Latest news with #videochat
Zawya
30-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Napster launches Napster Companion and Napster View
Napster Companions engage in video chat that feels natural and intuitive, and have memory so they don't just understand your tasks—they understand you Dubai, UAE — Following the announcement of its rebrand from Infinite Reality to Napster Corporation and acquisition of Touchcast for $500 million, Napster —the innovation company powering the next generation of digital media and ecommerce—today introduced two products: Napster Companion (NC), a conversational AI platform offering natural video interactions with a vast ecosystem of intelligent agents, and Napster View, a 3D second-screen device designed to bring these dynamic, two-way conversations to life in immersive, spatial form. Together, these tools seek to evolve how consumers engage with AI everyday by offering lifelike personas built to help you learn new skills, solve problems, create, and grow - all over video. Whether you're looking for personalized meal plans or tackling complex equations on a spreadsheet, Napster Companions offer expertise and empathy, and are designed to feel like a trusted partner, not a chatbot. No written prompts. Just natural video conversations. Napster Companion: An Ecosystem of Multi-Modal Personified Agents Napster Companion is a scalable assistant platform that connects individuals to a suite of domain-specific intelligent and personality-driven AI agents. Each Napster Companion is designed leveraging Napster Corp's proprietary pipeline that incorporates thirty psychometric parameters that make each agent distinct with its own character, domain expertise, communication style, and task fluency. Unlike traditional chatbots or generic assistants, Napster Companions are embodied mentors—available 24/7 through live video—offering dynamic, human-like interaction tailored to each user's needs. Rather than relying solely on text or voice commands, these persistent, context-aware agents remember past interactions, adapt over time with endlessly optimized personalization, and support both reactive and proactive workflows, including document collaboration and task-based guidance in real time. The Napster Companion library covers a nearly infinite number of categories of knowledge such as cooking, health, finance, education, fitness, design, software development, and much more. If an agent does not already exist, the Napster Companion platform auto-generates a new one on the fly, in real-time, so no user query is left unanswered. Key Differentiators: No Text Prompts, Just Talk – Start a conversation like you would with a friend. Your Napster Companion understands and responds via live video. An Endless Universe of Experts – Covering everything from tax prep to travel planning, cooking to coding, fitness to finance. Don't see an agent that fits your needs? Just type in your query and a new agent and video is generated. Empathic, Engaging Personas – Built using over 30 personality traits, agents are designed to be relatable and helpful, and have memory and empathy. Live Document Collaboration – Collaborate on documents via uploads like slides, contracts, or spreadsheets. Your Conversations, Your Data – Conversations are secure, and can be exported by you anytime. Napster Companion is available for $19 per month, or users can opt for an annual subscription at $219, which includes a complimentary Napster View device, a $199 value. For those who prefer a usage-based option, 100 hours of Companion access is available for $95, while the 200-hour pack—priced at $189—also includes a complimentary Napster View. Before choosing a plan, visitors can try the experience for free with 15-minutes of complimentary chat provided. Napster View: A 3D Holographic Display for Streaming Chat with Napster Companions Napster View is a high-resolution 2.1" 3D holographic display designed to keep your Napster Companion in sight without cluttering your primary screen. Engineered for seamless integration into any workspace, it connects via USB-C with simple plug-and-play setup—no installation required. Crafted from sub-65g anodized aluminum, Napster View combines portability with a premium aesthetic that pairs effortlessly with modern macOS silicon computers, offering a dedicated, always-on viewport for immersive, 3D AI interaction. Napster View is included with select Napster Companion plans and will also be available for standalone purchase for $199 later this summer. 'Napster Companion and Napster View aren't traditional AI productivity tools,' said John Acunto, CEO of Napster Corp. 'We're focused on delivering a modality that's approachable and intuitive for anyone. But most important is ensuring your conversations are your business and all that data is securely stored, never sold, and can be exported by you at any time. Ultimately, as AI becomes a fixture in our daily routines, we want to ensure it serves users—whether individuals or enterprises—in ways that are useful, respectful, empowering, and secure.' Building on the Momentum of Napster Spaces Napster Companion and Napster View follow the successful release of Napster Spaces, an immersive AI-powered platform that allows users to easily create web pages powered by embodied AI agents. Built with enterprise and creative communities in mind, Napster Spaces turns static legacy websites into living, conversational experiences—in minutes, not sprints. 