Aaron Potter

Splatoon Raiders expands the Splatoon franchise with a PvE focus built around customisable tank classes, an extensive gadget system and replayable missions that emphasise loot and experimentation. Its core ink-based mechanics remain engaging thanks to varied objectives, inventive enemies and deep equipment customisation. While some mission types become repetitive and the story is minimal, the game offers substantial content, mechanical depth and exciting combat, making it a strong and confident debut for the series on Nintendo Switch 2.

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Lies of P: Complete Edition delivers strong technical performance, maintaining a stable 60fps in Performance mode across both handheld and docked play. Visuals, lighting, and responsiveness closely match the PS5 experience, with Fidelity mode available but unnecessary for most players. Compared with other Soulslikes on the platform, the port stands out for its smooth gameplay and thoughtful optimisation, outperforming titles like Dark Souls Remastered and early builds of Elden Ring Tarnished Edition. The release arrives August 5, 2026, with further impressions to follow.

Nintendo Switch 2 receives an expanded port of Granblue Fantasy: Relink with the Endless Ragnarok update, adding significant new content including missions, bosses, companions and a roguelike mode called The Conflux. The game runs smoothly on the hardware despite missing a 60fps target, delivering large-scale real‑time combat and visually impressive regions. The expansion introduces stronger enemies, new abilities and additional challenges designed for endgame play. Positioned as another substantial JRPG offering on the platform, the release strengthens the console’s growing lineup of major role‑playing titles.

Ubisoft Singapore’s Terry Han discusses the challenges of rebuilding Assassin’s Creed Black Flag in the modern Anvil engine, highlighting the effort involved in recreating assets, refining mechanics, and meeting players’ nostalgic expectations. The remake adds new narrative content, expands characterization, and modernizes naval combat while preserving the original game’s identity. Han reflects on development decisions, platform considerations, and the uncertainties of future franchise directions.

The director of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced discusses the challenges of rebuilding the classic game in a modern engine, emphasizing the effort to preserve its core identity while updating graphics, mechanics, and narrative elements. He highlights Edward Kenway’s enduring appeal, the importance of naval combat expertise within Ubisoft Singapore, and the team’s approach to expanding character stories and introducing new content. Decisions around platforms and future remakes remain uncertain, with the studio focused on delivering the current release.

June 2026 brought a variety of inventive indie games offering unique spins on classic genres, from roguelite beat-em-ups and relaxing cleaning simulations to nostalgic action-platformers and stylized farming sims. Highlights include Lost Castle 2 for its variety and co‑op play, Moldwasher for its charming take on cleaning puzzles, Dark Scrolls for classic scrolling combat, and Gombo for its 1930s‑inspired art and exploration. Echo Isle provides a short Zelda‑style adventure, while To a T and Gecko Gods gained renewed attention with Nintendo Switch 2 releases. The selections emphasize creativity, accessibility, and distinctive gameplay experiences across genres.

A faithful remake elevates Assassin’s Creed Black Flag with enhanced visuals, refined controls, more dynamic combat, and small but meaningful narrative additions. Ship combat remains largely unchanged due to its enduring strength, while new endgame missions expand Blackbeard’s story. The remake preserves the original’s strengths while modernizing its mechanics, resulting in the definitive way to experience the game.

The remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag revitalizes the original adventure with enhanced visuals, revised controls, and expanded combat while preserving the strengths that made the 2013 game a fan favorite. Ubisoft Singapore amplifies exploration and fidelity across the Caribbean setting, introduces refined parkour and combat systems, and adds new story elements including an extended Blackbeard arc. Respecting the foundation of the original while providing meaningful upgrades, the remake stands out as the definitive way to experience Edward Kenway's pirate journey.

A four‑hour hands‑on session with The Blood of Dawnwalker highlights a dark, atmospheric RPG shaped by time‑managed exploration, omnidirectional swordplay, and distinct vampire abilities. Coen’s transformation and mission for vengeance set up a compelling narrative framed by a looming ritual led by the villainous Brencis. Strong world‑building, flexible combat, and fluid traversal systems position the game as a promising successor to The Witcher 3 ahead of its September 2026 launch.

A hands-on preview of Orbitals highlights its successful blend of retro anime aesthetics and co‑op gameplay, emphasizing flexible character roles, varied puzzle design, and strong presentation on the Nintendo Switch 2. Drawing comparisons to Hazelight’s co‑op titles, the game demonstrates engaging coordination-based challenges both inside and outside the ship, with early storytelling and visual ambition exceeding expectations. Scheduled for release on September 3, 2026, it is positioned as a standout upcoming title for co‑op fans.

