Hey, remember Pokémon Platinum Version? You know, the best game of Pokémon's best era? Giant fictionalized Hokkaido to explore, evil team that wanted to make the world a nightmare dimension? If you've been hankering to revisit the best of the DS (which I kind of have lately, as it and its rival the PSP re-enter the zeitgeist thanks to hipsters), you no longer have to do it alone. — Read the rest

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Nintendo has released new Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake gameplay footage in Japan. The latest trailer gives us our first look at Dark Link, while showing off expanded combat and more battles from the remake.

Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Combat gameplay released

Nintendo has just released a new Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake trailer that features new combat gameplay footage. The combat trailer was originally uploaded to Nintendo Japan’s website and features new clips not included in the recent overview trailer that was released in North America.

The short video opens with Ganondorf playing an organ before cutting to a montage of Link battling various enemies throughout the story. More importantly, the Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake trailer gives us a closer look at how combat has been updated in the 2026 reimagining.

For example, combat while riding Epona appears to have been greatly expanded. The footage also shows how battles take advantage of the remake’s new camera system, which lets players freely control their view at all times.

Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Reveals First Look at Dark Link

The latest Ocarina of Time Remake trailer also gives us our first look at the new Dark Link design. The iconic shadow version of Link returns as a mini-boss in the Water Temple, and his encounter already looks much more complex than it was in the original game.

One particularly awesome moment shows Dark Link flipping and landing directly on the blade of Link’s sword. Fans of the original will recognize the move, but seeing it recreated with the remake’s updated graphics makes the encounter look even more intimidating.

For your convenience, we have embedded the combat trailer below so you can watch all the new footage originally shared on Nintendo Japan’s website:

Between the expanded Epona combat and our first glimpse of Dark Link, Nintendo is giving longtime fans plenty of reasons to revisit Hyrule. With launch just two weeks away, we won’t have to wait much longer to see how the rest of Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake has been reimagined.

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Nintendo has released a Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake overview trailer featuring over four minutes of new gameplay and story scenes. The video also reveals new features, including boss rematches and the ability to play in-game songs with a real instrument.

Nintendo Releases New Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Overview Trailer

Nintendo surprised players today by releasing a new Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake overview trailer. The video initially appeared in the Nintendo Today! app, but Nintendo has since uploaded it to YouTube, making it easier to watch on any device.

The overview trailer features over four minutes of new footage, opening in Kokiri Forest with a narrator setting up the game’s story: “Deep within the forest, everyone has a fairy. Except for one boy.” For your convenience, we’ve embedded the trailer below here for you:

Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Features Revealed

More importantly, the new Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake overview trailer also revealed several new gameplay features that were previously unannounced. To make it easier to track, we have compiled every new feature revealed below so it’s easy to find them all in one place.

Play Ocarina Songs With a Real Instrument

The Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake overview trailer confirms that players can use a real-life ocarina or another instrument to play songs in the game. Through microphone input, the remake picks up the notes in real time.

Players who don’t have an ocarina lying around the house can also whistle or hum the notes. That gives you another way to perform the game’s iconic songs.

Display Defeated Enemies in the Hall of Fallen Foes

A new Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake feature called the Hall of Fallen Foes lets players walk around a museum of enemies they have defeated.

After defeating a foe, you can unlock a detailed statue of them to put on display. The feature gives players a closer look at the remake’s updated enemy designs while building a collection throughout their adventure.

Challenge Bosses Again With Rematches

Nintendo has also confirmed a boss rematch feature for Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake. Players can approach select statues in the Hall of Fallen Foes to trigger another fight. So, if you want to revisit a favorite battle, the new feature gives you a way to challenge those bosses again.

Finally, the overview trailer shows off more of the reimagined dungeons players will explore. From the Fire Temple to key boss fights, the footage gives us an extensive look at the remake’s gameplay ahead of its November 5 launch.

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Nintendo has posted new Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake gameplay footage showing off the reimagined Forest Temple. The clip highlights familiar dungeon puzzles and gives us a look at the updated Poe Sisters.

New Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Gameplay Shows the Forest Temple

We are now only weeks away from the launch of the Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake, and Nintendo has continued to post new gameplay footage to promote it. This week, Nintendo gave us a closer look at how the Forest Temple dungeon has been reimagined in HD in a new trailer.

