This new incarnation of Bob-omb Blast will revolve around bursting opponents’ balloons by using only the Bob-omb item to get points. The player with the most points at the end of the time limit is the winner. Interestingly, the original incarnation of the game mode was played up until a certain point requirement was met. The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe version, on the other hand, brought in refinements like encouraging more action in the last minute of a match by giving players more items.

Along with the game mode itself, the update also brought in other improvements, like giving the Bullet Bill power-up more range in lateral movement. Some items also got nerfed, like the Boomerang, which saw a reduction in range as well as in the number of consecutive throws that the game was allowed.

Mario Kart World is available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2, and has sold over 14 million copies so far. Take a look at our review for more details. And check out all the information about this latest update below.

Mario Kart World version 1.6.0 patch notes:

General

• Added Bob-omb Blast as a Battle mode.
  • You can have up to 10 Bob-ombs on hand at a time.
  • The distance Bob-ombs can be thrown depends on how long you hold the L Button.
• Adjusted the performance of Bullet Bill.
  • Increased their range of lateral movement.
  • It is now easier to follow a shortcut route immediately after using Bullet Bill.
  • Increased Bullet Bill’s speed on parts of the Bowser’s Castle, Starview Peak, and Rainbow Road courses.
• Adjusted the performance of the boomerang.
  • Reduced the boomerang’s range.
  • Reduced the number of consecutive throws allowed.
• Adjusted the probability of items that can be obtained from item boxes during races.
• Adjusted the invincibility time after spinning or crashing during a race so that it varies depending on the character and vehicle.
  • The heavier the weight, the longer the invincibility time.
• Made it so that you won’t get crushed by things, such as Thwomps, while spinning or crashing.
• It is now possible to be hit by lightning and Spiny Shells immediately after being crushed by things, such as Thwomps.
• Made it so that things like Bob-ombs and Bananas don’t bounce on top of the vines of Ivy Piranha Plants.
• When playing Single Player or 1p during Online Play and Wireless Play, up to two warnings will be displayed when items like Red Shells or Spiny Shells come from behind.
• Shortened the time until the roulette stops to determine the course in Online Play and Wireless Play.

Fixed Issues

• Fixed an issue where the starting position would sometimes be incorrect.
• Fixed an issue where cows and other creatures that appeared through Kamek’s magic would fall through the ground.
• Fixed an issue where the display of Wiggler that appeared through Kamek’s magic would sometimes be incorrect.
• Fixed an issue where Thwomps or Rocky Wrench would appear in Airship Fortress or in the cannons in the race leading to Airship Fortress.
• Fixed an issue where the character would sometimes disappear from view when looking in the rearview mirror after using a Mega Mushroom.
• Fixed an issue where you could not return to a point before the Ivy Piranha Plant when using Rewind after transforming into a Bullet Bill.
• Fixed an issue where the item slot would not display correctly after using Boo and returning to Free Roam.
• Fixed an issue in Knockout Tour where players who passed through a checkpoint after the first-place player had already reached the goal would not be eliminated, even if their rank was outside the predetermined cutoff.
• Fixed an issue in Time Trials where the display of stacked tires would sometimes appear incorrectly.
• Fixed an issue in Free Roam where a fleeing Nabbit would fall through the ground.
• Fixed an issue in Events where scores were not displayed on the results screen during practice.
• Fixed an issue where the screen display would sometimes become distorted after selecting Change Character in Free Roam in Online Play.
• Fixed an issue in Knockout Tour and Online Play where rankings would sometimes be incorrect after passing through checkpoints.
• Fixed an issue where the selected event would disappear when a communication error occurred after selecting Online Play.
• Fixed an issue in Online Play and Wireless Play where rivals using Bullet Bill sometimes appeared not to be transformed.
• Fixed an issue where the final results were not displayed after spectating in Knockout Tour in Online Play or Wireless Play.
• Fixed an issue in Knockout Tour where the player being spectated would not change after that player was eliminated.
• Fixed an issue where the gliding distance could be excessively long during the race from Airship Fortress to Dry Bones Burnout.
• Fixed an issue where using the Feather while jumping in Shy Guy Bazaar during races from Airship Fortress or Wario Stadium to Shy Guy Bazaar could cause you to go off course.
• Fixed an issue where doing a wall ride in Shy Guy Bazaar during races from Airship Fortress or Wario Stadium to Shy Guy Bazaar could cause you to go off course.
• Fixed an issue in Bowser’s Castle where players could crash while driving over lava with a Dash Mushroom.
• Fixed an issue in Salty Salty Speedway where players would sometimes fall through the ground after being hit by lightning and shrinking.
• Fixed an issue when in a battle on DK Pass where you would sometimes not be returned to the course after using a Feather and ending up outside the course.
• Fixed an issue where using a Mega Mushroom near the fence in Dino Dino Jungle could cause you to be returned to the course.
• Fixed an issue in Koopa Beach where some buoys were buried in the ground.
• Fixed an issue in Mario Circuit where using a Mega Mushroom could cause the player to get stuck on a fence.
• Fixed an issue in Mario Circuit where players could sometimes be returned to the course when riding on a wall of blocks.
• Fixed an issue where players would sometimes be returned to the course when driving along the wall near the starting point of Faraway Oasis.
• Fixed an issue where Bloopers sometimes appeared dark in replays of Rainbow Road.
• Fixed an issue in Rainbow Road where Spike Balls that appeared through Kamek’s magic would sometimes move erratically.
• Fixed an issue where using the Feather to take a shortcut on Rainbow Road could sometimes cause incorrect final rankings.
• Fixed an issue where you would sometimes recover too far ahead if you fell off the course while gliding on Rainbow Road.
  • Time Trials ghosts that have encountered this issue may be removed from View Rankings without notice.
• Fixed an issue in the race from Wario Shipyard to Starview Peak where players could sometimes fall off the course while taking a shortcut.
• Fixed an issue where using a Mega Mushroom near the fence in Wario Stadium could cause the player to fall off the course.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

