Well, here we are, Nintendo fans. 

After four years of speculation, countless rumors, and a metric ton of wishful thinking, new Switch hardware is finally upon us and it’s… well, it’s basically exactly what we’ve come to expect from Nintendo. Or, at least, it’s exactly what we should expect from Nintendo at this point, based on its hardware track record. 

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”slug=nintendo-switch-oled-model-images&captions=true”]

Firstly, let’s take a look back at where these rumors began. The Switch Pro, or the Super Nintendo Switch for those of us who are truly elevated, has been a major topic of discussion since the Switch launched back in March of 2017. Over the course of the last four years, these whispers have run the full gamut between purely anecdotal optimism to expert rumor-milling. 

The general consensus across all these chats has been, of course, upgraded graphical prowess. The focus has long been about whether or not the Switch Pro would introduce a beefier chipset and allow Nintendo to finally (finally!!) make the leap to 4K and bring all of our favorite Nintendo franchises into the same visual league as Uncharted or Gears of War. I’ve been playing through Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and who doesn’t want that but for Mario? So, when Nintendo quietly announced the Nintendo Switch (OLED) via Twitter this morning, fans quickly began asking a new question: 

Where’s the Nintendo Switch Pro we were promised? 

Here’s the thing though: we weren’t. While fans, reporters, and creators have been fervently championing what is essentially vaporware, Nintendo has been telling us, pretty directly, not to get too excited for any major upgrades. In December of 2020, Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser told Polygon that Nintendo’s focus was on “existing formats”, a statement that was doubled down on in February by Nintendo President Shuntaro Fukuwara when he said that the company would not be announcing an upgraded model anytime soon. 

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”slug=a-history-of-nintendo-console-redesigns&captions=true”]

Despite Nintendo’s best efforts at tempering expectations, the rumor mill reached a fever pitch in March when Bloomberg reported that a new 4K model, sporting an upgraded Nvidia chipset and many of the (OLED) model’s trappings would arrive in time for holiday 2021. Naturally, Nintendo fans started looking at E3 as a potential window of confirmation for these rumors, but Nintendo itself s squashed that chatter (or, tried to) by specifically stating that its E3 presentation would be strictly software focused. 

Of course, Nintendo clearly explaining this in no uncertain terms is only a part of the puzzle, as iterative hardware is its all-time favorite move. You could ostensibly argue that Nintendo has built its entire business on iteration, making minor tweaks to a formula that works and selling it to the masses as the New Nintendo 3DS XL, or something equally newfangled and wordy.  

[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=Iterative%20hardware%20is%20Nintendo%26%2339%3Bs%20all-time%20favorite%20move.”]

Let’s go all the way back to the early ‘90s and take a look at the NES-101, also known as the NES2 or the “New NES” as it was called in the October 1993 issue of Nintendo Power. Introduced in October of 1993, this curved, top-loading version of the NES featured a more ergonomic controller and a $49.99 price point. By the time it arrived on the market, the Super Nintendo had already been on store shelves for two years in the US, but this revamped NES re-introduced Nintendo’s most successful console to a new audience at a lower price and with a library of hundreds of already published games. It was only manufactured for about a year (and received at least one upgrade through its lifetime), but it helped further establish a precedent for hardware generations to come. 

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/07/06/nintendo-switch-oled-model-official-announcement-trailer”]

Over the course of the next several generations, Nintendo would continue to iterate and release newer versions of hardware with minor and major improvements. Systems like the phenomenally successful Game Boy got upgraded to the Game Boy Pocket and eventually the Game Boy Color, which kept the console consistently competitive against a sea of would-be handheld challengers like Bandai’s WonderSwan or the NeoGeo Pocket. 

These iterations eventually lead to what many consider to be the pinnacle of The Game Boy,  the Game Boy Advance, in 2001, 12 years on from the original’s release. And while that may be true, it too was subsequently iterated on with the Game Boy Advance SP (the SP stands for “Special”, thank you very much) a unit that supported a sleek clamshell design, a rechargeable internal battery, and a larger screen, which eventually got backlit thanks to a second GBA SP model, the AGS-101. This model, introduced in 2003, is probably what you see in your mind’s eye when you hear the words “Game Boy Advance.” Accounting for 55% of overall Game Boy Advance Sales, the improved unit was tremendously successful and borderline ubiquitous in the early aughts. The GBA also got a micro version in 2005 that featured adjustable brightness, improved image sharpness, and swappable faceplates in an extremely portable, and also so tiny, form factor. It was the final iteration in the Game Boy line, which ultimately spanned 16 years and amassed Nintendo a lot of money. 

