You know that feeling when your Switch dies right in the middle of a boss battle? Yeah, me too. Well, it seems like Nintendo might actually be listening to our battery woes with the rumored Switch 2 offering an easily replaceable battery in its new EU model. Finally, a glimmer of hope for those of us who forget to charge our devices overnight. Now, let’s look into the week’s gaming highlights and see what else is shaking up our virtual worlds. Spoiler: there’s a lot to cover and not enough time to play it all.
Nintendo Switch 2 may get easily replaceable battery with new EU model
Shifting gears, Nintendo might finally be catching up to the 21st century with the Switch 2. According to Polygon, the next-gen console is reportedly getting an easily replaceable battery, thanks to Europe’s right to repair laws. Europe wants us to stop turning consoles into e-waste, and that means making them easier to fix. Brilliant, right?
This update could extend to the Joy-Con 2 controllers too, potentially saving us all from the dreaded “Joy-Con drift.” If you’ve ever wrestled with a controller that thinks you’re trying to sprint when you just want to walk, you know what a big deal this is. It’s like Nintendo finally listened to our collective sighs of frustration.
But before you get too excited, this is all based on reports and nothing’s set in stone. Still, the mere idea of a Switch 2 that’s easier to maintain is welcome news. It feels like Nintendo is taking a step in the right direction, even if it’s just to avoid the EU’s regulatory hammer. Who knows, maybe one day they’ll even consider crossplay. A gamer can dream.
Read the full article on Polygon
As Sony Mulls Its PC Games Business, Death Stranding 2 Looks To Be A Hit
If you’re a Nintendo person who’s been eyeing Death Stranding 2 with mild curiosity, the game’s PC launch might finally pique your interest. So far, it’s got over 55,000 concurrent players on Steam, which is way ahead of what its predecessor managed. Gotta give credit to Kojima Productions for pulling that off, especially with the game sharing its release weekend with the heavy-hitting Crimson Desert. Pearl Abyss’s action-RPG clocked a peak of 239,045 players, which is quite the feat.
Meanwhile, Sony seems to be having a bit of an identity crisis over its PC plans. As GameSpot points out, Death Stranding 2’s performance may push Sony to reconsider its approach to PC ports. The fact that Helldivers 2 holds the top player count for PlayStation ports might mean Sony’s expectations are a tad high. Let’s not forget, their executives are feeling some competition jitters with the looming Project Helix from Microsoft. Apparently, they don’t love the idea of seeing their flagship games running on something that feels like a PC. Can’t really blame them.
Whether Sony doubles down on console exclusives or not, Death Stranding 2 is doing just fine without any hand-holding. With Kojima Productions calling the shots independently, who knows what they’ll cook up next? Maybe something as unexpected as a Death Stranding-themed credit card. We’ll be here to see how this shakes out.
Read the full article on GameSpot
CD Projekt Red stays coy when questioned about Witcher 3 expansion shadow drop
In other news, CD Projekt Red is teasing us with hints about a potential Witcher 3 expansion, but don’t hold your breath for a shadow drop. Eurogamer had the showstopping tidbit that if CD Projekt Red were up to something, say, a juicy new chunk of Witcher content, they’d prefer not to drop it as a surprise. Apparently, they want us to suffer through the anticipation. Because who doesn’t love waiting, right?
Given the studio’s history of teasing and then hitting us with a lengthy delay, it’s probably for the best if they just stick to the usual hype cycle. Remember Cyberpunk 2077? Yeah, we all do. It’s like they want to avoid any repeat performance of that particular saga. On the flip side, keeping us in the loop from the get-go might help them avoid the backlash of shattered expectations. So while a surprise expansion drop sounds fun in theory, a little transparency from our friends at CDPR might be the wiser move. Until then, we’ll just keep tossing coins to our Witchers and speculating wildly.
Read the full article on Eurogamer
Quick Hits
Slay the Spire 2 players bombarded the game with over 9,000 negative Steam reviews due to a card nerf that hasn’t even hit live servers. Blame it partly on China’s Steam restrictions. PC Gamer
The System Shock remake’s latest patch aims to fix those performance issues on Nintendo Switch and its sequel. Better late than never, I guess. VGC
Assassin’s Creed Shadows turns one today, keeping its open world grounded in some sort of reality while still delivering the fun. Who knew balance was possible? GameSpot
Polygon’s “One and Done” issue pays homage to movies and games that deserved a sequel but never got one. A toast to what could have been. Polygon
So, whether you’re planning to swap out that Switch 2 battery with ease or simply daydreaming about the possibilities, it’s a good time to be a gamer. Remember to carve out some time for yourself amidst the chaos of adulting. Keep your controllers charged, your spirits high, and your inventory stocked. We talk about all of this and more in our Discord, come hang.