Nintendo
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Nintendo.
Nintendo's Reason for No Discounts: It Ships "Complete" Games, Former President SaysFormer Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé explained that Nintendo's strategy of not discounting games stems from a philosophy of shipping complete, high-quality products, akin to 'Kyoto craftsmanship.' He noted that titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild have maintained their launch price for years. Fils-Aimé also touched upon Nintendo's recent experiments with dynamic pricing, including different costs for digital versus physical releases and higher prices for new titles like Mario Kart World.
Nintendo Switch 2 Price Hike May Happen Amid Investor Pressure – RumorNintendo is reportedly facing investor pressure to increase the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 due to rising manufacturing costs and a global memory shortage. Analysts are divided on whether a price hike is advisable, with some warning of negative impacts on software sales and others believing it's necessary to maintain profitability. The company's president, Shuntaro Furukawa, has previously stated that hardware profitability depends on component procurement, cost reductions, and exchange rates.
US: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has now surpassed $400MillionThe Super Mario Galaxy Movie has surpassed $400 million in US box office sales and $629 million worldwide. The animated film, a collaboration between Illumination and Nintendo, has achieved the largest domestic debut of the year, outperforming Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Nintendo is estimated to have made around $190 million from the film's North American release.
Miyamoto: Zelda 2 was “sort of a failure” and Link to the Past is the “real sequel”Legendary developer Shigeru Miyamoto reflected on Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, calling it "sort of a failure" and a "side story." He considers The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the Super Nintendo to be the true sequel to the original The Legend of Zelda.
"It's a totally crazy market" – The seismic impact of the AI boom on video game hardwareThe surge in demand for AI data centers has caused a significant shortage and price increase for consumer hardware components like RAM and GPUs. This impacts gaming hardware manufacturers such as Nintendo, Valve, and Sony, leading to higher prices for consoles like the PlayStation 5 and potentially delaying new hardware launches like the Steam Machine. The increased costs also affect game development studios by raising the price of essential development hardware.
Video: Nintendo Showcases Its Biggest Switch 2 Games In New AdNintendo UK released a new video highlighting the Nintendo Switch 2, its features, and upcoming first-party games such as Pokémon Pokopia and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. The ad appears shortly before Nintendo's end-of-year financial report, potentially aimed at shareholders.
There are major discounts on Splatoon Raiders and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and the Switch 2 games aren't even…Both Splatoon Raiders and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book for Nintendo Switch have seen record low prices before their release dates. While typically known for holding their value, these first-party Nintendo titles are available for significantly less than their MSRP, with discounts on physical copies at retailers like Amazon.
Talking Point: Do You Prefer Big Directs Or A Steady Flow Of News From Nintendo Today?This article discusses Nintendo's shift towards using its Nintendo Today mobile app for game announcements, potentially replacing or supplementing traditional Nintendo Direct presentations. Staff members share their views on whether this 'little and often' approach is preferable to large, infrequent showcases for both fans and the company's marketing strategy.- Nintendo Games Don't Get Discounted as They Launch at a Fair Price and Are 'The Best,' Reggie Fils-Aimé SaysFormer Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé stated that Nintendo games are never discounted because they are considered 'the best' and comparable to fine 'Kyoto craftsmanship,' which justifies their 'fair price.' He believes this approach ensures the value proposition for consumers.
Pokemon Pokopia Switch 2 Bundle Heads to AustraliaNintendo announced a new hardware bundle for the Nintendo Switch in Australia and New Zealand, featuring the game Pokemon Pokopia. The bundle, priced at AUD $769.95, will be available starting June 5, 2026, and includes a standard Nintendo Switch console with a digital download code for the game. This follows a similar bundle for Mario Kart World.- A New Nintendo 64 Cartridge in 2026? Donut Dodo Kickstarter Celebrates 30 Years of N64A new retro-inspired arcade platformer titled Donut Dodo is being released as a physical cartridge for the original Nintendo 64, celebrating the console's 30th anniversary. The Kickstarter campaign for the game, which was originally released on PC and consoles, reached its funding goal within 24 hours. The campaign is currently focused on unlocking stretch goals for the physical release.
Shigeru Miyamoto felt Zelda 2 "was sort of a failure", and Nintendo actually considered A Link to the Past as the "real" Zelda sequelNintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto has admitted that he felt Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link was a failure, despite it being his idea. He revealed that Nintendo internally considered The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past to be the true sequel to the original game, viewing Zelda 2 more as a side story.- Smash Bros. Ultimate set an impossible standard. So what comes next?Following the immense success of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, speculation is mounting about the direction of the next installment in the franchise, with rumors suggesting a potential 2027 release. While the game's massive roster set an unprecedented standard, discussions suggest future titles might need to focus on innovative gameplay mechanics and refined character designs rather than simply expanding the roster further.
Nintendo doesn't discount games because its "mentality" is always shipping "the best" says former NOA president Reggie Fils-AiméFormer Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé explained Nintendo's philosophy of not discounting games, attributing it to a company-wide mentality of shipping complete, high-quality products. He contrasted this with the industry trend of releasing incomplete games that are later updated. While Fils-Aimé left Nintendo in 2019, the article notes that some recent Nintendo titles have adopted a 'ship later' approach with post-launch content updates.
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto defends The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's fast pacingNintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto defended the fast pacing of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, comparing its structure to his own game development philosophy of creating self-contained, enjoyable units. He believes Illumination's method of swapping and rearranging these units results in a dense and engaging experience, particularly for younger audiences.
Modders have turned the GameCube into a keychain console using Wii parts that's smaller than Ninty's…A DIY project has successfully miniaturized a Nintendo GameCube using Wii parts, creating a console smaller than its original discs. This "Nintendo Kawaii" mod, developed by Macho Nacho Productions, results in a pocket-sized device that can run GameCube games via RVLoader from a microSD card. While it requires custom components and has limitations like a 20-minute thermal shutdown, it represents an ambitious fusion of retro hardware.
Japan: Super Mario Galaxy Movie wasn’t localised from English to Japanese, but rebuiltShigeru Miyamoto revealed that the Super Mario Galaxy Movie was not simply localized from English to Japanese but was rebuilt for the Japanese market. The team aimed to create entertaining Japanese dialogue, with Makoto Ueda handling the script to ensure natural conversations and humor.
Retro Lego Sega Genesis console is real, costs just $40, and has more pieces for less money than the Lego Game BoyLego has announced a new retro Sega Genesis console building set for $40, featuring 479 pieces and two controllers. The set includes interchangeable nameplates for 'Sega Genesis' and 'Mega Drive' and a removable Sonic the Hedgehog game cartridge. This release offers more pieces and a lower price point than the previously released Lego Game Boy.
Donkey Kong Bananza's Latest DLC Event Kicks Off Next WeekNintendo has announced that the next downloadable content event for Donkey Kong Bananza, titled 'Rattlin' Snake Bananza', will commence next week from May 12th to May 19th, 2026. This event will introduce two new in-game statues, Snake Bananza and Rattly the Rattesnake, and requires the 'DK Island & Emerald Rush' DLC.
Hitman Dev Talks GTA 6 Delay, First Light For Switch 2, And What's Up With Its Fantasy GameIO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak discussed the impact of Grand Theft Auto 6's delay on their upcoming game, 007 First Light, noting it provided more breathing room. The Switch 2 version of 007 First Light has been delayed to late summer, while the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC versions will release on May 27. Abrak also confirmed that IO Interactive's fantasy RPG, Project Fantasy, is still in healthy development and financed by an unnamed partner, believed to be Microsoft/Xbox.