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Donkey Kong Bananza drops frames, but that doesn't mean the Switch 2 is weak

Donkey Kong Bananza drops frames, but that doesn't mean the Switch 2 is weak

Digital Trends6 days ago
As I rip a chunk of rock out of the ground and use it to obliterate towers of golden roots or use an explosive rock to shatter an entire cliff face, spawning a cacophony of gold to collect raining down around me in Donkey Kong Bananza, it is impossible to ignore the hit the frame rate takes. In that moment, it almost feels good — like in the days of the SNES when the game would chug when too many particles were on screen — and yet in the back of my mind, I knew it would be used as a talking point for the power of the Switch 2.
The original Switch was underpowered from the start, and certainly pushed well beyond its limits in the eight long years it was on the market before the Switch 2. The early years weren't too bad, with Nintendo first party games typically running perfectly fine, but near the end even Tears of the Kingdom started to make the poor Switch buckle. And we don't even need to talk about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The last thing players want to see is the second major release for the system already pushing the console to the limits.
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Yes, Donkey Kong Bananza will drop frames when things get crazy — and even a couple times when I don't think it should — but don't let that convince you the Switch 2 is already maxed out.
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Whenever I discuss topics related to hardware and development, the first place I start is with any official statement from the development team itself. Because a few Donkey Kong Bananza previews had raised concerns about the frame rate prior to the game's launch, director Kazuya Takahashi commented on the game's performance and frame rate with Lavenguardia (translated by NintendoEverything). 'There are several factors to consider. First, we intentionally used effects like hit-stop and slow motion to emphasize impacts. Second, because we use voxel technology, there are times when there are major changes and destruction in the environment. We're aware that performance may drop slightly at these times. However, as you say, overall the game is smooth, and at points where large-scale changes occur, we prioritized fun and playability.'
There are a few key points to pick out of this statement. First is that Donkey Kong Bananza uses voxel technology to support the level of deformation and destruction in the game, which is certainly not typical for most titles. Because Bananza is such a special case, it wouldn't be fair to use it as a barometer for how future games would perform. An apt comparison would be something like Hyrule Warriors, which seriously chugged on the Switch due to populating the screen with hundreds of characters at once, but wouldn't be fair to hold up as a typical experience.
The other point that struck me was the acknowledgment of the performance dips and deliberate choice to accept that concession in exchange for a more fun experience. To me, this sounds like Nintendo saw a way in which it could smooth over moments of slowdown, but it would come at the cost of the game's core goal — letting the player smash through the world like a force of nature. The team wanted to preserve its artistic vision at a small technical cost.
Based on my playthrough with Bananza, I think that was the right call. This is Nintendo pulling out all the stops on a game in a way we haven't seen in years. I don't want to hand-wave away framerate dips as being unimportant or claim they add to the experience when any other company would be raked over the coals for the same thing. However, I will draw the line at suggesting that it should be taken as a sign that the Switch 2 is already showing its age.
Cherrypicking one example to hold up as the smoking gun is never solid grounding for an argument. I don't believe anyone who is worried about what Bananza's frame rate means for the Switch 2 is doing so maliciously, but more out of genuine concern. And I get it; we just spent $450 on this new piece of hardware, and even Nintendo itself is hitting technical issues. If any developer should be able to squeeze the most power out of the Switch 2, it would be Nintendo, right? Well, yes and no. Nintendo certainly knows the hardware better than any team, but that doesn't make them experts on day one. Every console has a learning curve, and the longer a team has to learn how to best take advantage of the hardware, the more power it can squeeze out of it. We see it every generation, and there's no reason to think it won't happen here.
We also need to consider the fact that Bananza was originally a Switch game before moving to the new hardware. It is easy to say that this is a point against the game running poorly, but we have to be honest about how big of an assumption that is on our part. I'm not a developer, and odds are you aren't either. We might think that starting a game on weaker hardware only to move to a vastly more powerful system would mean that there's less excuse for performance woes, but that's just an assumption. We will never know how tricky it is to completely rework a game for new hardware mid-development.
Conversations about a game's performance are valuable. If performance has an impact on your enjoyment, positively or negatively, then that is completely valid, but we should aim to keep those conversations contained to each individual experience. The Switch 2 is just getting started, so let's not jump the gun just because Bananza drops frames here and there.
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Sony looking to divest cellular chipset division
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2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid Review, Pricing, and Specs
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid Review, Pricing, and Specs

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2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid Review, Pricing, and Specs

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Dynamically, however, the Outlander Hybrid is a bit boring. Its ride is agreeable enough, but its cornering attitude is far from sporty, and the brake pedal also feels squishy, even if braking performance proved to be okay. Those who enjoy the act of driving should consider the more athletic Mazda CX-50 Hybrid. Luckily, there are paddles on the steering column that allow you to dial in how much regenerative braking the hybrid system will allow for. Its highest regenerative setting allows for nearly one-pedal driving, saving you from having to step on the spongy left pedal much. 0–60-MPH Times In Comparison: The Outlander PHEV is not only more efficient than its nonhybrid sibling, but also quicker. The nonhybrid needed 8.2 seconds to hit 60 mph. The Mazda CX-50 Hybrid required 7.6 seconds. Mitsubishi Towing and Payload Capacity The Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid is rated to tow a maximum of 1500 pounds. Range, Charging, and Battery Life C/D Range Test: 370 miles 370 miles EPA EV Range: 38 miles The Outlander Plug-in Hybrid has a lithium-ion battery with 16.8 kWh of usable capacity. Though it currently uses the outdated CHAdeMo style plug, we anticipate that Mitsubishi will update its charging port for the 2026 model along with the already-confirmed larger battery of currently unknown capacity. Hooked to a DC fast-charger, Mitsubishi claims the current Outlander PHEV can charge the battery to 80-percent capacity in just 38 minutes. We'll update this section as soon as the new specifics become available. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG C/D 75-mph Highway Fuel-Economy Test: 25 mpg 25 mpg EPA City Ratings: 25 mpg 25 mpg EPA Highway Rating: 27 mpg The EPA hasn't released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Outlander Hybrid yet, but the 2025 model earned ratings of 25 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. 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1 Uranium ETF to Buy Hand Over Fist
1 Uranium ETF to Buy Hand Over Fist