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”slug=best-nintendo-switch-accessories&captions=true”]

Of course, the pattern continued with the DS, of which there are about 437 different versions (no, not really) including the DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL, and so on and so forth ad infinitum. We should remind our readers that the Nintendo DS is the second highest-selling console of all time, just behind Sony’s PlayStation 2. 

This is to say, Nintendo has always taken a less conventional approach to hardware. Prioritizing accessibility over graphical power and introducing minor hardware updates over the course of a given generation has worked for decades. The Switch alone is the perfect example of this. The OLED model is the fourth version of the Switch to hit the market behind the Switch Lite and the red-boxed V2 model introduced in 2019; the latter was obviously not marketed nearly as hard as the Switch Lite, but represents an important update in the Nintendo Switch timeline. A more power-efficient processor resulted in improved battery life, a major gripe with the original Switch model, and ultimately encouraged some fans to trade in their original units for a V2 model. 

[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=%20Prioritizing%20accessibility%20over%20graphical%20power%20and%20introducing%20minor%20hardware%20updates%20over%20the%20course%20of%20a%20given%20generation%20has%20worked%20for%20decades.%20″]

So, now we get one with a better screen. Makes sense when you remember the GBA did it twenty years ago and that worked out pretty well for Nintendo. I play my Switch mostly docked so this update doesn’t mean a ton to me, but for folks who use their Switch as a traditional handheld this is actually a pretty huge upgrade, and one that will encourage more mid-generation upgrading than the V2 or Switch Lite did.. More, given that V1 versions of the Switch are increasingly rare, it’s not out of the question to think that the Switch (OLED) will quietly become the only “switchable” version of the Switch available, and the Switch Lite will be there for folks who don’t care about playing Nintendo games on a TV and want to save $150. 

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/16/metroid-dread-trailer-5-things-you-might-have-missed”]

I think what’s more interesting about the Switch (OLED) is the possibility that Nintendo is backdooring more 3rd party support with the simple inclusion of an ethernet port. Previous models of the Switch required an ethernet adapter if you wanted to hardwire your Switch to play games online instead of relying on the (less than stellar) wifi. This new model, however, has a LAN port built into the dock itself, which makes hardwiring a possibility out of the box. The Switch has seen a number of cloud versions of major third-party games over the last few years like Control, Hitman 3, and Resident Evil 7 to mixed results. In June, it was announced that Eidos Montreal would be bringing a cloud version of Guardians of the Galaxy to Switch, and I can’t help but wonder if this is Nintendo’s answer to its  HD problem. These cloud versions are running increasingly more smoothly (assuming you have a great connection) and support from Square, Ubisoft, Capcom, and others would be a huge boon for Nintendo.

Despite all this, I’d be lying to say that I wasn’t a little disappointed by today’s announcement. A fully HD Nintendo console has been something I’ve wanted for a long while, although why I’m not exactly sure. With each generation, I lament Nintendo’s unwillingness to get in league with my Xbox or PlayStation, but every generation I have the same realization that I don’t necessarily need Nintendo games to knock me off my feet graphically because what I’m actually there for is gameplay and Nintendo (mostly) consistently delivers in that department. The upcoming Breath of the Wild sequel would certainly look stunning in 4k with a locked framerate, but would it make it that much better a game? Probably not. Ultimately, Nintendo will likely never need to rely on a chipset to stay competitive because at this point, as the Switch closes in on the Wii’s overall sales numbers and rides into its umpteenth month at the top of the console sales charts, it’s pretty clear that it’s only competing with itself.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Zachary Ryan used to work at IGN. He still does sometimes but he used to, too. Follow him on Twitter @zachariusd.

If you’re like us, you’ve just woken up to the surprise announce of a new console variant. The attached trailer will do most of the heavy lifting, but if you want the elevator pitch, we’ve got one. It’s more or less: better screen tech that’s bigger, a wider (more adjustable) stand on the back, smoother quality speakers and 64GB of on-board storage. Oh, and there’s a white variant.

