Latest news with #MarioKartWorld
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I hosted a Mario Kart World tournament at work and lost — and this is the most important thing I learned
Full disclosure: I didn't pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2. I wasn't fully convinced that it was worth upgrading from my OG Switch, which still works just fine. I told myself that if they ported Baldur's Gate 3 to the Switch 2, that would be enough reason to buy it. That hasn't happened yet (and I don't know if it will), but since then, I've had hands-on time with our shared Switch 2 in the office, and I often spend my lunch break playing a Knockout round in Mario Kart World with Harry from TechRadar (we're friendly rivals). Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of my favorite games on my OG Switch, so naturally I really enjoy Mario Kart World too. One day, when Harry and I were playing, we came up with the brilliant idea to host a tournament for our office. We pitched the idea to five of our colleagues and they all agreed. Everyone loves Mario Kart, right? So seven of us chose a date and time after work and let it unravel. Luckily, no friendships or work relationships were harmed in the making of this tournament. The rules for our Mario Kart World tournament were simple: one group of four players and another group of three players would compete across 12 races, with the winners from each group battling it out in a best-of-three showdown. We plugged one Switch 2 into one TV and another Switch 2 into another TV next to it. With our Joy-Cons and third-party controllers in hand (the Turtle Beach Rematch included), we battled it out. Despite my high hopes, I finished second in my group which meant I did not progress to the finale. I was bummed, of course, because I really do enjoy winning, and I get very competitive. The only person I'm genuinely happy to lose against is my partner and that's where I draw the line. So no, I was not happy finishing second and that meant I had to now watch the two winners from the groups race it out. As I sat there with my arms crossed and my eyebrows slightly furrowed (no, I am not a sore loser), something dawned on me. I... actually enjoyed watching others play? Gasp. I sat there with my eyes fixed on the TV and I thoroughly enjoyed the two finalists navigate their way around shortcuts and drift into oblivion while NPCs bombarded them with red shells and the occasional blue shell. And I have to say: Mario Kart World makes for a great spectator sport, and a lot of it is down to the NPCs. I've sunk at least 80 hours into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and never once did I think the NPCs outsmarted me. Sure, once you fall down the pecking order and find yourself in the last 10, things get sticky. But never as bad as in Mario Kart World as having 24 racers on track results in a lot of chaos — so much so that people have often complained about the game's difficulty on r/NintendoSwitch and r/MarioKart. NPCs, for a change, seem intelligent and smart. They'll take shortcuts, grind on rails, target you, so on and so forth, and if you aren't in top form and aren't utilizing shortcuts, the game will punish you. That's what made watching the finale of our tournament so thrilling — the five of us who watched it had no idea what to expect, and I doubt the finalists did either. It was so thrilling to watch, and definitely more fun to watch than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe which, after a while, becomes predictable and you don't even break a sweat playing 150CC+. Our office Mario Kart World tournament has cemented the game as one of the greats for me, which I didn't think earlier. With the plethora of characters and vehicles to choose from and the different types of race tracks, it's a whole lot of fun for people who don't like video games either. I can't wait to host another tournament now.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Mario Kart World Is Selling Faster Than OG Switch Launch Title Zelda: Breath of the Wild in Japan
In Japan, Nintendo Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World has sold more physical copies in the first three days on sale than Switch 1 launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild managed in its first three days. According to Famitsu, Mario Kart World has sold a huge 782,566 copies in Japan already, making it the top-selling game for the week from June 2 to June 8. It is worth noting, however, that Famitsu's figures only cover physical, preinstalled-on-console, and Game-Key Card sales from retail outlets. They do not include digital downloads direct from My Nintendo Store, so the total number of Mario Kart World sales is likely far higher. In contrast, the Switch edition of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sold an estimated 193,060 copies in Japan over the first three days after the original Switch's launch back in 2017, according to Famitsu's figures. This means that in Japanese retail sales alone, Mario Kart World has sold around four times more copies than Breath of the Wild initially did on Switch 1. This is hardly surprising, considering the Switch 2 is Nintendo's fastest selling hardware to date, shifting over 3.5 million units worldwide in the first four days. In fact, Nintendo's latest console is outselling the original Switch 2-to-1 (no pun