'With the formation of Napster AI, we're laying the groundwork for an integrated ecosystem that puts meaningful, human-centered technology in everyone's hands,' said Edo Segal, CTO of Napster Corp. 'Napster Spaces, Companion, and View represent the first steps in our long-term vision to build the tech stack for the future AI-powered internet.' -Ends- About Napster (formerly Infinite Reality) Napster is an innovation company powering the next generation of digital media and ecommerce through spatial computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and other immersive technologies. Napster's suite of cutting-edge software, production, marketing services, and other capabilities empower brands and creators to craft inventive digital experiences that uplevel audience engagement, data ownership, monetization, and brand health metrics. For more information, visit Napster owns a wide portfolio of companies and capabilities, having executed a number of acquisitions throughout its history, including but not limited to Thunder Studios, Napster/Rhapsody, Talent X, Obsess, Landvault, the Drone Racing League, and Touchcast. Media Contact: jana@
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Drivers in Central Florida can video chat with FHP after minor crashes
Drivers involved in minor crashes on some Central Florida highways can now video chat with a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, resolving their collision issues faster than if they waited for police to show up at the scene. The Desk Trooper Program allows drivers to work remotely with an FHP trooper if they get into a minor crash on Central Florida Expressway Authority's 125 miles of tolled roads. That includes state roads 408 and 417. The pilot program, which began in October, is the first of its kind in the nation, according to CFX and FHP. The program is a partnership between the two agencies and an effort to clear crash investigations more quickly in a region with clogged roads, a ballooning population and often-long wait times after minor accidents. 'With a high call volume and with a limited number of troopers, those two combined resulted in high response times,' said Major Connor Cardwell, FHP communications commander in a podcast interview with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, explaining the impetus for the new program. 'Unfortunately some individuals have waited an hour or more.' FHP prioritizes where to send troopers based on the severity of the crash, so minor ones are last in line for the 1,982 sworn officers who police over 43.2 million highway roads statewide. Since it began, the desk trooper program has been used in 41% of all minor crashes on CFX roads. The program has been funded by CFX and FHP, but the two agencies hope the Florida Legislature will provide money to expand it statewide in coming years. This month, FHP made the program available in a dozen other counties from the Panhandle to South Florida, among them Brevard and Marion, FHP Lieutenant Colonel Mark Brown said at last week's CFX meeting. 'We believe the program works and has a value to the state,' Brown said. 'Our goal is to make this a mainstream option in the future for investigating minor traffic crashes across the state.' So far this year FHP has responded to more than 43,000 crashes statewide, most of them minor, data from the Florida Department of Transportation shows. In Central Florida, there have been slightly more than 18,000 crashes from January to June, data from FHP shows. Most of those crashes — more than 10,700 — were in Orange County while there were roughly 2,000 in each of Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties so far this year. 'We've certainly had a challenge in Orange County with timing of response so this is a very welcome addition,' said Christine Moore, an Orange County commissioner who also sits on the CFX board. To use the program, drivers can dial *347 (*FHP) to connect to a dispatcher who assesses if the crash is minor and eligible for a desk trooper. FHP defines minor crashes as those that do not involve injuries, require towing, block lanes or suggest criminal violations. Commercial motor vehicles are not eligible, and both parties involved in the collision must agree to use the program. If a crash is eligible, the dispatcher texts a link to the driver that allows them to chat with an FHP trooper, who could be located anywhere in the state. Troopers review the crash scene via camera, interview witnesses and complete a crash report virtually. Drivers do not need to install an app on their phones to take part. Most people who have used the program respond positively on FHP surveys, Brown said. On Facebook, one user wrote on a CFX post about the program that he wished he'd used it. 'I should have called you guys when a woman in the left lane of US 92 in Plant City swerved into my lane (right hand) and ran me off the curb and still sideswiped my van,' the user wrote. Instead, the driver called the police 'and waited over an hour and half.'