Other notable sales milestones for first-party titles include Donkey Kong Bananza selling 4.25 million units; Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition at 3.89 million (12.3 million with the Switch 1 version included); and Kirby Air Riders at 1.76 million.

What’s shocking is that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond isn’t even listed. Granted, it launched in early December, and it very well could have done well on the original Switch. Nevertheless, considering how long ago it was announced and the rebooted development – not to mention this is the illustrious Metroid Prime franchise we’re talking about – it’s somewhat disappointing.

Nevertheless, with 17.37 million Switch 2 consoles sold in less than seven months, Nintendo is clearly just getting started with its first-party rollout. The next big release is Mario Tennis Fever, which is available on February 12th. There’s also Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, out in April for the original Switch, but which could receive higher-resolution support on the Switch 2.

With that being said, there’s always a lesson or two to be learned from adversity, and it’s always good to take a look at where things went wrong and how they can be improved. To that end, we’ve put together a list of events in the gaming world that garnered quite a response from the gaming community, and not in a good way. Let’s dive right in!

1. GTA 6 Delayed To November 2026

We’re sure you saw this one coming and thought it best to get it out of the way early. It’s always a bummer when a highly anticipated title faces a delay, and that becomes a lot worse to bear when that title has been a very long time in the making.

While we’re not going to hold a grudge against Rockstar for this one, as we suspect that the delay is only going to make the final game even better, it still rankles to know that there’s still such a long way to go before we get to dive into what we’re sure is a banger from the studio.

2. Microsoft’s Xbox Hardware Price Hikes

The Xbox hasn’t had a great run in the last few years, and Microsoft certainly didn’t help its case when it hiked the prices on Xbox consoles and a few games in May of last year. While we’re not going to get into the politics that are rumored to be behind the decision, it certainly wasn’t great news for Xbox fans in the market for a new console, with the flagship Series X’s prices going up by around 22% – a significant increase on a console whose popularity has been gradually eroding away.

However, Microsoft might not be entirely to blame for the situation; it was a choice that still didn’t sit well with many, never mind the fact that the PlayStation also saw its prices increase as a response.

3. Price Hikes On PlayStation Hardware In Some Regions

In Europe, the UK, and Australia, Sony hiked prices on the PS5 Digital Edition by around 10%, the reason given being economic turmoil around the world. It’s probably not as bad as the hike on Xbox consoles but is still quite an increase on an already pricey machine despite the excellence it brings to the table.
We’re just glad that the PS5 Pro remained unscathed through it all, and Sony probably deserves a bit of praise for managing to keep things under control for the most part.

4. Game Pass Price Increase

It wasn’t just consoles that saw unpopular price hikes, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate becoming dearer by quite a significant margin, prompting backlash from existing and potential subscribers. Despite Microsoft issuing a statement saying that such occurrences were “never fun for anybody”, it didn’t help with stopping a string of cancellations as frustrated gamers decided to speak up against the price hikes with their wallets.

We’re just glad we didn’t have to deal with the consequences of the decision, as things certainly got nasty.

5. Sony’s PS Plus Pricing Hike

Sony’s PS Plus wasn’t safe from global economic conditions either, and the service saw price hikes in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Once again, Sony must be commended for restricting the fallout of turbulence in global supply chains, but the price hikes were still quite unpopular among gamers.

It’s interesting to see how Sony managed to keep things in control in comparison with Microsoft, but the price hikes did raise concerns about the value of gaming on consoles versus the same costs on a PC. That’s an interesting facet of this equation that does merit close observation over the next couple of years, and the Steam Machine’s debut might be quite a twist in this tale.

6. AI In Video Games

Generative AI made things quite complicated for a few studios in 2025, with many players and critics calling out its use in video games as a step in the wrong direction. A great example would be ARC Raiders, where lines of NPC dialogue being handled by AI received quite a bit of backlash and review bombing on what was an otherwise solid game. And we suppose there’s no need to mention the controversy surrounding The Alters, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Fortnite.

7. Call of Duty Black Ops 7

While disappointment with the annual Call of Duty franchise has become something of a recurring tradition, it wasn’t really surprising to see Black Ops 7 fall as flatly as it did. The story, gameplay, and overall presentation failed to gain the momentum needed to stop the franchise’s slump, and the game has been among our worst shooters of 2025 thanks to the likes of ARC Raiders.

Some might be holding out hope that the franchise can turn things around with subsequent instalments though, but that’s looking pretty unlikely now.

8. Mario Kart World’s Hefty Price Tag

Mario Kart World was certainly incredible, and a great title to show off what the Switch 2 could do. But its pricing left a bitter taste in the mouth of those who bought it, and perhaps even put off some players who might have otherwise chosen to dive in.