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1 Uranium ETF to Buy Hand Over Fist

Key Points Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving unprecedented energy demand from data centers, which are expected to more than double electricity consumption by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. Nuclear power offers the only scalable, carbon-free solution to meet AI's massive 24/7 energy requirements that solar and wind cannot reliably provide. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) solve the problem of picking individual uranium stocks by providing diversified exposure to the entire nuclear fuel supply chain through a single investment. 10 stocks we like better than Global X Funds - Global X Uranium ETF › Artificial intelligence (AI) demands energy -- a lot of it. According to the International Energy Agency, data centers powering the AI revolution are expected to more than double their electricity consumption by 2030, reaching 945 terawatt-hours, roughly equivalent to Japan's entire annual electricity usage. These facilities already account for approximately 2% to 3% of all energy consumption in the U.S., with some estimates reaching as high as 4.4%. Goldman Sachs projects data center power demand could surge 165% by the decade's end. The scale is staggering. AI servers consume up to 10 times more power than standard servers, while companies like Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Meta Platforms are exploring nuclear power integration into their long-term energy strategies. Microsoft and OpenAI, among other companies, announced plans for the Stargate initiative, a $100 billion project to build advanced data centers powered by next-generation energy sources. This creates an urgent problem: Existing renewable energy sources cannot meet AI's constant power requirements. Data centers need electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, making intermittent wind and solar insufficient. Nuclear power represents the only scalable, carbon-free solution capable of providing the massive baseload of electricity that AI demands. But selecting individual uranium mining stocks requires extensive research into geopolitics, regulatory environments, and operational complexities that many busy investors simply don't have time to master. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) solve this dilemma by offering diversified exposure to uranium companies through a single purchase, eliminating the need to analyze dozens of individual mining operations across multiple countries and regulatory frameworks. The diversified nuclear play The Global X Uranium ETF (NYSEMKT: URA) provides comprehensive exposure to companies involved in uranium mining, nuclear component production, and related technologies through 48 holdings that span the entire nuclear fuel supply chain. Rather than betting on a single mining operation or geography, investors gain access to established producers, emerging explorers, and technology companies that benefit from nuclear power expansion. The fund tracks the Solactive Global Uranium & Nuclear Components Total Return Index, investing at least 80% of assets in companies active in uranium mining, refining, exploration, nuclear equipment manufacturing, and reactor technology development. With $3.8 billion in assets under management, the Global X Uranium ETF offers sufficient liquidity for both individual and institutional investors while maintaining reasonable diversification -- though the top 10 holdings represent 66.9% of total assets, reflecting the concentrated nature of the uranium industry. The numbers tell an impressive story. The Global X Uranium ETF has delivered a 50.1% year-to-date return through July 2025, though such extraordinary performance reflects the speculative nature of commodity investing and should not be expected to continue. The fund provides a 1.91% dividend yield from underlying mining company distributions, while maintaining a net expense ratio of 0.69% -- reasonable for a specialized sector fund that eliminates the need for costly individual stock research. The expense ratio represents the annual fee investors pay for professional portfolio management and administration. At 0.69%, the Global X Uranium ETF costs $69 per year for every $10,000 invested, a small price for accessing global uranium expertise and eliminating the substantial research burden of selecting individual mining stocks across multiple countries and regulatory environments. The nuclear renaissance window The uranium market stands at an inflection point, driven by the collision of AI energy demands and climate commitments. While renewable energy advocates promise future solutions supported by advancing battery storage technology, nuclear power provides immediate baseload reliability that emerging grid-scale storage cannot yet match at the required scale. Yes, but uranium investing carries substantial risks. The industry faces geopolitical challenges, as significant uranium supplies come from politically sensitive regions, including Kazakhstan, Niger, and Russia, where sanctions or conflicts can disrupt supply chains. Uranium prices remain notoriously volatile, and mining operations face decades-long development timelines, with regulatory hurdles and operational complexities. Public opposition to nuclear power persists despite climate benefits, and a single negative incident could shift political sentiment. The uranium mining industry also contends with environmental concerns, permitting delays, and the technical challenges of safely extracting radioactive materials in remote locations worldwide. Weighing the opportunity Countries worldwide are recognizing nuclear power's strategic importance. The U.S. plans to triple nuclear power capacity by 2050, while China operates an aggressive nuclear expansion program. This policy shift creates sustained demand for uranium that mining companies cannot quickly address due to decades-long development timelines. Investors should also consider alternatives like the Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (NYSEMKT: URNM) and VanEck Uranium and Nuclear Technologies ETF (NYSEMKT: NLR). The Global X Uranium ETF captures this entire ecosystem without requiring investors to navigate complex geopolitical risks. When demand growth exceeds supply capabilities, as current AI trends suggest, diversified exposure through the Global X Uranium ETF provides the optimal risk-adjusted approach to capitalize on nuclear power's expansion. Should you buy stock in Global X Funds - Global X Uranium ETF right now? Before you buy stock in Global X Funds - Global X Uranium ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Global X Funds - Global X Uranium ETF wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $641,800!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,023,813!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,034% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 George Budwell has positions in Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Goldman Sachs Group, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Uranium ETF to Buy Hand Over Fist was originally published by The Motley Fool

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