sale, though The Legend of Zelda Chess Set is sold out--if you're interested in it, be sure to check back periodically for restocks. Check the list below for even more themed chess sets.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Hello Games is bringing No Man's Sky to a new console. The publisher has unveiled No Man's Sky Switch 2 Edition, and shared an accompanying video that explains some of its upgrades over the original Switch port.

Players who had No Man's Sky on the original Switch should notice an immediate visual upgrade. The game's Switch 2 Edition has an improved framerate, 4K texture support and a crisper UI, in addition to supporting Switch 2's touchscreen and gyro controls. No Man's Sky will also have multiplayer functionality on Switch 2.

"With the original Switch, we were pushing right at the edge of what was possible," explains Hello Games co-founder Sean Murray in the video. "No Man's Sky on Switch 2 is just a huge leap forward. The extra horsepower, it allows us to add full multiplayer for the first time on Switch 2. Cross save and cross play are there from day one, allowing players a seamless experience across devices."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Tim Sweeney, the founder and CEO of Fortnite developer Epic Games, has discussed the role of artificial intelligence tools and systems for the future of video game development. He said AI systems can help smaller teams make big games, while also discussing why the AI landscape has been "tainted" already.

Speaking to IGN, Sweeney said history shows that with every major advancement in technology, there has been a "rise of new games," and he expects the same to be true for AI. Sweeney mentioned how the battle royale genre was only possible due to advancements in hardware performance and game engines to allow for 100 people to play a game at once.

With advancements to AI, Sweeney said he predicts a future where smaller teams can build grand games.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are on sale for just $185 (was $250) at Amazon, which is the lowest price we've seen for the popular earbuds. They even come with an upgraded two-year warranty, making them an even better offer than usual. Reviewers have cited the excellent noise isolation, comfortable design, and great audio quality--and now that they’re down to this great low price, they’re even easier to recommend. For a more affordable alternative, the Galaxy Buds FE are discounted to just $65 (was $100).

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro $185 (was $250)

These earbuds look different from other models, sporting unique white LED lights. They don’t serve much of a purpose beyond looking cool, though no doubt it makes them stand out from your run-of-the-mill earbuds. Along with the LEDs, both earbuds have touch controls on the stem for adjusting volumes, skipping tracks, or taking calls. They also feature excellent audio quality and are equipped with active noise canceling. They also ship with three different ear tip sizes with your purchase to help you find a comfortable fit. You’ll get around six hours of playback on a single charge, though the included case bumps that up to around 30 hours.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro can be used with pretty much any smartphone out there via Bluetooth, though you’ll get the most functionality when paired with Samsung gadgets. For example, they can double as a makeshift translator when paired with a Galaxy smartphone, as Galaxy AI can translate conversations in real-time.

See at Amazon (Silver) See at Amazon (White) Samsung Galaxy Buds FE $65 (was $100)

If you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are also discounted. Their stem-free design makes them look quite different than the Buds 3 Pro, but they’re still packed with cool features--such as a tappable area to control your music, a comfortable wing-tip design that helps keep them secure, and active noise cancellation. Expect to get around 7 hours of playback per charge, or around 26 with the included case. Like the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, the Galaxy Buds FE function as a translator when paired with a Galaxy device.

See at Amazon (Black) See at Amazon (White)

More Gaming, Tech, and Entertainment Deals & Preorders

• Walmart Has 512GB Switch 2 MicroSD Express Card For $65
• Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Restock - Walmart Will Have Consoles At 9 PM PT
• DualSense Edge PS5 Controller Drops To Best-Ever Price For Days Of Play
• + Show More More Gaming, Tech, and Entertainment Deals & Preorders Links (5)
• The PS5 Pro Has Received Its First Discount For Days Of Play 2025
• The Last Of Us Season 2 Steelbook Edition 4K Blu-Ray Is Up For Preorder
• The $325 Lord Of The Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set Is Only $146 For A Limited Time
• Tolkien Collectible Book Sets Are Up For Preorder - Myths, Legends, Tales Of Middle-earth
• Highly Limited Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary 4K Blu-Ray In Stock At Amazon

No, there isn't eShop music on Switch 2. But yes, the digital storefront seems greatly improved from a usability perspective on the upcoming system. A new video showing off the Switch 2 eShop shows a smooth and snappy interface--one that seems about a billion times faster than its original Switch counterpart (maybe a bit of mathematical exaggeration).

VGC shared a first look at the Switch 2 eShop on YouTube, revealing how much quicker scrolling to different games is on the storefront. Now, there still seems to be a bit of a hiccup when actually clicking a specific title. Still, this small pause is a noted improvement over the original Switch's eShop, which can go to a white screen with three dots before loading.

Another difference between the Switch and Switch 2 eShops relates to the left-side menu bar. Switch 2's storefront shows, in order from top down, these major categories: Highlights, Search, For You, and Wish List. Meanwhile, Switch's eShop displays Search/Browse at the top, though it starts highlighted on Featured. Under that is Recent Releases, Great Deals, and Best Sellers.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The original Nintendo Switch has long been a popular way to play Fortnite, but the Nintendo Switch 2's beefier specs will bring the battle royale experience more in line with how it looks and feels on other platforms, with a frame rate and resolution boost at launch, and the promise of mouse controls coming in a later update.

Epic Games shared details about the Switch 2 version on the official Fortnite blog, detailing the major improvements that players will experience after upgrading to the new console. Unsurprisingly, the most significant enhancement is to the game's frame rate--Fortnite will run at 60fps on Switch 2, whereas the game was stuck at 30fps on the original Switch.

Resolution will also get a major boost, going to 2176x1224 docked and 1600x900 undocked. The Switch 1 version of Fortnite ran at 1560x880 docked and 1170x660 in handheld mode after a 2021 update. Additionally, the Switch 2 iteration of the game will sport "greater view distances," along with higher-quality textures, shadows, and water rendering.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Switch 2 launches on June 5, and it's already June 5 in parts of the world, so the system's all-important day-one update is out now.

This update is a big, important one, as it adds critical features like support for Nintendo Switch Online, GameChat, GameShare, and the eShop itself. The update also adds the ability to perform a system transfer from the original Switch and allows players to upload screenshots, among other things.

Everyone is prompted to download the 20.1.1 update when performing the Switch 2's initial setup.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Madden NFL 26 is coming this summer, and when it arrives, you'll find that the team at Tiburon has done something it hasn't done before: It's added a new player ability based on a rookie. The game's library of X-Factor and Superstar abilities is a lengthy one that gets new additions every year, but Travis Hunter is the first rookie to inspire the team to think up a new one.

The ability is called Iron Man, and it's designed to let Hunter play both sides of the ball more effectively. Hunter comes to Jacksonville with the bona fides to play both wide receiver and cornerback, and football experts everywhere are wondering if he can become the NFL's version of Shohei Ohtani: a two-way superstar the likes of whom only come around once in a generation, if that.

Madden developer Tiburon had to find a way to make this work in-game. Typically, a player who might play on both offense and special teams gets winded more easily, and a tired player is more likely to get hurt, commit penalties, or fumble if they're a ball carrier--not to mention slow down, of course. Because Hunter is expected to play both offense and defense, and has shown, at least in college, an ability to do this remarkably well, the Iron Man ability essentially rewrites his stamina drain. This allows him to fend off fatigue and the game's Wear and Tear injury system, which Madden 26 is adopting from College Football 25 and 26.

Continue Reading at GameSpot