While an $80 price tag on an excellent game might be palatable to people who want quality, it did raise concerns about a new pricing standard that could isolate quite a few gamers whose budgets might not allow them to pick up great games consistently.

9. Industry Wide Layoffs

There’s a long list of studios that have been shut down, and teams that have faced layoffs over a variety of factors. Studios like Monolith, whose Nemesis System is now probably locked away in a vault somewhere, are great examples of talented teams who were unfortunately let go thanks to a variety of factors.

2025 also saw layoffs across Electronic Arts, Supermassive Games, People Can Fly, Amazon Games, and several others, with thousands of developers ultimately losing their jobs. Here’s hoping that all of the talented folks who were affected it managed to land on their feet.

10. MindsEye

Boy, was this one an annoyance. We went into MindsEye expecting great things from Build A Rocket Boy but were left with a bitter taste in our mouth after its lifeless world, lackluster story, and uninspired combat. This was a game that should have been so much more, and was perhaps the most egregious fail that 2025 brought to the gaming world.

The studio’s response to the criticism aimed at their debut title was also quite lacking, showcasing a poor attitude that did it no favors, and perhaps can act as a lesson to other studios whose offerings fail to get off the ground at the outset.

11. Monster Hunter Wilds PC

This one’s another instance of a disappointing end to a very long wait. With Worlds being as good as it was, Wilds should have been a sequel that took the popular franchise from the developer to new heights. And while the game did manage to put up a good show on consoles, its PC performance left players quite irate with the studio thanks to its poor optimization.

Frame rate issues, poor VRAM optimization, crashes, stutters, and so many more problems ruined what should have been an incredible time hunting monsters in visually stunning environments. This one’s a classic example of a game that should have been more popular right off the bat but was let down thanks to its problems. We’re happy it managed to get back on track though, somewhat.

12. Where Winds Meet’s UI Issues

If you’ve been with us for a while, you already know that Where Winds Meet has been quite a surprise for all of us who got to play it. However, its UI is one area that could certainly use some polish. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that it’s so confusing it runs the risk of making its players miss important parts of its gameplay loop, and needs to do better and communicate all of the myriad systems it contains.

This isn’t a game-breaking problem but it does need to be addressed nonetheless considering the amazing quality of everything else on offer in the experience.

13. Valorant’s Text Verification

Valorant might be among the best esports shooters out there, but that might have worked against the game in this particular instance. With Riot Games aiming to minimize cheating within the game and requiring users to use multi-factor-authentication to be able to play the game, it was obvious that there was going to be a bit of backlash.

With accounts being tied to specific mobile numbers and stringent checks against shady practices, players with multiple accounts who actually played the game without resorting to malpractices were forced to adhere to the new rules. Although necessary, it could still be seen as uncomfortable. We’re all human, after all.

14. Lacking Features At Launch

Several titles released with content that wasn’t available at launch, causing dissatisfaction among players thanks to how crucial they were to their overall enjoyment of the game in question. Borderlands 4’s excellent visuals might have tempted many of its players to take a break and grab some awesome shots of its world, but the lack of a Photo Mode at launch made that an area of frustration.

Ghost of Yotei should have had a New Game+ mode from the very start but that wasn’t the case. Its distinct lack of enemies out in its open world after you finished its story should have been a reason to have the option to get right back into the action but at least it’s there now for those who want it. Several other titles had notable omissions that had us scratching our heads at why they weren’t in the game in the first place.

15. Cancelled Projects

Sony pulled the plug on Bend Studio and Bluepoint Studio’s live-service projects in its pivot towards more profitable (and probably safer) ventures, while Microsoft also cancelled Everwild and Perfect Dark, both of which seemed like solid additions to their respective lineups of titles.

It’s always disappointing to see games with potential be denied the chance to show what they have but it is what it is.

And that’s a wrap on some of 2025’s failures that had gamers shaking their heads at dismal decisions and poor execution of great ideas. Here’s to hoping that 2026 manages to make lists like these a lot shorter!

Mario Kart World

The best Mario Kart in the series? Your mileage (pun fully intended) may vary, but it is by far the most feature-packed. Free Roam in an open world with P-Switch challenges and cosmetics to gather; new moves like hopping and wall-riding for a higher skill ceiling; brand new tracks that seamlessly link together; and new modes are just some of the things long-time fans can look forward to, and it all works well.

Kirby Air Riders

21 playable characters and 22 machines, each with unique abilities and stats respectively; brand new tracks and remasters from the first game; the return of Top Ride and City Trial, with the latter turned into a faux battle royale mode of sorts; boss fights; and a full-fledged story mode. But even if you want to hop on for a simple race or two, it’s pure unfiltered fun – just like the original.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

While there’s plenty of criticism to be had for its visuals, Game Freak’s latest mainline Pokémon title manages to capture that same monster-collecting magic. Lumiose City is full of unique sights, sounds and Pokémon to collect, and new elements like the Z-A Royale and Rogue Mega-Evolved Pokémon, alongside simple delights like traversing the rooftops, make it stand out.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Catacomb-like levels, progressively unlocking new abilities and backtracking to uncover new areas, that expectation of something incredible around every corner – even after all these years, Retro Studios still knows how to capture that feeling. The new additions in Beyond, like Vi-O-La, also seamlessly slot in, and wouldn’t you know it, even the NPC companions, despite concerns pre-launch, aren’t terrible. More importantly, experiencing it with such fidelity, complete with mouse controls, elevates it to a new whole level.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2

Technically not a native Switch 2 release, experiencing two of the greatest platformers of all time in 4K is hard to resist. The new Storybook Chapters offer a bit of new content, but really, it’s all about scouring the galaxies once more, reliving the wonder of each planet and the discoveries they hold.