intended). The supply-constrained Switch 1 got off to a much slower start, selling 2.74 million units globally in just under a month. Over the first three days post-launch, physical Switch 2 games saw strong sales in Japan. Switch 2 titles accounted for half of Famitsu's top 10, with Switch 2 editions of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (No. 6, 10,877 copies), Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (No. 7, 7,992 copies), Zelda: Breath of the Wild (No. 8, 7,529 copies) and Yakuza 0 (No. 9, 7,486 copies) entering the charts. Elden Ring: Nightreign (PS5) was the only non-Switch title at No. Mario Kart World may be racing ahead of Breath of the Wilds' initial launch figures in Japan, it remains to be seen if it will eventually catch up with the critically acclaimed Zelda game's total sales. Especially considering that BOTW just got a Switch 2 HD rerelease, which may prompt fans to purchase the game all over again. Check out our Mario Kart World guide and learn how to unlock every hidden Mario Kart World character, plus how Kamek Unlocks work — you'll need them to unlock NPC Drivers. We've also got a guide to all the Mario Kart World food scattered across the open world and where to find it, which will help you get all the Mario Kart World outfits and costumes permanently. Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Mario Kart World update nerfs three-lap race trick and players are not happy
Its open world structure was already contentious, but a new Mario Kart World patch is actively angering some players. While the new, linear segue sections in Mario Kart World, dubbed intermission tracks by fans, are a lot of fun many are already frustrated that there's no easy way to play traditional three-lap races as an alternative. Many prefer three-lap races, which are still an option in Mario Kart World when playing in the offline versus mode or with friends online. It's a different story, though, when playing random online matches with strangers, which prioritises intermission tracks. Players quickly figured out a way to enjoy traditional three-lap races in random matches but, perhaps in direct response to this, Nintendo has updated the game to make traditional races less frequent online. For context, when playing Mario Kart World online with random opponents, everybody is given a selection of tracks to choose for the next race; all of which are the linear intermission tracks. However, there is an option to choose a random track in the game and players soon learned this option was guaranteed to pick a traditional three-lap variant. So, it became common for most, if not all, players in a lobby to pick the random option. A new update for Mario Kart World dropped yesterday though, and aside from fixing a few bugs it has also 'Adjusted courses selected in 'Random' when selecting next course in a wireless 'VS Race' – according to Nintendo's patch notes. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The patch notes don't specify what this adjustment does but, according to dataminer OatmealDome, it essentially means the random selection for tracks now includes all of them – three-lap variants and the intermission tracks. It's entirely possible this was always meant to be the case, and Nintendo is simply correcting an error, but it's easy to read the situation as Nintendo trying to force players into experiencing Mario Kart World the 'proper' way. More Trending Unsurprisingly, this hasn't gone down well with some people on social media. JxmesTHFC says Nintendo has removed the 'one saving grace' of Mario Kart World's online, while GrimReaper8610 goes as far as to say this has 'killed' the game's online versus mode. PsySmasher accurately points out that this isn't going to dissuade people from picking random during online matches, since it's still the only way of getting a three-lap race. YouTuber PapaGenos offers a more measured response, simply saying: 'Give players options, don't force this stuff, let people play however they want to play.' Despite the gripes, this is unlikely to have any sort of significant impact on Mario Kart World's online activity, since most casual players aren't going to be too bothered by any of it. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: The best Mario Kart World character is not who you'd expect MORE: Nintendo explains why Zelda and Splatoon racers aren't in Mario Kart World MORE: Mario Kart 64 is available on PC with track editor thanks to fans
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Nintendo Switch 2 review: The good, the bad and the middling of the $719 console