CNN
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
I played the Nintendo Switch 2 for nearly a week. Here are my honest thoughts
The Nintendo Switch 2 is strikingly familiar. When I'm navigating its recognizably blocky home screen, swapping between handheld, tabletop and TV play and, at least for now, playing a lot of the same games, I can't help but feel like Nintendo's new console is a subtle iteration rather than a true generational reinvention like the Super Nintendo or Nintendo 64 were. That said, when that subtle iteration improves on one of the best consoles of all time with things like better controls and smooth 4K gameplay, it's hard to be too upset. And that's not to say the Switch 2 doesn't deliver moments of Nintendo magic we haven't seen before. Playing Fortnite using your Joy-Con as a mouse is a game-changer; being able to seamlessly hop into an online video chat without a microphone in sight is arguably even cooler. It also brings a great new Mario Kart game, a bunch of big third-party blockbusters Nintendo fans may have missed and improved versions of some of your favorite Switch games. But does that all add up to a package that's not only worth a steep $450, but also the hassle of trying to track this elusive system down right now? And what's the real expense when you factor in the ballooning price of games and storage? I've done the hard work of playing the Nintendo Switch 2 obsessively for the past week, and am ready to answer those questions for you. Nintendo Switch 2 The Nintendo Switch 2 delivers an improved design, fun new tricks like mouse controls and built-in video chat and great performance for new and old games alike. A bigger, mostly better design Improving on one of the most popular consoles of all time isn't an easy task, which is why the Nintendo Switch 2 simply refines what already works. You've still got a touch screen, detachable Joy-Con controllers that allow for instant multiplayer and the ingenious ability to switch between TV and handheld gaming on the fly — except it's all packed into a bigger, mostly better design that flaunts some cool new party tricks. First off, this thing is large. The difference in dimensions between the Switch 2 and the OG model is evident the second you pick the new model up, with a roughly 2-pound design that stretches just under 11 inches wide. It's not quite as big as, say, a Valve Steam Deck, but it makes my Nintendo Switch OLED feel damn-near pocketable by comparison. The added real estate is largely a good thing; the Switch 2 just feels sturdier and more substantial, from the bigger buttons on the Joy-Cons to the grippy black matte finish that permeates the entire design. The kickstand on the back is Nintendo's most durable and flexible yet; a far cry from the puny stick stand on the original Switch and more akin to the Switch OLED stand that lets you smoothly adjust from fully upright to near-flat. You're also getting a lot more screen than before, with a 7.9-inch 1080p display that trumps the 7-inch Switch OLED, 6.2-inch Nintendo Switch and 5.5-inch Switch Lite on sheer real estate. There's now an additional USB-C port at the top of the console, which makes it easy to connect a camera or (finally) charge your system while using it in tabletop mode. The Switch 2 dock is likewise beefed-up, with familiar ports within a larger design that I still didn't have much trouble tucking behind my TV. I just wish Nintendo didn't drop the two USB-A ports that were on the original Switch dock, as they were clutch for hooking up extra accessories like wired controllers and adapters. The new Joy-Con 2 controllers are the real highlight here, as they detach with a quick button press and attach via a satisfying magnetic snap. I never really had an issue with sliding my Joy-Cons on and off the original Switch, but this is an even more seamless solution that should lead to less accidental damage when you're looking to get some tabletop Mario Kart going. Speaking of which, the bigger size and buttons make each Joy-Con 2 feel much more comfortable and enjoyable to use as a standalone controller. The enlarged SL and SR shoulder buttons are a particularly nice upgrade from the borderline microscopic inputs on the classic Joy-Cons, meaning I can finally drift around as my beloved Luigi without guaranteed hand cramps. Fortunately, you can still use your older Switch controllers wirelessly, which is a godsend for anyone who's already accrued a massive Joy-Con collection. It wouldn't be a new Nintendo console without some sort of new control gimmick, and I'm happy to say that the Switch 2's new mouse mode is a delight to use. You can now plop a Joy Con 2 down on just about any surface and use it as a mouse, which allows you to navigate the home screen like you would on your computer and play select games that allow for pointing and clicking. There are only a handful of titles that support mouse control right now, but I've had a real blast using my Joy-Con (Joy-Mouse?) to whack golf balls, complete timed mazes and try and paint between the lines in the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Using it in Fortnite was a revelation; I suddenly could enjoy the same pinpoint aiming that PC gamers do with their favorite gaming mouse, all from simply sliding my existing controller around on my table. I hope a good amount of games —- both competitive and quirky — end up taking advantage of mouse controls, because it's one of the system's most underrated features. Noticeably better