Donkey Kong Bananza

It almost seemed impossible that Jumpman’s worst nightmare would get his own starring role once more, but Bananza delivers on that and then some. Excellent platforming and bombastic visuals were a given – this is from the Super Mario Odyssey team after all – but the destruction elements work so well in tandem, resulting in a 3D platformer that’s more than worthy to stand side by side with Mario’s greatest adventures.

Hades 2

Supergiant follows up one of the best rogue-likes in years with – surprise, surprise – an incredible sequel. Between the sheer amount of stuff to do, whether you’re venturing into the Underworld or ascending into Olympus, the challenging and unique boss fights, or the sheer depth that each new weapon offers, Hades 2 feels like a massive step forward in every single way.

Split Fiction

Hazelight’s latest is one of the best co-op experiences of the year (and many before it), and feels tailor-made for Switch 2. Even if it’s not the most fully-featured port, being able to GameShare with local players or engage in cross-play, alongside the Friend’s Pass (which means not having to buy an extra copy), is still great.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road

You wouldn’t believe this took more than nine years and multiple delays to release, but that seems to be a theme for 2025. Regardless, Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road isn’t the most realistic adaptation of football so much as the best adaptation of the anime, complete with MAPPA’s cutscenes and over 5,400 recruitable characters. It’s truly unlike anything else out there and a blast once you get into it.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Team Cherry’s long-awaited sequel is infuriating, frustrating, and challenging, but it’s also mesmerizing, addictive, and oh-so-good to control. The gameplay loop remains as finely crafted as ever, enhanced all the more with Hornet’s movement abilities, and the sheer attention to detail in areas, from their art to their secrets, will keep you coming back long after. It’s a tough bug to love, but Silksong is a stellar game.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

The prospect of Cyberpunk 2077 running on the original Switch was laughable years ago, and yet, here we are more than five years later, experiencing it on the Switch 2 in all its glory. From the excellent base game to the stellar Phantom Liberty, this is still one of the best RPG experiences, and the addition of touch screen gestures for the UI and gyro aiming makes it feel that much better on the Switch 2. Also, shipping the entire package on an actual cart instead of a Game-Key Card? Chef’s kiss.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

Truth be told, the new features – like the phone maps and QR codes for sharing Zonai machines – weren’t the most game-changing for Nintendo’s masterpiece. Nevertheless, it’s still a masterpiece, and being able to play it in 1440p/60 FPS with improved fidelity and faster loading is what we’ve always wanted. For that reason alone, it’s worth picking up.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Switch 2 Edition + Star Crossed World

For those who didn’t get their fill from Air Riders, the Switch 2 version of Kirby’s acclaimed 2022 adventure is well worth diving into. Star Crossed World offers a brand new storyline with new sections in old stages alongside new abilities, Mouthful modes and enemies to tussle with as you investigate a mysterious meteor. And of course, it’s a significant upgrade over the original’s already gorgeous visuals.

Cronos: The New Dawn

Bloober Team made a big impact with last year’s Silent Hill 2 remake, but its newest title channelled an altogether different survival horror vibe. A post-apocalyptic future with mutating monstrosities, time-traveling, a more enigmatic pace and protagonist, and more kept Cronos from feeling like a Dead Space rip-off. Even in handheld mode on the Switch 2, it’s a tense, terrifying ordeal.

Star Wars Outlaws

Ignored at launch, Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars scoundrel had a quiet but notable redemption this year, aided by its Switch 2 port. How the development team (in collaboration with Red Lynx) managed to deliver such great performance and ray tracing while retaining image quality, even with DLSS, is fascinating to behold. The fact that the game itself still looks so gorgeous while playing better than ever also doesn’t hurt.

And the Best Switch 2 title of 2025 goes to…

Donkey Kong Bananza

Did you really expect anything else, especially when a Donkey Kong game lets you rip chunks out of the environment to toss at enemies or surf on them with utter abandon? Bananza is more than just the Mario Odyssey formula, but with more destruction and a different protagonist. It’s a masterclass in pacing, deftly balancing the collect-a-thon aspects and real-time destruction with superb level design. Donkey Kong controls like a dream; the new Bananza Powers are as ridiculous as they are fun; and there isn’t an ounce of filler or unnecessary padding. For that reason, and many more that we could spend all day listing, it’s our pick for the best Switch 2 game of 2025.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

Cyrodiil may not be the largest world in The Elder Scrolls series to date, but it still holds its own, especially in Virtuos’s remaster. The side quests were already acclaimed for their variety and quirkiness – from sleeping in an inn on a boat and waking up to find it hijacked to the missing painter. But it’s a joy to explore the world and take in your surroundings, made even better with locations like The Shivering Isles.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Say what you will about Assassin’s Creed Shadows – and everyone’s had their fair share to say this year – the scale is simply phenomenal. You’ll scour the remains of Harima with its many corpses, witness gorgeous castles like Azuchi, bask in the almost hypnotic Omi Lake, and so much more. A lot of effort has gone into accurately capturing their details – the only disappointment is that there won’t be a Tourism Mode like previous titles.