Below is a list of where to score one (and if console buying in 2020/2021 is anything to go by, these will probably sell out quick). We’ve also given you a whole bunch of recommendations on games and accessories to buy!

Nintendo Switch Console OLED White

[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=au-daily-july-7-ns-hero-w”]
[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=au-daily-july-7-ns-list-w&type=list”]

Nintendo Switch Console OLED Neon

[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=au-daily-july-7-ns-hero-n”]
[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=au-daily-july-7-ns-list-n&type=list”]

Games worth getting

[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=au-daily-july-7-ns-games-hero”]
[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=au-daily-july-7-ns-games-list&type=list”]

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]
Sign up to get the best Aussie gaming deals sent straight to your inbox!

Kazuha has a calm demeanor, but don’t let that fool you. With the recent buffs to elemental mastery, his entry to the Genshin Impact character roster couldn’t be more perfect. Delivering a mini Venti burst and an elemental burst that melts shields, this samurai is ready to shred and chill!

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/29/genshin-impact-collected-miscellany-kaedehara-kazuha-free-spirit-trailer”]

Best Team Composition for Kazuha

Kazuha is a strong and flexible sub DPS. He can group enemies with his elemental skill and his damage is not bad either. He can also give your party an elemental damage bonus which is very good if you’re running a team with only one element, such as a full pyro team.

This doesn’t mean that Venti or Sucrose is going to be replaced by Kazuha in every team composition. There are teams where it would be much preferred to have Sucrose than Kazuha, such as vaporize and melt compositions where Sucrose’s passive helps the other members of the party.

While Venti is easily the strongest Anemo sub DPS character, if you’re having trouble hitting enemies inside his elemental burst, Kazuha’s elemental skill does the same thing but in a shorter fashion and a much lower angle.

An example of a team composition you can run with Kazuha is a Keqing electro-charged team. This team has Keqing as its main DPS while Kazuha acts as a sub DPS together with another hydro character, preferably Xingqiu. Assuming that Keqing is built as an electro DPS instead of a physical DPS, Kazuha’s Ascension 4 passive gives this team the damage boost it needs as every electro swirl buffs Keqing’s electro damage while clumping small enemies with his elemental skill.

What are Kazuha’s Talents?

Kazuha’s talents are all pretty good so we’d recommend keeping them all at the same level. However, if you’re building Kazuha’s elemental mastery with little to no attack, it’s safe to leave his talents at level 1 and focus on maxing out his level.

Garyuu Bladework (normal attack)

• Normal Attack: Perform up to 5 rapid strikes.
• Charged Attack: Consumes a certain amount of stamina to unleash 2 rapid sword strikes.

• Plunging Attack: Plunges from mid-air to strike the ground below, damaging opponents along the path and dealing AoE damage upon impact. If this plunging attack is triggered by Chihayaburu, it will be converted to Plunging Attack: Midare Ranzan.

• Plunging Attack: Midare Ranzan: When a plunging attack is performed using the effects of the elemental skill Chihayaburu, plunging attack damage is converted to Anemo damage and will create a small wind tunnel via a secret blade technique that pulls in nearby objects and opponents.

Chihayaburu (elemental skill)

Unleashes a secret technique as fierce as the rushing wind that pulls objects and opponents towards Kazuha’s current position before launching opponents within the AoE, dealing Anemo damage and lifting Kazuha into the air on a rushing gust of wind.

• Press: Can be used in mid-air.
• Hold: Charges up before unleashing greater Anemo damage over a larger AoE than Press mode.
• Plunging Attack: Midare Ranzan: Within 10 seconds of remaining airborne after casting Chihayaburu, Kazuha can unleash a powerful plunging attack known as Midare Ranzan.

When a plunging attack is performed using the effects of the elemental skill Chihayaburu, plunging attack damage is converted to Anemo damage. On landing, Kazuha creates a small wind tunnel via a secret blade technique that pulls in nearby objects and opponents. Midare Ranzan’s damage is considered a plunging attack.

Kazuha Slash (elemental burst)

The signature technique of Kazuha’s self-styled bladework — a single slash that strikes with the force of the first winds of autumn, dealing AoE Anemo damage.

The blade’s passage will leave behind a field named “Autumn Whirlwind” that periodically deals AoE Anemo damage to opponents within its range.

• Elemental Absorption: If autumn whirlwind comes into contact with Hydro/Pyro/Cryo/Electro, it will deal additional elemental damage of that type. elemental absorption may only occur once per use.