performance The Nintendo Switch 2 might not be a massive generational leap the way that the PS5 was over the PS4, but it still delivers a noticeably better gaming experience than before. Even before you fire up any games, the extra snappiness is apparent; everything from the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online apps to massive games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom loaded up a few seconds faster on the Switch 2. Those small time savings add up, especially if you're trying to knock out a quick level or two while on the subway. Thanks to the system's new custom Nvidia processor, you can finally play Nintendo games in proper 4K when you connect to a TV (and an improved 1080p in handheld mode). The system even supports gameplay at up to 120 frames per second — an ultra-high level of smoothness that was once reserved for powerful gaming PCs and current-gen consoles. These perks all combined to make the vibrant, expansive racing of Mario Kart World look and play fantastic, even while I engaged in chaotic 24-player races across massive, sprawling courses. But that's to be expected from the system's marquee launch title. I was far more impressed by my time with Street Fighter 6, a game that I've played obsessively on my PS5 — and one that feels far less compromised than I'd expect it to be on the comparably underpowered Switch 2. Sure, the character models aren't nearly as sharp as they are on Sony's console, particularly in handheld mode and especially so during close-ups that reveal stringy hair and blurry faces. But in motion, this is very much the same smooth, explosively colorful fighting game that I poured dozens of hours into on my PlayStation. If it weren't for the Switch 2 Pro Controller in my hands, I would have completely forgotten I wasn't playing the PS5 version of the game in the heat of a competitive online match. And then there's the fact that the Switch 2 can make some of your existing Switch games run even better. I'm glad I waited until now to start The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in earnest, because its upgraded Switch 2 edition looks and feels like a true triple-A game rather than something chugging along on ancient hardware. It was actually jarring to see a modern open-world Zelda game running at a silky 60 frames per second and sharp 4K HDR on my TV; that's how relatively behind the curve the original Switch was. In addition to special 'Nintendo Switch 2 editions' of select games (which require either a paid upgrade pack or a Nintendo Switch Online subscription), a handful of Switch titles got free performance upgrades that simply smooth out the edges a bit. I didn't really notice a difference when playing updated titles like Super Mario 3D World or Arms, but a close friend (and the biggest Pokémon fanatic I know) noted that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet practically feels like a whole new game. That's high praise for a title that was notorious for its poor performance on the first Switch. Even games that didn't get a proper Switch 2 patch, like NBA 2K25 and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, seemed to look nicer on the new hardware. A more social system than ever Even with its improved hardware and performance, I couldn't shake just how familiar the Nintendo Switch 2 felt. But then I hopped on a video chat with a friend, our little heads chuckling and nodding at the bottom of the screen while I played Street Fighter and he played Mario Kart. There wasn't a single microphone or headset in sight, yet we heard each other just fine. 'Okay,' I told myself. 'This feels new.' Sure, built-in online chat functionality is long overdue for Nintendo, but the system's new GameChat feature delivers it in a way that is distinctly fun and frictionless — and even has some advantages over the competition. If you've played games online just about anywhere but a Nintendo console, GameChat will likely feel familiar. Tap the new 'C' button on your controller or head to the GameChat icon on the home screen, and you can join or set up an online lobby where up to 12 people can yap over some video games. But here's the kicker: up to four of those people can be on video, whether it's via the $60 Nintendo Switch 2 Camera or any USB webcam you happen to have lying around. You can even share your screen, which often leads to blurry video but is still handy if you want to, say, show a friend how to conquer a tricky Zelda dungeon. Oh, and don't worry about grabbing a mic or gaming headset; the Switch 2 has a built-in microphone that works shockingly well, even from across a living room. These features have existed in some form on other platforms for decades, but I'm still impressed by how well Nintendo managed to package them all together. Some of the most fun I've had with the Switch 2 came from an hours-long GameChat with a friend. We gamed together for a bit, trading some heated rounds of Soul Calibur II, before I switched over to Mario Kart World and he hopped into MLB The Show 25. No matter what we were doing, our camera feeds remained at the bottom of our screens, meaning he could say hi to my dog and I could compliment his cool Space Jam poster. Neither of us were using a dedicated gaming headset, yet we could hear each other just fine — even with my air conditioner cranked to the max. I've been gaming online for two decades now, and this video-forward, microphone-free approach replicates the feeling of playing games in the same