Atomfall

Rebellion’s take on a post-nuclear disaster world, inspired by the actual English countryside, is one that I still find endearing, despite other flaws. The free-form nature of exploration, as you can go almost anywhere, be it the abandoned laboratories of BARD or different settlements, including the highly strung Wyndham Village. Whether it’s locating clues to venture into hidden bunkers or discovering mutant plants, the world feels dense and lived-in.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Did anyone expect that Metroid Prime 4 would go, ahem, beyond with its scale when it was announced all those years ago? Viewros isn’t just a cacophony of jungles with ravenous beasts or facilities in volcanic caverns. It’s also a vast series of deserts, navigated by the sleek new bike, Vi-O-La, which allows for some light shoot ’em up action to break up the exploration and scanning.

Monster Hunter Wilds

As annoying as its performance, end-game, and other woes have been, I will admit: There’s something about the Forbidden Lands in Monster Hunter Wilds. Maybe it’s the weather and other conditions shifting in real-time, causing other monsters and resources to appear, or their design, whether it’s the spiralling elevations of Oilwell Basin or the sheer openness of the Windward Plains. Even if you’re mostly dashing through on your mount, stopping and observing nature as a whole yields some impressive discoveries.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

Coming off of one of the longest side-scrollers ever (not including the DLC), it’s unsurprising that Silksong should be just as massive. Each location has a unique hook, enemies, bosses, and surprises, from the prison break without equipment to the mechanically beautiful intricacies of the Clockwork Core. But the fact that Team Cherry could pack so much in that’s also completely missable – including an entire third Act – is simply bonkers.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Featuring the entirety of Honolulu from Infinite Wealth is already an insane flex when it comes to the sheer size of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. But what’s a high seas adventure without an ocean and multiple islands to traverse, complete with treasure hunting, crew recruitment and naval combat? For what’s essentially a non-mainline entry, the sheer scale and coverage are pretty insane, but still manageable enough to clear in under 50 hours.

Clair Obscur

To say that Sandfall Interactive’s environments are a tour de force in aesthetic beauty and fidelity would be an understatement. Fields of giant swords, massive landscapes of battles past, the stadium full of Nevron dancers – it’s an endless stream of incredible levels, some feeling compact while others are absolutely massive. And that’s not even accounting for the secret spots where some of the most devious challenges await.

Ghost of Yōtei

Ezo is a fascinating region in Sucker Punch’s long-awaited follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima. With no bearings or directions, it’s vastly larger than your map indicates. Even as the flame-charred remains of Ishikari Plains, the frozen wilds of Tokachi Range, and the battered Oshima Coast become familiar, it never loses its incredible sense of discovery. From the peak of Mount Yōtei to the reaches of Saito’s fortress, its massive size is matched by its sheer range of activities.

Where Winds Meet

We’ve already covered just how massive the Jianzhu can be, promising over 100 hours of solo content alone, but it bears repeating, especially for a free-to-play experience. There are over 20 regions, each uniquely crafted to offer a distinct atmosphere and numerous points of interest. Then there’s Kaifeng City, which packs in thousands of NPCs and various activities, almost feeling like it could have been the sole location in a smaller game. Even with horses and practically soaring through the skies, the Jianzhu is simply awe-inspiring.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Taking it as a challenge to dwarf the original, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 just packs in so much more throughout. That includes the landscape, which provides a wider range of gorgeous sights, such as Kuttenberg, the biggest city yet with traders, armorers, combat arenas, and various associated quests. But even those who wish to embrace the great outdoors will encounter more than their fair share of adventure.

The Outer Worlds 2

The fact that you can spend over a dozen hours on the starting planet should give you enough hints about the overall size of The Outer Worlds 2. From there on, you’ll venture to the lush greenlands of Eden, the desert reaches of Dorado, the icy of the Cloister and more, including the ACS Undisputed Claim, which is a massive trading hotspot. Even if many of these climates will seem familiar, they’re packed with unexpected discoveries (and threats).

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Compared to its predecessor, Death Stranding 2 mostly unfolds across two locations. One look at Mexico, the first, and you’re just absolutely dwarfed by the sheer size and scale, but then you reach Australia, and it’s even bigger. Perhaps even more impressive – besides all the requests, facilities, and whatnot – is how varied the flora and fauna are throughout. Even the mountain ranges are significantly more complex than anything from the first game. The fact that you can explore and surmount these in different ways makes them all the more endearing.

Mario Kart World

No, this isn’t Forza Horizon levels of quality, but the “world” of Mario Kart World is pretty cool. Navigating the freeways between races, taking advantage of hops and wall rides while avoiding traffic, can be fun. The drifting, power-ups and utter madness of each race are still the appeal, but if you’re looking to unwind, maybe unlock new outfits or complete with P Switch challenges, free roam is a near-boundless playground.

Borderlands 4

It’s funny to look back and see just how Gearbox undersold the sheer openness of Kairos. Aside from a few instance boss fight locations, you can seamlessly travel from the Fadefields to Carcadia Burn and Terminus Range without any loading screens. The sheer variety of activities, from enemy camps and towers to capture to Drill Sites, Order Bunkers and Auger Mines, is also impressive. For me, it’s the verticality, which excellently leverages the new traversal mechanics, that really shines.