The Switch 2's most noticeable upgrade is its 7.9-inch 1,080p screen with up to 120Hz refresh rates. PHOTO: AFP Nintendo Switch 2 review: The good, the bad and the middling of the $719 console SINGAPORE – Nintendo has done it again. Eight years after the Nintendo Switch revolutionised console gaming by offering a hybrid experience that combines handheld gaming and home consoles, the Switch 2 brings key refinements to the Japanese gamemaker's flagship console. The question is not whether the Switch 2 improves on its predecessor – it does – but whether these improvements justify the hike from the first iteration's $425 launch price. Despite key improvements, playtesting the console reminds me more of the modest step from Nintendo's Wii to the Wii U, rather than the revolutionary leap between the latter console and the Switch. The Good: A better Switch The Switch 2's most noticeable upgrade is its 7.9-inch 1,080p screen with up to 120Hz refresh rates – a big improvement over the original's 6.2-inch 720p screen. Games look visibly sharper and crisper, and the larger screen makes extended handheld sessions more comfortable. Under the hood, hardware improvements enable technically demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (2020) to run smoothly on Nintendo hardware for the first time. Storage also receives a long overdue upgrade from 32GB of internal storage to 256GB – addressing one of the Switch's most frustrating limitations: insufficient space for today's increasingly expansive digital games. Build quality remains a Nintendo hallmark, but the new aesthetic abandons the bold neon red-blue scheme for subtler accents and sleeker lines. The new Joy-Cons have a magnetic attachment system that make for easier attachment and removal. And they now allow for motion-controlled mouse functionality, opening up games that were originally made for the PC, like Civilization VII (2025), to more intuitive gameplay. Backwards compatibility with the original Switch's games is another selling point. Only a few of the over 15,000 games available for the device cannot be played on the Switch 2. The Lukewarm: Launch games are hit or miss The biggest new release in the small line-up of games made for the Switch 2 is racing game Mario Kart World (2025). PHOTO: AFP What might turn some enthusiasts off is the new console's reliance on this backwards compatibility. The biggest new release in the small line-up of games made for the Switch 2 is racing game Mario Kart World (2025) – unlike in 2017 when the original Switch launched with The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild (2017) as one of its exclusive titles. Most of the other launch highlights are Nintendo Switch 2 ports or remakes of popular hits like Breath Of The Wild , Cyberpunk 2077 , Split Fiction (2025) and Bravely Default (2012). While all original Switch games can be played on the new Switch, not all games will receive the free update that allows them to fully utilise the Switch's new features – like the social function GameChat or the device's upgraded hardware. As a gamer whose most anticipated upcoming Nintendo release is Pokemon Z-A (set for an Oct 16 release), one point of frustration is having to pay US$10 (S$13) more for the Nintendo Switch 2 edition. T his mark-up on Switch 2 game prices appears to be the norm for games also available for the Switch. Other small but easy-to-miss tweaks include the console's new kickstand. When coupled with a new USB-C charging port on top of the device, this allows for yet another mode of portable gameplay. A new feature, GameShare, lets players share their e-cartridges – digital versions of games they have bought – with fellow Switch 2 owners for up to 14 days. However, porting over old digital games from the original Switch locks them out of that device. The Ugly: Cost of technical refinements The technical refinements come with some frustrating drawbacks. The biggest among them is that the new console's battery life marks a regression from that of the original Switch. While the original has a battery life of 4½ to nine hours, the new Switch has only two to 6½ hours of battery life – a step back for the hybrid console . The console's weight with Joy-Cons attached has also gone up to 534g from 400g , though it still feels comfortable to hold. Nintendo's traditional stubbornness also persists in unintuitive ways. For one, Singapore still lacks a dedicated eShop, meaning that Singapore users looking to buy and download their favourite games must do so in foreign currencies. The Switch 2's $719 price point positions it as a premium gaming device, approaching the cost of a PlayStation 5 ($669+) and Xbox Series X ($799+), but with greater portability – at the cost of poorer technical performance in certain areas. As an evolution of the concept, the Switch 2 delivers what it promises: a better Switch. But it does not fundamentally reimagine what that means. Verdict: To buy or not to buy? If you are a gamer already satisfied with your current Switch and do not crave the technical upgrades necessary to run hardware-demanding games, it might make sense to hold off until more exclusive games are released for the Switch 2. But if you loved the original Switch and everything it represents , the Switch 2's refinements make it a clear upgrade in every regard except for battery life and price point. For dedicated Nintendo fans, these upgrades seem to be worth the investment. The console s old 3.5 million units worldwide in its first four days. I n contrast, i ts predecessor sold 2.7 million units in its first month. Part of what explains this feat – beyond the Switch 2's refinements – is how, much like the original Switch, Nintendo's flagship console arrives at a lull period in video game console development. Console-makers Sony and Microsoft have only just begun to tease the next-generation PlayStation and Xbox. Their last new consoles were released in 2020. In the absence of other next-generation offerings, console enthusiasts seeking a shiny new bauble are hardly spoilt for choice. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Games Inbox: Has the Nintendo Switch 2 been a disappointment?