In a video posted on X, Nintendo Japan shared a clip showing adult Link entering the Forest Temple for the first time. The new gameplay footage also highlights several iconic moments from the classic Zelda dungeon, including the Poe Sisters and the hallway that twists and turns as you run down it.

We also get a brief glimpse of a puzzle section, as Link dashes under a falling floor to avoid being crushed. While the footage is on the short side, Nintendo appears to be releasing a collection of small snippets to give players a preview of what they can expect from the 2026 remake when it launches on November 5.

Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Shows Off Updated Poe Sisters

The new Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake gameplay footage also shows the updated models for the Poe Sisters: Joelle, Beth, Amy, and Meg. In the N64 classic, players must solve their puzzles and defeat them to recover their colored flames and progress through the dungeon.

Based on the new clip, it appears that the main Forest Temple puzzle challenge will remain unchanged. However, the footage shows much more detailed models of the Poe Sisters. For example, they now wear jewelry on their heads, and their outfits feature textured cloth.

Finally, Nintendo teased the reimagined Forest Temple with a description of the dungeon: “A temple awaiting beyond the maze forest, where distorted spaces and illusory devices lie in wait.” This isn’t the first preview Nintendo has released. The company recently posted gameplay clips featuring Hyrule Castle Town, Death Mountain, and Zora’s Domain.

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Most companies have slowed down releasing new Switch 2 cases, but one of my favorite accessory makers recently debuted its first, after a few delays. The $49 Basecase from Mechanism is a snap-on shell for the console that taps into the company's modular lineup of mounts. You could already mount the Switch 2 in numerous ways with its $19 Basegrip (to your wall, to its Gaming Pillow, to a monitor arm, etc.). The difference is that this new product protects your console, makes its Joy-Con more comfortable to use, and has some interesting modularity.

The console shell allows for the full range of the Switch 2's kickstand, and access to all of t …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Nintendo says it has no plans to abandon physical games, giving Switch 2 collectors some reassurance about the format’s future. Here is what the company said, and how Nintendo physical versus digital games work on its latest console.

Nintendo Won’t Abandon Physical Games

If you prefer buying cartridges instead of downloading everything from the eShop, Nintendo has some good news for players. Bill van Zyll, vice president and general manager of Nintendo Latin America, recently confirmed that the company has no plans to ditch physical media.

In a recent interview, van Zyll explained that Nintendo takes consumer preferences into account when deciding how to release its games. In the conversation, he reaffirmed that Nintendo Switch 2 will continue supporting physical editions due to fans still enjoy buying physical copies of their games.

“Historically, we haven’t had a preference for a specific format. We take consumer preferences very much into consideration. We also have a platform that was just launched. We’ve been around for a little over a year with the Nintendo Switch 2 , and it offers both digital and physical games. Therefore, we have no plans to abandon physical media. We know how much fans also enjoy it.” van Zyll said.

Nintendo Physical vs. Digital Games: Switch 2 Options Explained

Nintendo Switch 2 supports traditional cartridges, game-key cards, and digital downloads. Some boxed releases can also contain a download code instead of a cartridge, so checking the packaging before buying is essential.

Here are the main differences:

Nintendo’s support information distinguishes these formats, including boxed download-code releases that contain no game card.

Standard Physical Cartridges

A standard Switch 2 game card contains game data on the cartridge. This is the traditional physical format many Nintendo fans are familiar with.

However, you should still check the box for download requirements. Buying a cartridge doesn’t automatically mean every update or piece of additional content is included on it. Nintendo distinguishes regular game cards from game-key cards in its official support information.

Game-Key Cards

Game-key cards look like physical cartridges, but they do not contain the game data. Instead, inserting one lets you download the game to your Switch 2’s system memory or a microSD Express card.

You need an internet connection for the initial download. Afterward, you can start the game offline, although online features still require a connection. The game-key card must remain inserted whenever you play. You can also use the card on another Switch 2, but that console needs to download the game too. Look for the game-key card label on the packaging before buying.

Digital Nintendo Store Games

Digital games purchased through the Nintendo eShop are tied to your Nintendo Account. You download the software to your console and can play without inserting a cartridge.

Nintendo also uses Virtual Game Cards to manage digital purchases. An account can have up to two consoles that can load these cards, and other users on a console can play a digital game when its Virtual Game Card is loaded.