Nintendo revives the Rhythm Heaven series with Rhythm Heaven Groove, offering more than 80 inventive rhythm-based minigames supported by a variety of secrets and extra modes. While the new Beatspell RPG mode lacks depth, the core minigames deliver strong challenge and creativity, culminating in engaging Remix sequences. A collection of multiplayer games adds further value, making the title well-suited for both solo and group play. Despite minor shortcomings, the game provides a satisfying and energetic return to the franchise’s signature style.

Splatoon Raiders introduces a PvE-focused evolution of Nintendo’s Splatoon series, emphasising customisable tank classes, gadgets and character modifiers to create diverse playstyles. Its mission-based structure, co-op support and companion Bot Buddies add depth while preserving the series’ core ink-based movement and combat mechanics. Early impressions highlight engaging gameplay, varied missions and strong potential as a standout Nintendo Switch 2 release.

Jacob Fatu reflects on his rise in WWE, his transition from motion capture work to becoming a playable character in the WWE 2K series, and the personal significance of representing his wrestling lineage in the games. He explains the origins of his 'Samoan Werewolf' persona and shares his experience with classic and modern wrestling video games. Fatu also discusses his family’s legacy, his children’s excitement at seeing him in the games, and his dream match choices, highlighting figures like Jeff Hardy, Umaga, and Mr. Perfect.

Nintendo Switch 2 receives a wave of strong third‑party AAA ports from major publishers, with several titles delivering significant improvements in performance, resolution and stability compared to earlier Switch versions. Capcom, Square Enix, Bandai Namco and others are increasingly releasing well‑optimized games on the platform, making it a reliable system for portable play of modern console‑quality titles. Recent releases such as Devil May Cry 5, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Snowrunner and Lollipop Chainsaw show notable technical gains, while Sonic Frontiers and Destroy All Humans! feature improvements despite some limitations. Overall the Switch 2 is emerging as a highly capable backlog and on‑the‑go gaming device.

A visually impressive Nintendo Switch 2 remake of Star Fox 64 offers refined controls, high‑fidelity graphics, and engaging multiplayer modes but adds little innovation for long‑time fans. The updated presentation, new control schemes, and accessible features enhance gameplay, yet the familiarity of story, structure, and level routes limits excitement. While a strong entry point for newcomers, the third remake’s lack of evolution leaves returning players wanting more.

An early hands-on preview of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy highlights its shift from stealth to fast-paced melee combat, centered on a younger Sophia who explores a puzzle-filled island in Crete. The game introduces new mechanics such as a grapple hook, expanded combat options, and environmental puzzle-solving, while integrating characters like Leni and antagonist Faro alongside flashbacks to Ancient Greece. Asobo Studio’s redesigned approach is praised for refreshing the series’ universe and delivering satisfying action, with the upcoming release positioned as a confidently executed prequel scheduled for launch in August 2026.

A hands-on preview highlights Star Wars: Galactic Racer as a promising new entry in Star Wars gaming, combining strong visual fidelity, varied racing mechanics, and a roguelike campaign structure built around customizable vehicles and multiple race types. Fuse Games’ experience shows in the game’s sense of speed, detailed environments, and mechanical depth, with podracing returning as both campaign content and standalone arcade play. While track readability poses occasional challenges, the game’s structure, sound design, and progression systems suggest a compelling racing experience ahead of its October 2026 release.

Remedy Entertainment’s art director Elmeri Raitanen discusses how Control Resonant expands the franchise by shifting from the confined Oldest House to a warped, shifting version of New York City designed around protagonist Dylan’s enhanced powers. The interview highlights new visual themes, including the focused use of red for the Hiss and varied colours for navigation, as well as the conceptual process behind creating Dylan’s mind-space, The Gap. Boss design plays a central role in the sequel, with each Resonant intended to be visually distinct and narratively meaningful. The team balanced ambitious environmental transformations with player orientation tools like gravity cues and systemic rain. The game will also feature Remedy’s deepest character customization system to date. Control Resonant launches on PS5, Xbox, and PC on September 24, 2026.

Square Enix’s first HD‑2D action RPG delivers a fluid, Zelda‑inspired adventure across four time periods, blending real‑time combat with puzzle‑driven dungeons and an upgradeable Magicite system. The world’s evolving map, dynamic abilities shared between Elliot and his fairy companion, and strong visual style drive the experience, despite uninspired side quests and a straightforward story. The game is presented as a standout entry in the genre and a promising start to a new series.