room as my buddies better than just about any other platform I've used. This is a far cry from the original Switch, which lacked built-in chat and instead encouraged players to download a dedicated mobile app for in-game communication (most of us just used better options like Discord). The PlayStation 5's controller has a built-in mic and speaker for chatting and allows for screen sharing, but the system lacks video calling functionality. Both PlayStation and Xbox support cameras, but mainly for broadcasting your gameplay to the larger internet on Twitch and YouTube. PC gamers are probably laughing as they read this given their vast amount of options for video and voice calling, but there's a big difference between the gamer that sits at their computer and the one that games casually in their living room. Nintendo is even integrating camera support directly into select games with CameraPlay, which I found very entertaining during a Mario Kart session in which I could see my opponent's reaction to every pesky red shell. And just to put a bow on the Switch 2's vastly improved social experience, Nintendo also introduced GameShare: a feature that lets you invite your friends to play a game locally or online even if they don't own said title. This worked as advertised in my testing — I invited a friend to an online Super Mario 3D World session, which he was able to join instantly without having to own or even download the game. While we had to fight through some initial lag, we were eventually able to conquer one of Bowser's castles in pretty smooth fashion. And while you'll need a Switch 2 to host a GameShare session, you can still share select titles with your friends that are still on their original Switchl. GameShare is currently limited to a handful of older Switch games, but it will work with the Switch 2 version of Super Mario Party Jamboree that's coming this month (a perfect fit for this feature), and will hopefully continue to roll out for more of Nintendo's multiplayer staples. It's a bit bulky, and the display and battery life are just fine While the Switch 2's 'bigger is better' approach generally rings true, there's no getting around the fact that this thing is hefty. The new console might only be about a half pound heavier than the Switch 1 on paper, but the added weight feels significant, and younger gamers or folks with smaller hands might have some trouble getting used to it. While I didn't find the Switch 2 to be overly heavy during prolonged handheld sessions, its wide, thin design resulted in the Joy-Cons digging into my palms a bit — something I alleviated by throwing on this Supcase protective shell. I also find the console's 7.9-inch, 1080p LCD display to be just fine. It is indeed sharper than the 720p screen on the older Switches — something that was noticeable when I pit Mario Kart World on the Switch 2 against Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch OLED — but it also lacks that added pop of color that I love so much on my OLED model. I also wish the Switch 2 screen was a little brighter and less glossy, as playing outside was near-impossible (though a glare-free screen protector can help with this). Also, you'll want to keep a good portable charger handy if you plan on playing on the road a lot. During an evening spent playing Mario Kart World, Street Fighter 6 and a few classics on my couch while watching the NBA Finals, the Switch 2 ran out of battery in almost exactly three hours. That's well within Nintendo's estimate of two to 6.5 hours depending on what you're playing, though notably below the Switch OLED's rating of 4.5 to nine hours. It's possible that bigger games mean a bigger battery drain; Mario Kart in particular seemed to devour a charge pretty quickly. Increased storage is nice, but you'll still need more The Nintendo Switch 2 packs 256GB of storage, which, on paper, is a pretty big upgrade over the 32GB Switch and 64GB Switch OLED. But when game downloads are only getting bigger, that space is going to fill up very fast if you're buying most of your stuff digitally. It's great that the Switch 2 can finally play big blockbusters like Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077, but those take up around 50GB and 60GB of space, respectively. By the time you transfer your existing Switch library and tack on a handful of new titles, you'll likely run out of space like I did within my first day with the system. And expanding your storage is a bit tricker and more expensive than before. Unlike the original Switch, which let you pop in just about any microSD card to make space for games, the Switch 2 requires you to use specific microSD Express cards that allow for faster transfer speeds. The problem is, there aren't a ton of options available right now, and the ones that do exist are pretty pricey — like this 256GB SanDisk model that'll run you $72. Want to future-proof your console with 1TB of storage? Get ready to pay at least $190 for this GameStop model. Adding storage to any console isn't cheap these days, but when you compare that to this $110 Xbox Series X 1TB expansion card or this 1TB PS5-ready SSD that can be had for $65, upgrading your Xbox or PlayStation suddenly seems like a bargain. I imagine that microSD Express cards will become easier to find and more affordable over time, but if you find yourself needing to make space in the immediate future, get ready to pay up. The launch lineup is good — if you're a specific type of gamer I've been struggling to properly