A game being available digitally doesn’t necessarily mean it is digital-only. Some titles offer both physical and digital editions, while others are only available as downloads.

Download Codes in Physical Boxes

Another option to watch out for is a boxed release containing a download code. Despite coming in physical packaging, these releases do not include a cartridge. Nintendo confirms that some publishers may distribute Switch 2 Edition games this way.

This is different from a game-key card. A boxed code gives you a digital purchase to redeem, while a game-key card remains the physical item you insert to access the downloaded game.

Why Do Nintendo Physical and Digital Games Have Different Prices?

Van Zyll also addressed the price difference between physical and digital games. According to the executive, physical releases involve costs such as chips, cartridges, packaging, assembly, transportation, and retail distribution.

He explained that those expenses contribute to the difference in pricing between the two formats. However, he also said Nintendo considers each game individually, with factors such as development costs, complexity, and expected hours of play influencing its price.

For Switch 2 owners, the choice comes down to which format suits them best. If you want the game data on a cartridge, check that you are buying a standard game card. If you prefer downloading your games, the eShop offers that option. And if you are buying a game-key card, make sure you have the internet connection and storage space needed before jumping in.

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Over 15 new Zelda Ocarina of Time remake pre-order items have been revealed, giving fans plenty of collectibles to choose from ahead of its Nintendo Switch 2 release. From acrylic stands to a wooden diorama, here are the bonuses available through participating Japanese retailers.

All Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Pre-Order Bonuses

According to Famitsu, Nintendo has revealed over 15 Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake pre-order items at various retailers in Japan. However, what bonus item you get depends on which store you order from.

The selection includes everything from character stickers and charms to a tote bag and smartphone stand. If you’re looking to add something to your Zelda collection, there are quite a few options.

Here are all 15 retailer bonuses listed in the announcement:

Note: Unfortunately, these offers are for Japanese retailers only. Check the individual product listing for bonus availability and potential international delivery options before placing an order.

Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Early Purchase Bonuses

Alongside the store-exclusive items, the Japanese physical release also has two early purchase bonuses:

• Zelda: Ocarina of Time original art card set.
• The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary sticker.

These items are separate from the retailer bonuses and are available in limited quantities. Make sure your chosen listing includes them, as availability may vary. online.apitashop.com

Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Pre-Order Item Images

With so many different items available, it helps to see what each store is offering. Below are the promotional images for all 15 retailer bonuses.

Amazon Japan — Acrylic Coaster

Rakuten Books — Wooden Diorama Stand and Cleaning Cloth

Animate — Three Acrylic Coaster Stands

AmiAmi — Pass Holder

AEON Style Online — Two Pin Badges

Ito-Yokado — Tote Bag

Otakara Souko Group — Button Badge

Gamers — Logo Acrylic Stand

GEO — Two-Part Acrylic Charm

Joshin — Two Die-Cut Stickers

Seven Net — Acrylic Smartphone Stand

Nojima — Tissue Box Cover

MrMax — Three Acrylic Charms

Yamada Denki Group — Character Stickers

WonderGOO — Acrylic Figure

Zelda ocarina of time remake US Pre-Order Items

At the time of writing, no Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake pre-order items have been announced for the US. Unfortunately, all of the retailer bonuses listed above are exclusive to Japan. We’ll update this article if any US pre-order bonuses are revealed.

However, players who pre-order the Ocarina of Time Remake at select retailers, can get the limited edition gold foil cover art. That said, a lot of stores have already sold out. For now, this is only confirmed US pre-order item technically available.

The post Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Pre-Order Items Revealed appeared first on VICE.

A rare Charizard Pokémon card has sold for more than $1.3 million, setting a new record for the classic TCG collectible. The first-edition PSA 10 Charizard has crossed the million-dollar mark, and its latest price is enough to make anyone wish they had taken better care of their childhood collection.

Charizard Pokémon Card Hits New Record Price

The 1999 first-edition holographic Charizard Pokémon card has reportedly sold for $1,385,274, according to Jazware President Jeremy Padawer. The collector revealed the eye-watering sale on X as a new record for a first-edition PSA 10 Charizard.

Reacting to the milestone on X, Padawer celebrated the card’s status among the biggest collectibles in the trading card market. He compared Charizard to iconic cards such as the 1952 Mickey Mantle, Magic: The Gathering’s Black Lotus, and the T206 Honus Wagner.