The Thursday letters page thinks that the power of a console has become irrelevant, as one middle-aged reader loses their enthusiasm for gaming. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@ Post-launch verdict After having a few weeks to think about it, I'm afraid to say that I'm pretty disappointed with the Switch 2. Or rather, I am impressed by the console itself, and have no complaints about that, but everything else connected to it seems so low effort. Mario Kart World is a good game, but the free roam stuff is pretty bad and whether Nintendo has more planned for it or not, they haven't said anything so that's hardly an excuse. The real problem is there's literally nothing else going on with the console, except for Donkey Kong next month. The only exciting game after that is Metroid Prime 4, which is a Switch 1 game that was going to come out this year whether the Switch 2 was out or not. We know nothing of their future plans for any of their big franchise (even the Splatoon game was just a spin-off) and incredibly there's no sign of a new Mario game or any hope for more Zelda this decade. Given how time and goodwill was on Nintendo's side with this, they really have fumbled the ball. Focus Do it yourself I agree with readers complaining that the games industry is in a very dark place at the moment, with constant layoffs and another new round looming at Xbox. The only positive I can hope for from this is if it pushes more developers towards setting up their own indie studios and kissing goodbye to the traditional publisher system. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. You often hear about ultra low budget indie games selling in the multiple millions and yet AAA games, that must've cost 100 times more to make, still only sell around the same amount. Admittedly, indie games are almost always cheaper but even so, the profits on them must be enormous. Sure, you won't be working with state of the art graphics anymore, but surely that's a small price to pay for owning everything yourself, getting all the money, and getting to make whatever you want. Frampton Faux-Zero I'm not a massive WipEout fan but I thought I'd give Fast Fusion a go on Switch 2, as it was only £15, and I've been amazed by it. It looks fantastic and plays great, with some great track design. In fact, I think it looks better that a lot of games on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. There's an update this week as well, that's going to add more tracks and features. Only thing missing is online play, but the four player splitscreen is great. Also, there is a GameShare option that allows my daughter to play on her original Switch with me and I can't believe how good it works, seeing the game run on her Switch is like magic. More games need to add this feature. So, for £15 this is a steal, I look forward to what the devs do next. Rob Email your comments to: gamecentral@ Games before merch I see the new Donkey Kong and Pauline amiibo is in stock to pre-order on Nintendo Store UK for £16.99. I am tempted to buy it but I was planning to buy a new gaming PC in August and a deluxe edition of Metal Gear Solid Delta for PlayStation 5, so will have to put it on my wishlist. Andrew J. PS: I have just heard about this game, but I don't remember GameCentral reviewing it, it is called BZZZT. It's a platformer from 2023 and it looks amazing and has got a very positive rating on Steam. What is GameCentral's opinion of it? GC: We've never heard of it before, but it looks a lot like Super Meat Boy. Death stranded I'm not sure how big a franchise Death Stranding is but I notice no one around here has been talking about it and that seems to follow for everywhere else I see online. Maybe the algorithm knows I don't like it, but it looks like a really expensive game, especially with all those Hollywood actors in it, but I'm really not sure how it's making its money back. Like you say, I admire Hideo Kojma's ability to talk people into funding him, and then making whatever he wants, but at some point aren't these same people going to want a return on their investment? If a sequel to Death Stranding was meant to be a surefire hit I think there's going to be some disappointment… Lambo Unlimited power I think the concept of the power of a console (or a PC GPU for that matter) has shifted massively since the release of PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. PlayStation recognised this with PS5 Pro