Along with this, there have also been a few changes made to courses for VS Race, Race, Online Play and Wireless Play modes. Some of the tracks with these changes include races from Koopa Troopa Beach to DK Spaceport, Crown City and Peach Stadium, and Whistlestop Summit to Koopa Troopa Beach, among many others.

Along with these changes and new things, the update also fixed a host of smaller bugs throughout the game, like an in-use Bullet Bill not properly being displayed, or players getting squashed by touching Thwomps that had already landed.

For a full list of changes and additions, check out the patch notes below. And for more details about Mario Kart World, check out our review.

Mario Kart World version 1.4.0 patch notes:

General

• Added “Custom Items” to the item rules.
• This is a feature that lets you set which items appear.
• This is supported in “VS Race”, “Balloon Battle”, “Coin Runners”, and “Room” in “Online Play” or “Wireless Play”.
• Made it so that music track name and source title of the track that is playing will be displayed on the Pause Menu.
• Added “Music Volume” to “Settings/Controller”.
• Made it so players who gathered in a “Room” of “Online Play” can participate in “Race”, “Knockout Tour”, and “Battle”.
• Up to 4 players can participate in “Race”, “Knockout Tour”, and “Battle”.
• Made it so you can join in with friends who are playing “Knockout Tour” from “Friends” in “2p”, “Online Play” as well.
• Added “Restart” and “Next Race” in the Pause Menu for “VS Race” in “Single Player”.
• Made it so you can select “Photo Mode” from the Pause Menu in “Race against Ghost” in “Time Trials”.
• Changed the course layout of below courses for “VS Race”, or “Race” in “Online Play” or “Wireless Play”.
• Race that heads from “Koopa Troopa Beach” to “DK Spaceport”.
• Race that heads from “Koopa Troopa Beach” to “Crown City”.
• Race that heads from “Koopa Troopa Beach” to “Peach Stadium”.
• Race that heads from “Whistlestop Summit” to “Koopa Troopa Beach”.
• Race that heads from “Desert Hills” to “Koopa Troopa Beach”.
• Race that heads from “DK Spaceport” to “Koopa Troopa Beach”.
• Race that heads from “Crown City” to “Koopa Troopa Beach”.
• Race that heads from “Peach Stadium” to “Koopa Troopa Beach”.
• *Changed it so that, in all races heading toward “Koopa Troopa Beach”, including the above courses, you will cross the finish line after two laps once you arrive at “Koopa Troopa Beach”.
• You will now dash when riding on Manta Ramp’s back.
• Made it so the player will not hit Dragoneel when transformed into Bullet Bill.
• Made it so the player cannot use a second Boo while already using a Boo, when holding two Boos.
• When Dash Food is taken by someone, shortened the time until that Dash Food reappears.
• When a coin placed on water is taken by someone, shortened the time until that coin reappears.

Fixed Issues

• Fixed an issue where the dash time was not correct after a Charge Jump.
• Fixed an issue where the player would slip through a wall when being stomped on from above by a vehicle driving on the road.
• Fixed an issue where a player would be squashed when touching a Thwomp that had landed.
• Fixed an issue where a Bullet Bill would not be displayed after using it.
• Fixed an issue where a character would be blurry even when making “Focus” “Character” when taking a photo in “Photo Mode” on the Pause Menu.
• Fixed an issue where the screen would look distorted if entering a pipe at the same time as joining a Free Roam in “Online Play”.
• Fixed an issue where player could not get in a UFO when multiple players tried to get in a UFO at the same time in Free Roam in “Online Play”.
• Fixed an issue where a friend’s information would not be updated when looking at the list of friends in “Friends” in “Online Play”.
• Fixed an issue where there would be a communication error when looking at a group ID in “View Room Info” when participating in a group in “Friends” in “Online Play”.
• Fixed an issue where a player’s place would go down if retiring during “Knockout Tour” in “Online Play”.
• Fixed an issue where a player that is seen when spectating looks like they are going off the course over and over during “Knockout Tour” in “Online Play” or “Wireless Play”.
• Fixed an issue where the player’s own character or vehicle would change when starting “Online Play” or “Wireless Play” again after quitting a game after “Knockout Tour” in “Online Play” or “Wireless Play”.
• Fixed an issue where a player would get stuck on a wall when using a Bullet Bill while falling off the course in “Sky-High Sundae”.
• Fixed an issue where a Bullet Bill would go outside the course when using it on the final curve in “Boo Cinema”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would slip through a bulldozer in “Toad’s Factory”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on a spotlight in the race that heads from “Toad’s Factory” to “Bowser’s Castle” when transformed into Bullet Bill.
• Fixed an issue where if the player used a Bullet Bill or Spiny Shell in the first curve of “Desert Hills”, it would get stuck on a rock.
• Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on a tree when using a Bullet Bill on “DK Pass”.
• Fixed an issue where, when the player was small because of Lightning, they would slip through the wall on the final curve of “DK Pass.
• Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on a billboard when transforming into Bullet Bill in the race that heads from “Crown City” to “Desert Hills”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the ring of stone when using a Bullet Bill or Mega Mushroom while falling in “Great ? Block Ruins” right before the final curve.
• Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on the ground on the meadows near “Big Donut”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would slip through the wall if rewinding after wall riding in the special room you can go to from a pipe in “Shy Guy Bazaar”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would still fall into the lava even though they have “Smart Steering” ON in “Dry Bones Burnout”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course when using a Bullet Bill while rail riding in “Wario Stadium”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would not be able to glide if getting on a glide panel while gliding in the race that heads from “Wario Stadium” to “Airship Fortress”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would get stuck on the ground while heading from “Wario Stadium” to “Airship Fortress”.
• Fixed an issue where the vehicle would float up from the rail when the player did a rail ride after a wall ride in a bike-type vehicle in “Wario Stadium”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course when using a Bullet Bill on the shortcut while heading from “Dandelion Depths” to “Cheep Cheep Falls” in the “Ice Rally” of “Knockout Tour”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course while gliding, while heading from “Dandelion Depths” to “Cheep Cheep Falls” in the “Moon Rally” of “Knockout Tour”.
• Fixed an issue where a green shell would get stuck on the ground while heading from “Airship Fortress” to “Dry Bones Burnout” in the “Heart Rally” of “Knockout Tour”.
• Fixed an issue where the player would go off the course when they transformed into Bullet Bill on top of a building in “Crown City” in the below races:
• Race that heads from “DK Spaceport” to “Crown City”.
• Race that heads from “Koopa Troopa Beach” to “Crown City”.
• Race that heads from “Faraway Oasis” to “Crown City”.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.