“The PSA 10 1st edition Charizard has done it,” he wrote. “The icon. The Mount Rushmore. The legend.” Padawer also revealed that the 1st Edition Charizard currently only has a population of 123 PSA 10 copies in the world.

Classic Pokémon Card Prices Continue to Skyrocket

To put the price into perspective, Padawer explained that he purchased an entire first-edition Pokémon card set for $129,500 in 2019. According to the collector, that purchase was itself a world record at the time.

Now, this single Charizard Pokémon card has sold for more than ten times what he paid for that whole set seven years ago. Padawer estimated that his set could now be worth more than $2.7 million, assuming Charizard continues to account for roughly half of the complete set’s value.

“20X return in 7 years. Wow. Blown away. Not surprised same time,” he added. For collectors who have followed first-edition Charizard prices over the years, the latest result marks a huge milestone for one of Pokémon’s most recognizable cards.

As far as what is the highest selling Pokémon card of all time? That honor still goes to the rare Pikachu Illustrator. In 2026, the TCG collectible sold for a staggering $16,492,000 at Goldin Auctions and still holds the Guinness world record.

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After covering Amazon’s October sale for the last few days, only one item found its way into my shopping cart, and, lucky for you, it’s still on sale after the event’s conclusion. Pokémon Legends: Z-A for the Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 is $39.88 (usually $59.99 for Switch or $69.99 for Switch 2) at Amazon. The last Pokémon game I played was Let’s Go Eevee!, and Pokémon Moon prior to that, but the unique Lumiose City setting and real-time battles in the latest game have piqued my interest.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the first game in the main series with a real-time battling system instead of the traditional turn-based formula. You’re still catching pokémon, leveling up, trading, and battling in the game’s Paris-inspired setting, but the more action-oriented battles and smooth performance (on the Nintendo Switch 2) are very welcome.

Where to Buy:

• $69 $39.99 at Amazon (Switch 2)

We reviewed Pokémon Legends: Z-A close to its release last October, and felt like it continued the “Legends” series reputation for overhauling core aspects of the games that many find to be outdated. If you want even more content, Mega Dimension is available as paid DLC (it costs $29.99). A new Switch 2 Edition game bundle that contains the base game and DLC will drop on October 29th, 2026 for $99.99, so I suggest grabbing the game while it’s cheaper.

Read our Pokémon Legends: Z-A review.

It's taken 37 years for Nintendo's humble Game Boy to hit puberty, but the hour has finally come. What's even cooler than a video game console you can carry around in your pocket? One the size of an actual person that runs on game cartridges a family of four could eat dinner on, of course. — Read the rest

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Pokémon Pokopia is still going strong months after its launch and dedicated players who are still exploring the cozy game and its DLC can now cash in a new Mystery Gift code for some new free items.

Mystery Gift Code Delivers Resort Furniture to Pokopia

Pokemon Pokopia players can now celebrate the start of a new gift distribution cycle. According to Serebii, the new gift package was recently announced in a newsletter sent to players of Pokémom Pokopia in North America.

The new collection of free items is all themed around resort furniture and includes a Resort sofa, Resort table, Resort hammock, Resort stool and a Twisted Potted Plant.

Players who want to add the new items to their collection can do so by using the code: D1VE1NTHESEA.

This Mystery Gift code should work from now through February 29, 2028. That gives players plenty of time to login, enter the code, and claim their resort furniture-themed items.

In order to claim a gift in Pokopia, players can follow these steps:

• Start Pokémon Pokopia from the HOME Menu.
• Press the A Button on the title screen.
• Walk to the PC in your town and press the A Button to check it.
• Select Get Items.
• Select Mystery Gifts.

The first Pokopia DLC, Bubbly Basin, arrived in August and players have been exploring and building underwater since that major update. More content is scheduled to arrive in late 2026 with the new accessories and clothing options. Then, the third part of the Expansion Pass DLC will arrive in 2027 with a whole new town to explore and rebuild.

“Expand your world with more areas to explore, Pokémon to meet, and items to decorate your homes with! The additional content from the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass paid DLC* will be released in three parts, but one purchase gets you access to everything.”

The full Pokemon Pokopia Expansion Pass is a $34.99 add-on to the base game.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more Pokemon and Pokémon Pokopia news and updates.

Pokémon Pokopia is available now exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2.