and dipped their toe in the water with AI upscaling, but being tied to AMD meant they had to (co-?) develop their own hardware-accelerated algorithm in PSSR, which inevitably led to some teething issues. Now that FSR 4 is available (and may even be implemented on PS5 Pro in future) I expect this to be a key feature of both the PlayStation 6 and the Windows NeXtbox One. While AMD still lag behind Nvidia in this regard, FSR 4 is a huge step-up in image quality compared to what's available on PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X, and should have a similar impact to DLSS 3/4 on Switch 2: achieving much better image quality over the current generation consoles even if the GPU and CPU upgrades seem fairly modest on paper. Throw in hardware-accelerated ray tracing support and maybe even frame generation and we'll get some very capable consoles which hopefully won't break the bank. But probably will. Magnumstache PS: Quite interested in Tempest Rising – PC only at the moment but looks like a fun throwback real-time strategy, released back in April. Infinite Pass I was receiving Game Pass for free once upon a time, I think I concluded that it was an ex-girlfriend who liked her choice games and so created her own profile on my Xbox. When we separated a good while later she got her own Xbox and Game Pass, so I assumed it was still tied to the account she had on my Xbone. I only realised when my subscription ran out, but I kept receiving it! Out of guilt I had to resubscribe and strangely it didn't work on the Xbox Series X, but for all I know it could still be running on the Xbone. big boy bent Gaming midlife crisis I wrote in a few weeks back about how good the Sony State of Play amazed me. I'm a VVVVV long time reader, since before you became Digitiser (there was something else before that.) I'm 50 and have been gaming since I got an Atari 2600 for Xmas in 1980. You wouldn't believe how games have progressed since Adventure, Pac-Man, and Asteroids. Graphics and worlds are so amazing you couldn't wish for anything else but I now find myself in a bit of a gaming rut, in that everything that is made has a sword or gun or whatever else is the best method of killing something or someone, with super duper million pound graphics. What has happened to the creative ingenuity of our past time? Why is it that everything that's released I have to slaughter something? Fetch this, get that, and hope I don't get killed? I know Nintendo do cutsey have-fun games but where has this all gone on the other consoles? I've looked and looked at indie games but nothing takes my fancy; Concrete Genie, walking simulators?! (I'll go for a walk myself!). The amazing ideas that were around during the Amiga/Atari ST time have been sidelined for blow anything up or footy or racing, that's it. This drive for fab graphics and a myriad of different ways of making something die or drive here and do this is all a bit too much. I know profit margins and risk aversion is at play, but come on, stop releasing the same sort of stuff all the time and let's have a bit of imagination (even though it don't sell). Rant over, just after 40 odd years of making games we only now get the same four or five genres?! Sad times from what we all imagined as kids. Indiegaz (PSN ID) GC: Concrete Genie was six years ago and walking sim is a derogatory term for games with no action elements, they're not literally about walking. Based on your comments, we'd recommend indie games such as the excellent Blue Prince or Citizen Sleeper 2. Inbox also-ransSo happy to see Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 do well. It really is the feel good success story of the year and well deserved too. Benson Time Crisis? Now there's a name I haven't heard in a very long time. If they can make it work on modern TVs though I'm interested. Just do Gunblade NY afterwards! Maxo More Trending Email your comments to: gamecentral@ The small print New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers' letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content. You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader's Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot. You can also leave your comments below and don't forget to follow us on Twitter. MORE: Games Inbox: Will the PS6 be the most powerful console ever? MORE: Games Inbox: Do video game exclusives still matter? MORE: Games Inbox: Is Mario Kart World better than Mario Kart 8?