A compact LEGO recreation of the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis offers two build variations, a hidden Sonic motif, a mini Sonic the Hedgehog 2 cartridge and dual controllers, delivering an authentic and nostalgic tribute to the 16‑bit console era despite minor drawbacks with sticker swapping.

Rhythm Heaven Groove brings more than 80 new rhythm‑based minigames after a decade‑long hiatus, retaining the quirky charm and precise timing that define the series. Early impressions highlight strong minigame variety, lively music from Mitsuo Tsunku and enjoyable multiplayer modes. The new Beatspell RPG‑style mode appears less successful, limiting strategic choice by forcing preset actions tied to the beat. Despite this weaker addition, the game’s core rhythm challenges and playful scenarios suggest a promising full release on Nintendo Switch in July 2026.

A preview of Moss: The Forgotten Relic highlights its transition from VR to traditional platforms, retaining the charm and interactivity of the original Moss titles despite occasional design remnants from its VR roots. The fixed‑angle camera, tactile interactions, and puzzle‑combat mechanics remain engaging, while some VR‑styled scene transitions feel less natural on a flat screen. The collection brings Moss and Moss: Book 2 to PC and consoles on July 16, aiming to broaden access to two well‑regarded VR adventures.

Nintendo Switch 2’s first year produced a small but highly praised lineup of exclusive games, ranging from inventive franchise updates to technically impressive racing titles and platformers. Highlights include Donkey Kong Bananza’s creative 3D approach, Mario Kart World’s expanded racing features, and Pokemon Pokopia’s fresh social simulation format. Several enhanced editions of existing titles, such as Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, added new content and performance upgrades. The list also features niche but notable releases like Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, offering an interactive showcase of the console’s features. Overall, the collection demonstrates the console’s strong first-year library and its ability to deliver varied and engaging exclusives.

Square Enix’s port of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to the Nintendo Switch 2 maintains consistent performance despite reduced visual fidelity. Environmental pop‑in, softer graphics and an inconsistent frame rate are present, but the game remains stable at around 30fps and retains its expansive scope and gameplay depth. The port’s success suggests that other large‑scale titles like Final Fantasy 16 and future entries in the remake trilogy could come to the platform. Strong recent ports from multiple publishers demonstrate the Switch 2’s capability as a hybrid console.

A hands-on preview of Rayman Legends Retold highlights how the remake updates the classic platformer with a new 3D art style, refined controls, full voice acting, and redesigned hub areas while remaining faithful to the original game’s spirit. Core levels, co‑op play, and key mechanics return alongside new realms, flying stages, and additional content. Despite concerns about the visual overhaul, early impressions suggest a polished and respectful reinterpretation aimed at both longtime fans and new players.

The Nintendo Switch 2 remake of Star Fox delivers a substantial visual overhaul, updated controls, and a new multiplayer Battle mode while keeping most core gameplay nearly identical to earlier versions. Early missions show impressive graphics and smooth performance, though reduced difficulty and limited changes to core structure may disappoint experienced players. Battle mode adds replayability, and AR filters offer minor cosmetic fun. The remake aims to introduce the franchise to new players, offering a polished yet conservative update ahead of its June 25, 2026 release.

Twitch’s Chief Product Officer Mike Minton outlines new Twitch features announced at TwitchCon Europe 2026 and discusses how creators increasingly repurpose livestream content across multiple platforms to expand their reach. He highlights community‑driven priorities, ongoing efforts to improve the viewer experience, and major upcoming initiatives such as enhanced sponsorship opportunities and Giphy integration. Minton also confirms Twitch is preparing for the expected high‑impact launch of GTA 6 later in the year and continues to build strategic partnerships with game publishers to support major releases and creator monetization.

A curated selection of standout indie games from May 2026 highlights inventive platformers, narrative-driven adventures, retro-inspired collections, and creative roguelites. Titles such as Clockwork Ambrosia, Dead as Disco, and Tethergeist showcase genre innovation, while Wax Heads, Mixtape, and Duck Side of the Moon emphasize emotional storytelling and cosy exploration. The list also includes strategic experiences like Battlestar Galactica: Shattered Hopes and cooperative stealth game Thick as Thieves, offering a broad snapshot of the month’s most compelling indie releases.

Bitmap Books’ new volume, Fatal Fury/Garou Densetsu: The Ultimate History, presents a comprehensive and visually rich celebration of the franchise’s 35-year legacy, supported by insight from key SNK developers. High production quality, extensive artwork, and concise historical context establish the book as a definitive reference for fans, reinforcing Fatal Fury’s cultural and genre influence alongside major fighting game series.