Soumon Swordsmanship (first ascension passive)

If Chihayaburu comes into contact with Hydro/Pyro/Cryo/Electro when cast, Chihayaburu will absorb that element and if Plunging Attack: Midare Ranzan is used before the effect expires, it will deal an additional 200% ATK of the absorbed elemental type as damage.

This will be considered plunging attack damage. Elemental absorption may only occur once per use of Chihayaburu.

Poetics of Fuubutsu (fourth ascension passive)

Upon triggering a swirl reaction, Kaedehara Kazuha will grant all party members a .04% elemental damage bonus to the element absorbed by swirl for every point of elemental mastery he has for 8 seconds.

Bonuses for different elements obtained through this method can co-exist.

Cloud Strider (utility passive)

• Decreases sprinting stamina consumption for your own party members by 20%.
• Not stackable with passive talents that provide the exact same effects.

What are Kazuha’s Constellations?

Kazuha’s constellation, like other characters, provides significant changes to him. His C1 and C4 deal with his energy recharge problems. His C2 gives him a massive elemental mastery buff and his C6 puts a main DPS Kazuha discussion on the table with the damage bonus it offers from every point of elemental mastery and the Anemo infusion. However, keep in mind that this infusion can be overridden.

C1 – Scarlet Hills

Decreases Chihayaburu’s cooldown by 10%.

Using Kazuha Slash resets the cooldown of Chihayaburu.

C2 – Yamaarashi Tailwind

The autumn whirlwind field created by Kazuha Slash has the following effects:

Increases Kaedehara Kazuha’s own elemental mastery by 200.

Increases the elemental mastery of characters within the field by 200.

The elemental mastery-increasing effects of this constellation do not stack.

C3 – Maple Monogatari

• Increases the Level of Chihayaburu by 3.
• Maximum upgrade level is 15.

C4 – Oozora Genpou

• When Kaedehara Kazuha’s energy is lower than 45, he obtains the following effects:
• Pressing or holding Chihayaburu regenerates 3 or 4 Energy for Kaedehara Kazuha, respectively.
• When gliding, Kaedehara Kazuha regenerates 2 energy per second.

C5 – Wisdom of Bansei

• Increases the level of Kazuha Slash by 3.
• Maximum upgrade level is 15.

C6 – Crimson Momiji

• After using Chihayaburu or Kazuha Slash, Kaedehara Kazuha gains an Anemo infusion for 5 seconds. Additionally, each point of elemental mastery will increase the damage dealt by Kaedehara Kazuha’s normal, charged, and plunging attack by .2%.

The Best Kazuha Builds

The best weapons for Kazuha depend on the type of artifact main stats you’re running. If you’re running a full elemental mastery on him, we suggest going for a sword that has energy recharge as its sub stat like Sacrificial Sword. If you’re running energy recharge and double elemental mastery, we suggest an elemental mastery sword, like Iron Sting or Freedom-Sworn.

With that being said, his artifact main stat priority can be energy recharge sands with elemental mastery for the rest or straight up elemental mastery for everything. Just make sure to have at least a 180% energy recharge if you’re running him as a solo Anemo character on your team. If you have Venti, then having around a 145% energy recharge works.

If you don’t have elemental mastery pieces for Kazuha, you can go for energy recharge, Anemo damage bonus, and crit rate/damage. But we highly recommend going for elemental mastery.

Best Weapons for Kazuh

Freedom-Sworn

• Revolutionary Chorale:
  • A part of the “Millennial Movement” that wanders amidst the winds.
  • Increases damage by 10~20%. When the character wielding this weapon triggers elemental reactions, they gain a Sigil of Rebellion. This effect can be triggered once every .5 seconds and can be triggered even if said character is not on the field.
  • When you possess 2 Sigils of Rebellion, all of them will be consumed and all nearby party members will obtain “Millennial Movement: Song of Resistance” for 12 seconds. “Millennial Movement: Song of Resistance” increases normal, charged, and plunging attack damage by 16~32% and increases attack by 20~40%.
  • Once this effect is triggered, you will not gain Sigils of Rebellion for 20 seconds.
  • Of the many effects of the “Millennial Movement,” buffs of the same type will not stack.

Iron Sting

• Infusion Stinger
  • Dealing elemental damage increases all damage by 6~12% for 6 seconds. Max 2 stacks. Can only occur once every 1 second.