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Als in den 90ern alle nach „3D“ schrien, wollte auch Nintendo ganz vorne mitspielen. Das Ergebnis: der 1995 erschienene Virtual Boy – 50% Zukunftsvision, 50% Design-Experiment  (und 100% Spielspaß-Katasrophe, wie viele Spötter sagen würden). Mit seinem stereoskopischen Display sollte er räumliches Sehen ins heimische Wohnzimmer bringen. Was auf dem Papier revolutionär klang, erwies sich in der Praxis als…  gewöhnungsbedürftig. Verantwortlich zeichnete niemand Geringeres als Game-Boy-Schöpfer Gunpei Yokoi. Doch sein Konzept wich radikal von bisherigen Nintendo-Handhelds ab: Statt mobiler Leichtigkeit gab es eine auf einem Stativ montierte Brillenkonstruktion.

Aber da wir hier in der Rubrik Retro-Joystick sind, befassen wir uns nicht so sehr mit dem Gerät selbst, sondern seinem Controller. Und dieser ist mit seinem doppelten Steuerkreuz ohne Frage innovativ, fast schon experimentell! Passend zur rot-schwarzen Spielgrafik ist auch der Controller sehr sparsam in der Farbgebung: größtenteils schwarz, sorgen zwei rote Knöpfe für einen Farbakzent. Ihr ahnt es: Ausgerechnet der Controller ist das gelungenste Element des Virtual-Boy-Systems. Er liegt gut in der Hand und wirkt durchdacht konstruiert. Doch sechs AA-Batterien, die an der Unterseite eingeschoben werden, machen das Gesamtpaket unnötig schwer und unhandlich.

So bleibt der Virtual Boy ein faszinierendes Stück Technikgeschichte – mutig gedacht, aber nur bedingt gelungen. Und selbst der Controller ist nicht perfekt.

Die Suche nach neuen Möglichkeiten, Spieler tiefer ins Geschehen zu ziehen (und ihnen noch ein weiteres Gadget zu verkaufen…) führte Ende der 80er zu allerlei kuriosen Eingabegeräten. Eines davon war das U-Force von Brøderbund, ein Bewegungssensor-Controller fürs NES. Das Versprechen: Hände weg vom Pad! Statt Knöpfe zu drücken, sollte man einfach mit den Händen in der Luft fuchteln – das Infrarot-System würde den Rest erledigen.

Der Controller besteht aus zwei Paneelen, die man wie einen Laptop aufstellen oder flach aufklappen kann. Für Enthusiasten gab es Zusatzgriffe wie die Power-Bar (mit Zusatzbuttons für Punch Out!!), die T-Bar (für Rennspiele) und die Firing Grips (für Ballerspiele).

In der Praxis erwies sich das U-Force eher als “Proof of Concept” denn als richtiger Controller: Die Sensoren reagierten träge, Gesten wurden kaum erkannt – und wer hoffte, mit Top Gun wirklich abzuheben, landete meist hart auf dem Boden der Realität. Im Grunde war es fast unbenutzbar – aber es war modern und sah ungewöhnlich aus…

Mit dem Power Glove (allein der Name klang schon nach Zukunft damals) für das NES wollte Nintendo Bewegung ins Videospiel bringen – buchstäblich. Denn der Power Glove übersetzt Bewegungen der rechten Hand direkt in Aktionen auf dem Bildschirm. Die Bewegungserkennung basiert auf Ultraschall-Sendern und -Empfängern, die die Position des Handschuhs im Raum erfassen, während Flex-Sensoren Bewegungen der einzelnen Fingern registrieren sollen.

In der Realität war und ist das Ganze jedoch eher ein Fall von „gut gemeint, schlecht gemacht“. Die Steuerung reagiert nur träge, das Tracking ist ungenau – und die beiden exklusiven Titel für die Peripherie, Super Glove Ball und Bad Street Brawler, konnten den Power Glove ebenfalls nicht retten. Schon nach einem Jahr zog Nintendo den Stecker.

Heute gilt der Power Glove, der in Japan übrigens von der Firma PAX vertrieben wurde, als Kultobjekt. Er ist ein Symbol für Nintendos Experimentierfreude. Und wer weiß: Ohne diesen kuriosen Vorreiter hätte es vielleicht nie die Wii und ähnliche Konzepte wie Kinect oder PlayStation Move gegeben!