While he admitted that he had underestimated the strong line-up already available through the existing offerings on from the original Switch, he did mention that he found himself scratching his head when he saw that the console would only launch with Mario Kart World, with Donkey Kong Bananza coming out shortly afterwards.

“From a business perspective, when I first saw that line-up, I scratched my head a little bit,” he said. “Certainly, what I underestimated was the enhanced Nintendo Switch 1 content, which I think has been compelling. The stuff that you get for free as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, I think that has helped drive some of the momentum. And then certainly, [Donkey Kong] Bananza was a key driver for them.”

It is worth noting that, since the release of the Switch 2, the rest of the year has seen quite a few releases, both from Nintendo itself, as well as third-party companies. The most recent of these releases were Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, with other titles like Kirby Air Riders and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond also slated for release before the end of the year.

As for third-party game makers, Fils-Aimé expressed surprise at the fact that Xbox still hasn’t fully embraced the Nintendo Switch 2 as a viable platform for more of its games. He noted that the console is capable of running quite a few games, and it’s still surprising that Microsoft hasn’t yet announced any Switch 2 ports.

“I’m surprised that Xbox has not yet fully embraced Switch 2 from a software perspective,” he said. “Certainly some games could easily be ported over to Switch 2. And I’m surprised that we haven’t seen more of that. I thought there would be much more, especially during this timeframe leading into the Holiday.”

“All through the fall, I was fully expecting some dedicated announcement. And I’m surprised it hasn’t happened.”

When it comes to how Nintendo positions itself against competing companies Sony and Microsoft, Fils-Aimé has said that the company will never really position itself as a direct competitor to PlayStation.

“It’s not in their DNA. It’s not how they think about the business opportunity,” he explained. “However, would they welcome some of the latest core gamer-type of content, whether it’s the latest Assassin’s Creed or Call of Duty, onto their platform? Absolutely. Do I think that there’s a player base there for those games? Absolutely. The key, and this is something that the team there thinks about every day, is making sure that third-party developers have the tool sets so that they have the full capability to bring the best of their games onto Switch 2.”

Furukawa said this in response to a question raised during the Q&A session of the earnings report about the increase in component costs and how this will affect the Nintendo Switch 2. He noted that there are areas Nintendo is investigating that could see cost reductions in response to rising component pricing.

“We believe that we’ll be able to maintain the current level of profitability for hardware for the time being unless there are significant changes in external factors, such as a shift in tariff assumptions, or other unexpected events,” said Furukawa. “While we are aware that the costs of various materials are rising, we also anticipate some areas where cost reduction may be achieved for Nintendo Switch 2 through ongoing mass production efforts.”

“Therefore, currently we do not expect the recent rise in material costs to greatly impact profitability. We will continue our efforts to maintain the same level of profitability as we currently have.”

Furukawa also spoke about the sales momentum that Nintendo has been seeing with the Switch 2. When asked whether the company is exploring options to grow the new console’s user base beyond the currently-targeted pre-existing customers of the original Switch, he noted that the company expects to remain in that same phase for the time being. At the same time, however, the company is also working to broaden its market by appealing to new consumers as well.

“For now, we expect to remain in a phase where it is primarily existing Nintendo Switch owners who will purchase Nintendo Switch 2. But at the same time, we will work to convey the appeal of Nintendo Switch 2 to new consumers through the release of software titles and other means.”

As for the differences between early adopters and late customers, Furukawa noted that sales of the Switch 2 between early buyers of the original Switch and late buyers have been pretty even.

Elsewhere in the Q&A, member of the board, executive fellow and representative director Shigeru Miyamoto also commented on the success of the Mario Kart franchise, especially in the company’s more recent console generations. When asked whether there is a possibility that a game could come out on the Nintendo Switch 2 that could surpass the Mario Kart franchise in sales, Miyamoto said that, while Nintendo allows developers freedom to try new ideas, there is a chance that it may remain unbeaten.