Sacrificial Sword

• Composed
  • After dealing damage to an opponent with an elemental skill, the skill has a 40~80% chance to end its own cooldown. Can only occur once every 30~16 seconds.

Best Artifacts for Kazuha

Viridescent Venerer

• 2 piece bonus: Anemo damage bonus +15%
• 4 piece bonus: Increases swirl damage by 60%. Decreases the opponent’s elemental resistance to the element infused in the swirl by 40% for 10 seconds.

To wrap things up, Kazuha is a very solid addition to Genshin Impact. Kazuha presents players with another sub DPS/support Anemo option. Choosing between Kazuha, Venti, and Sucrose can make the difference between dealing good damage and great damage. With Sucrose, you’d want a team that focuses on elemental reactions, as her passive buffs the elemental mastery of her party members. Meanwhile, Kazuha thrives on a team composition that focuses on an elemental carry that can consistently deal damage like Diluc, Klee, or Keqing.

A quick swap team also exists, if that’s your jam. This kind of team focuses on rotating between party member’s elemental skills and bursts. A common quick swap team with Kazuha is Venti, Xiangling, and Bennett. Similar to his role in other teams, Kazuha’s passive buffs the swirled element (which is pyro in this composition), while Venti provides the much-needed energy refund.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Cedric Pabriga is a freelance writer for IGN. He spends most of his day listening to music or playing video games. He also writes short stories in his spare time. You can follow him on Twitter @IchikaRika.

Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Peacock have announced a new licensing agreement that will bring the studio’s theatrical slate to streaming faster than before. Beginning in 2022, Universal films will become available exclusively on Peacock no later than four months following their theatrical debut.

The accelerated window between theatrical and streaming will cover films from Universal, Focus Features, Illumination, and DreamWorks Animation. This means that films like Jurassic World: Dominion, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Minions: The Rise of Gru, and the latest original movie directed by Jordan Peele will hit Peacock within four months of their big screen bows.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/21/jurassic-world-dominion-official-teaser-trailer”]

The new agreement accelerates what is called the pay-one window, which would traditionally span six to seven months before the pandemic. However, Universal and Peacock’s deal features some nuances about streaming exclusivity. For the first and last four months of the 18-month pay-one window, Universal movies will be exclusively streaming on Peacock. They will be made available to other partners for the 10 months in between, though these partners have not yet been disclosed.

Universal and Peacock’s announcement also includes plans for Universal to develop and produce original content to premiere on the streaming service. While there were no announcements of specific projects, the deal details plans to debut Peacock-exclusive content in 2022.

“This new dynamic Pay-One agreement demonstrates UFEG’s continued commitment to building a film ecosystem that allows filmmakers and artists to reach the broadest possible audience, celebrates and strengthens the theatrical experience, and, above all, empowers fans to experience the films they love on their own terms,” said Peter Levinsohn, Vice Chairman and Chief Distribution Officer at UFEG. “We’re excited to become Peacock’s first Pay-One partner while the platform continues to curate and build a vast film library that will delight its rapidly growing subscriber base.”

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”slug=hidden-gems-to-watch-on-peacock&captions=true”]

The new agreement is just the latest development in studios’ shifting approaches toward streaming in a post-pandemic era. Warner Bros. has continued with its plan to simultaneously release its entire 2021 theatrical slate on HBO Max for one-month exclusive windows, bringing the likes of Dune, The Suicide Squad, and The Matrix 4 to living rooms at the same time as theaters. Disney is also experimenting with its Premier Access program, which makes theatrically released movies like Cruella, Raya and the Last Dragon, and the upcoming Black Widow available to Disney Plus subscribers at a $30 rental.

Peacock has had a rocky first year since its official launch in July 2020. While the service has added 42 million accounts, The Wall Street Journal has reported that fewer than 10 million have signed up for either of Peacock’s paid subscription models, which are available at $4.99 and $9.99 per month. Comparatively, Disney Plus hit 103 million subscribers in May while Netflix’s numbers surpassed 200 million earlier this year. HBO Max launched in May 2020, two months before Peacock, and has grown with HBO to a combined subscriber base of 44.2 million in the US.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.

Nintendo’s announcement of a new Switch OLED model was met with more of a whimper than a bang, judging by the reaction of many on the internet. Perhaps expectations had been bloated by the months of reports and rumors suggesting that this new model would be a significant power upgrade. Maybe after four years with the Nintendo Switch, fans are just itching for a bigger splash. For whatever reason, the modest feature upgrade isn’t the game-changer that many Switch users (or prospective owners) hoped for. But as a handheld player who has never felt comfortable committing to the Switch Lite, it looks to be the perfect fit for my use-case.

The Switch OLED’s upgrades are undoubtedly minimal. The simple fact that Nintendo is naming it after its biggest new feature–the new, slightly larger OLED screen–should show that this is more of a step than a leap. It packs some other improvements, like a better kickstand, more internal storage, and a LAN port built into the dock. None are exactly earth-shattering, especially when compared to expectations that a new Switch would bring performance upgrades including the ability to output to 4K. A real “Switch Pro” upgrade with 4K support and a faster processor may still be coming, but this isn’t it. And while a technical upgrade would be welcome as some games have shown poorly against the hardware’s limitations, the OLED model feels like a welcome upgrade until that theoretical newer model shows up.

I’ve always treated the Nintendo Switch as a handheld system. I can probably count the number of times I’ve docked it on both hands, and it’s never stayed docked for long. This habit made the Nintendo Switch Lite a tempting proposition: A smaller form factor and bright colors looked like a fun way to keep playing my Switch library in a method more akin to my long history with Nintendo handhelds.

At the same time, I was always held back by a nagging doubt. Would I miss the option to dock the system on the rare occasion that I want to? What if my kids want to play multiplayer games on the big screen with me? Would I be missing out? I never did pick up a Switch Lite because those questions made me perpetually afraid to take the plunge. I didn’t want to cut off access to the Switch’s namesake feature. I wanted an upgrade that catered to me as a handheld player but didn’t lock me into it.

I will admit to a certain degree of tech lust. I’m the type of person who happily followed Nintendo through various DS and then 3DS upgrades. This probably makes me Nintendo’s ideal customer–the 30-something with disposable income, childlike affection for Mario and Pikachu, and a high degree of temptation toward the shiny and new. So part of my lingering desire for a Switch Lite was simply that I wanted the newest thing, but what held me back was that it didn’t really suit my needs.

The Switch OLED, by comparison, appears to find that balance much more cohesively. It’s slightly larger and heavier, but by such a small margin that I doubt I’d ever notice. The screen upgrade will be appreciated, and I love the new white/black color scheme. The built-in LAN port is a nice-to-have for when I want to dock the system, but more importantly, the upgrade doesn’t negate my ability to dock the system. I still have the option to switch with my Switch.

I wanted an upgrade that catered to me as a handheld player but didn’t lock me into it.

The Switch OLED isn’t right for everyone. Obviously, if you treat it as a console first and foremost, the major marquee new feature is essentially meaningless to you. This system is targeted toward handheld players, and more precisely, toward ones like me who still want to dock their systems. Nintendo’s account data from 2017 showed that 30% of Switch owners played in handheld mode more than 80% of the time. By comparison, 20% played in dock mode 80+% of the time, so there’s a relatively small but still significant difference in system use. And naturally, this is old data, so the breakdown may have changed since then–especially with the flurry of new adopters last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still, if we assume the numbers are still roughly accurate, it’s easy to see why Nintendo is putting out this new model. With more than 80 million Switch systems sold, an upgrade that appeals to roughly 30% amounts to tens of millions of potential customers. In fact, that 2017 data may have influenced Nintendo’s decision to release the Switch Lite in 2019. By all accounts, the Switch Lite is doing fine for itself, but Nintendo must see an open market opportunity that it didn’t reach with the handheld-only model. The internet’s reaction to the Switch OLED may have been muted, but the impact on sales almost definitely will not be–particularly when considering the higher price tag.

So, assuming I can find one–an open question if there ever was one, given recent trends in hardware shortages–I’ll be satisfied with a modestly upgraded Nintendo Switch. It feels aimed squarely at me, as a handheld player who never felt fully comfortable committing to handheld-only forever and ever.

Armored Batman has finally arrived in the Fortnite Item Shop after months of teases and a few leaks. The new skin is the fourth for DC’s Caped Crusader to come to Fortnite, joining earlier versions such as Batman Zero, Nolan’s The Dark Knight Batman, and a traditional Batman made in the style of classic Fortnite characters.