“One thing that is interesting about Nintendo is that it’s okay to try anything,” said Miyamoto. “On the other hand, even if something like that happens, Mario Kart would probably continue to sell well in that undertaking as well, so it may never be surpassed!”

Overall, Nintendo Switch 2 software sales reached 20.62 million. However, there is a caveat to Mario Kart World’s price debate. Its sales include the $499.99 Switch 2 bundles (which are only available until this Fall). With the console retailing for $449.99, that effectively reduces the cost of the title to $50.

So, while unit sales are certainly impressive, the overall dollar sales would likely be lower than you’d think. Of course, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continuing to sell – yes, even after Mario Kart World’s release – topping nearly 70 million units, Nintendo is no doubt playing the long game. What’s a few million units sold at a relative discount in the grand scheme of things?

Check out our review for Mario Kart World here, outlining everything it does (and doesn’t) do well. You can also read our thoughts on Donkey Kong Bananza, which is a bona fide Game of the Year contender.

The update has primarily focused on quality-of-life changes. For example, players can now keep a track of the P Switches in the world through the Free Roam map. Players can also quickly fast travel to a P Switch they’ve previously run over. UFO encounters will also be easier to find in Free Roam mode, while Peach Medallions also got some adjustments when it comes to the requirements for their appearance.

This latest update is a follow-up from update 1.2.0, which was released back in July. That update also focused quite a bit on quality-of-life enhancements, such as letting players know when they’ve gotten all collectibles of certain types, as well as multiplayer improvements like mid-race intermissions getting a waiting timer.

Mario Kart World was one of the launch titles for the Nintendo Switch 2. The title has proven to be incredibly popular, with Nintendo confirming that it had sold more than 5.5 million copies in its first month. For more details, check out our review.

Mario Kart World Version 1.3.0 Patch Notes:

General

• You can now join friends playing “Knockout Tour” by selecting “Friends” from “Online Play” “1p.”
• Up to two players can now play “Free Roam” while waiting if the game was full when trying to join friends playing “Race,” “Knockout Tour” or “Battle” in “Online Play.”
• The “Free Roam” map now displays the locations of P Switches you’ve run over and Peach Medallions you’ve obtained.
• You can now select a P Switch from the map and move to a location near the P Switch.
• In “Free Roam,” you can now transform into the character pulled into the UFO.
• If “Dash Food” in “Settings/Controller” is set to “Doesn’t transform” then you will not transform.
• It is now easier to encounter UFOs in “Free Roam.”
• The conditions for the appearance of some Peach Medallions in “Free Roam” have been adjusted.
• When spectating in “Knockout Tour” or “Balloon Battle” in “Online Play” or “Wireless Play,” you can now choose who to watch, even if you are holding the Joy-Con 2 or Joy-Con horizontally.
• Decreased the time between when an item box is taken by someone and the next time it is revived.
• Increased the invincible time after spinning or crashing during a race.
• Reduced the force of jumps when landing on a rival from above.
• Decreased the amount of time between when you finish and when spectating begins in “Knockout Tour” or “Balloon Battle” in “Online Play” or “Wireless Play.”
• Decreased the amount of time between passing through the checkpoint and when the ranking is displayed in “Knockout Tour” in “Wireless Play” and “LAN Play.”
• Further increased the frequency of lap-type courses appearing in the selection when choosing the next course in “VS Race” and wireless races.

Fixed Issues

• Fixed an issue in “Online Play” and “Wireless Play” where the ranking would sometimes become incorrect if a player went off course at the same time as reaching the finish line.
• Fixed an issue in “Grand Prix,” “Knockout Tour,” and “VS Race,” where the CPU’s ranking would sometimes drop after reaching the finish line.
• Fixed an issue in “Knockout Tour” in “Online Play” where other players’ ratings would sometimes appear as “0” on the results screen.
• Fixed an issue where a Spiny Shell would sometimes pass the first place player in “Wireless Play” or “Online Play.”
• Fixed an issue where players would sometimes be sent flying backwards a great distance when hit by a Spiny Shell.
• Fixed an issue where the second item in an item slot would sometimes not disappear when hit by Lightning.
• Fixed an issue where hitting the base of a pillar in mid-air would sometimes cause a large jump.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused movement to become unstable when doing a wall ride on water.
• Fixed an issue where players would sometimes be swept away strongly after landing when doing a mini jump while going up a river.
• Fixed an issue where players would sometimes pass through the ground when hit by a car driving on the road.
• Fixed an issue in “Free Roam” where players would sometimes be unable to enter pipes correctly after exiting a trailer.
• Fixed an issue where the results screen would sometimes become distorted after spectating “Balloon Battle” in “Online Play.”
• Fixed an issue where the game would sometimes not proceed to the course selection screen after exiting a pipe during “Free Roam” in “Online Play.”
• Fixed an issue where Bullet Bill would sometimes slip through walls when used in “Sky-High Sundae.”
• Fixed an issue where players would sometimes get stuck on a wall at the start of the race heading from “Airship Fortress” to “Shy Guy Bazaar.”
• Fixed an issue where players would sometimes get stuck in walls when using a Bullet Bill in “Bowser’s Castle.”
• Fixed an issue in “Cheep Cheep Falls” where item boxes were sometimes difficult to pick up when Smart Steering was turned on.
• Fixed an issue in “Knockout Tour” “Spiny Rally” where sometimes there was an item box buried in the ground.
• Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.