The new skin comes as a bonus item for no additional charge for any players who entered their in-game codes that have accompanied the last six issues of Batman X Fortnite: Zero Point, a tie-in comic written by DC brass in collaboration with Epic’s chief creative officer, Donald Mustard. The Armored Batman cosmetic set the Exo-Glider, the Batarang Axe, and the Exo-Glider Cape. In total, the set sells for 2100 V-Bucks, or about $16.

Other characters in the tie-in series include Harley Quinn modeled after her 2016 Rebirth self, a new Catwoman Zero outfit to match the Fortnite comics, and Slade Wilson, aka Deathstroke, one of Batman’s most combat-efficient foes. This new tie-in outfit is surely not the final DC Comics crossover that will be featured in Fortnite. We’ve already seen others, such as Beast Boy, The Flash, and Aqua Man, come to the game, and there seems to be no slowing the Fortnite train, so it’s safe to assume more will come in time. We don’t even need to speculate about Superman in Fortnite, as he’s coming later this season.

The Week 5 challenges and Week 5 Alien Artifacts are just around the corner, so get a head start on those and show off your new Armored Batman in the process. For more exciting Fortnite skin’s don’t miss the LeBron James leak too.

GameStop opened a Discord server, and to no one’s surprise: It is currently utter chaos. The server and its bot–and poor moderators–are likely overwhelmed by the influx of new users.

As of writing this, the only channels presently available are the LFG ones, separated by game titles. So far, the accessible LFG channels include Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Destiny 2, Fortnite, Overwatch, Rocket League, and World of Warcraft.

In the future, once the server is no longer getting bombarded by new users, there will also be three other channel sections available. The GameStop section will include announcements, role-selection, media, and streams channels. The second one, Community, will have a general video game discussion channel, as well as a tabletop games, off-topic, and feedback channels.

GameStop will also set up an Esports section with a general esports chat channel. When the role section function is up and running, users can select which esports they follow and get access to those specific channels.

Needless to say, nobody is currently using the game channels for what they’re meant to be. There’s a lots of memes and of course, discussions of stocks in every channel.

GameStop unintentionally became a meme and possibly, a counter-culture symbol for some people in early 2021. Individuals part of WallStreetBets heavily bought the videogame retailer’s stocks, driving GameStop’s stock value to soaring heights. WallStreetBets members viewed it as a win against professional traders, the “fat cats of Wall Street.” For a full rundown of the situation, you can read our explainer on the GameStop stock situation.

While it feels like yesterday that Pokemon Go became popular, the mobile AR version of the gotta-catch-em-all game is now turning five years old.

Niantic will celebrate Pokemon Go’s fifth anniversary with in-game events from July 6 to July 15. Notably, a Flying Pikachu held up by balloons will be obtainable, and there’s an increased chance of encountering Darumaka and its Shiny counterpart.

We’ve included a summary of what you can expect from Pokemon Go’s fifth anniversary below. Trusty Leek Duck also put together a useful infographic, which is included here as well.

Lure Modules:

• Will last for one hour, including Glacial, Magnetic, Mossy, and Rainy Lure Modules.
• Pokemon appearances: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie.

One-Star Raids:

• Pokemon appearances: Darumaka, Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie, and Flying Pikachu with a 5-shaped balloon.

Wild:

• Pokemon appearances: First-partner Pokemon, including Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott.

Field Research:

• Daily Bonus Field Research Tasks Pokemon Appearances: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, Turtwig, Chimchar, Piplup, Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie.
• Jump-Start Special Research will be available and gives extra Stardust and XP rewards. It will help newer trainers catch up.

Other Event Features:

• Get Shiny Meltan from Mystery Boxes
• Fireworks will appear on maps
• Completion of the Collection Challenge reward: Encounters with Flying Pikachu, Rare Candy, and extra Poké Balls.
• Real-time sky mechanic and additional Pokédex classifications
• Expansion of Item Bag to 3,500

Pokemon Go has made a lot of money since launch, to the tune of an eye-watering amount of 5 billion. 2021 appears to be one of more successful years Pokemon Go has had too, with a 34% increase in revenue the first half of the year when compared to 2020’s revenue. The game is also the darling of Nintendo designer, Shigeru Miyamoto. He commented that the Pokemon Go experience is a “dream come true of playing a game with my whole family.”