assess the Nintendo Switch 2's game lineup. If you're coming from the original Switch and are mainly a Nintendo gamer, you'll get a great new Mario Kart game, access to some cool triple-A titles you couldn't play before and some nice upgrades for some of your existing games. And this is your first Nintendo Switch? Sheesh, get ready to enjoy one of the best game libraries of all time. But if you're like me — a Switch fanatic that also plays games elsewhere — you can probably wait for the Switch 2 game library to flesh out a bit. As you've probably pieced together by now, the system is headlined by Mario Kart World, an expansive new take on the series that introduces huge 24-player races and an interconnected open world that you can drive around freely. It rules. I played more Mario Kart 8 Deluxe than just about any other Switch game, so having a sequel with new courses and moves to master — not to mention the option to just chill out in free roam — is worth the price of a new console for me. If you're not big on Mario Kart, that might not be the case. The other notable first-party launch game is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a playable instruction manual that packs charming visuals, some fun mini-games and a bunch of tedious but informative quizzes that cover everything from key features to nerdy tech specs. It would have been the perfect pack in game; instead, it's a $10 purchase that I can only recommend tepidly for folks who want to see everything their new system can do. You've also got the special Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, each of which are packed with performance enhancements and some nice quality of life improvements. If you've never played them, congrats: you can now experience the two of the best Switch games ever made, running the way they always should have. And if you own them already and are ready for a replay (or, let's be real, still haven't beat either of them), you can upgrade your existing copy to the Switch 2 version for $10 each or as part of your Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. Speaking of Switch Online, Expansion Pack members will also get access to a handful of Nintendo GameCube titles alongside the dozens of NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis classics already available on the service. The selection is limited to just F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Soul Calibur II (featuring Link!) at the moment. I'm happy with this, because I really like Soul Calibur II. For everyone else, know that the library is slated to gain more essentials like Super Mario Sunshine and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance over time. Then you have the third party stuff, which includes blockbusters like Street Fighter 6, Cyberpunk 2077, Yakuza 0 and Hitman World of Assassination that skipped the original Nintendo Switch. These are some great games, and their inclusion is a big deal for folks that only play on Nintendo and want to see what else is out there besides Mario and Zelda. If you already own a PS5, Xbox Series X/S or a good PC, their inclusion likely won't do as much for you (unless you really like the idea of taking these games on the go). Of course, like any new console, the Switch 2 is only going to get more big games over time. The next big exclusive is July's Donkey Kong Bananza, which promises some satisfyingly destructive platforming. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, Madden NFL 26 and Star Wars Outlaws will help fill out the third-party selection this summer and fall. The latest Mario Party and Kirby games are getting Switch 2 editions, and the much-anticipated Metroid Prime 4 with launch for both Switch systems at once. Looking further into 2025 and beyond, you can expect some promising new Kirby and Zelda spin-offs, and even a new exclusive from the Dark Souls team called the DuskBloods that will almost certainly be infuriatingly hard. As it stands now, there's plenty of great stuff to play on the Switch 2, particularly when you factor in its back catalog of thousands of Switch games. But you won't be missing out on a ton if you decide to hold out for that next Big Thing. It's pricey, and hard to find right now At $450, the Switch 2 is $150 more than the original Switch and $100 more than the OLED version. While I don't think that's an unreasonable price compared to the $500 PS5 and the $600 Xbox Series X (which recently got a price bump), it's still more expensive than its predecessor and may be out of range for some folks. But perhaps the bigger issue is that the Switch 2 is just hard to buy right now. As of this writing, both the $450 base console and $500 Mario Kart World bundle are sold out at most major stores like Walmart, Best Buy and Target, with occasional restocks happening for short bursts of time. I've seen a good amount of folks online find success by just going to their local store, but your mileage may vary there. I fully expect the Switch 2 to become easier to buy later this year, but just know that you'll have to do some savvy online hunting to score one right now. Even if you do get your hands on a system, you'll probably notice that the typical Nintendo Switch 2 game price is more than you might expect. Mario Kart World alone costs a whopping $80 (that's $20 more than the typical first-party Switch game) while Donkey Kong Bananza goes for the same $70 price tag that's become commonplace on other consoles. It's hard to pin all of this on Nintendo — pretty much everything is getting more expensive lately — but it does add even more expense to an already premium-priced console. The Nintendo Switch 2 is without question one of the best consoles I've ever gotten my hands on and the best Nintendo Switch yet, retaining everything that made the original a staple in millions of households while adding some welcome quality of life improvements and a few innovative, delightfully Nintendo-ey features. And hey, that new Mario Kart game is pretty dang fun. If you're a Nintendo diehard, you've probably made up your mind already; heck, maybe you were even lucky enough to score a Nintendo Switch 2 preorder. If you're still on the fence, the question of whether you should spend your nights trawling multiple retailers for a $450 Nintendo depends on what kind of gamer you are. I can't overstate how great a purchase this is for folks who somehow missed the boat on the original Nintendo Switch — you'll have access to one of the greatest game libraries ever assembled, while still being future-proofed for all the cool new stuff. And if you only game on Switch, get ready to finally see what the hype over Cyberpunk 2077 or Street Fighter 6 is about. Heck, if most of your Switch diet consists of playing games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Splatoon 3 and Fortnite online with friends, you just might find the Switch 2 worth it for the radically improved social experience alone. But for the less fanatical Nintendo player, especially one that games on other platforms, there's nothing wrong with waiting it out right now. The system is only going to get more big games, and it hopefully won't be long before you can buy one without obsessively tracking restocks across multiple screens like some sort of evil villain. Even if that'd make Bowser proud. How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 cost? How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 cost? The base Nintendo Switch 2 costs $450; there's also a $500 Mario Kart World bundle that includes the system's marquee launch game. Does the Nintendo Switch 2 have an LCD or OLED display? Does the Nintendo Switch 2 have an LCD or OLED display? The Nintendo Switch sports a 7.9-inch, 1080p LCD display. There's no word yet on whether we'll eventually get an OLED model. Does the Nintendo Switch 2 support 4K? Does the Nintendo Switch 2 support 4K? Yep! Games like Mario Kart World and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can be played in 4K in docked mode on compatible TVs, and even support High Dynamic Range (HDR) for extra-vibrant color. Keep in mind that you'll be limited to 1080p in handheld mode, however. CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. Senior tech editor Mike Andronico has been covering gaming for more than a decade, and has been doing tested reviews of Nintendo consoles since the Nintendo 3DS (which is still in his top five). For this review, he spent six grueling days playing lots of video games both solo and with friends in order to see just how well the Nintendo Switch 2 holds up.
The Verge
07-06-2025
- The Verge
Nintendo Switch 2 webcam compatibility: it's a wild west
The Nintendo Switch 2 is more expensive in practically every way: pricier console, pricier games, an entire Chat button you'll eventually have to pay to use. So it was nice when Nintendo revealed you won't need its own $55 camera to video chat with pals. 'You can use the Nintendo Switch 2 camera accessory (sold separately) or any compatible USB-C® camera you'd like,' the company wrote. But you might be mighty disappointed if you simply buy a PC webcam off the shelf. Many USB-C webcams we've tried don't work at all, including the ones you'll typically find on 'best webcam' lists around the internet, like the Logitech Brio 4K, the Insta360 Link, and the Elgato Facecam MK.2. Meanwhile, ancient USB-A cameras like my Logitech C920 fire up instantly with no trouble at all. And in our testing, it doesn't seem to matter if you use USB-C or USB-A, whether you're going through a C-to-A adapter, whether you plug in via USB hub or the Switch's dock; the webcams that work, work, and the ones that don't, don't. Overall, it's starting to look like Nintendo didn't mean 'compatible with USB-C,' but rather 'compatible with Switch 2.' So why did it suggest you can use any camera you'd like? We've asked Nintendo. (It didn't have an answer for us just yet.) As of launch, neither Nintendo nor any major webcam manufacturer had even a partial list for us of compatible webcams. We asked Logitech, Razer, Microsoft, Anker, Elgato, Dell, Insta360, Obsbot, and Opal, but they didn't have anything yet. (We'll publish an update and/or a new story next week if they do.) In the meanwhile, it may be up to gamers and the media to create a list themselves. So here's a first stab at that! We confirmed it works with Switch 2 The official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera Logitech C920 Logitech C922 Logitech C270 Logitech Brio 300 A $10 USB endoscope, amusingly We confirmed it doesn't work Logitech Brio 4K Elgato Facecam MK.2 Insta360 Link Opal Tadpole Anker PowerConf C200 Obsbot Meet SE DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Android phone in webcam mode Reportedly works with Switch 2 (mostly from this Reddit thread) iPhone with USB-C to HDMI cable and HDMI to USB-C capture cable Razer Kiyo Pro Razer Kiyo Logitech StreamCam Logitech C930e Logitech C910 Logitech C615 Logitech C310 Logitech C250 Microsoft LifeCam 3000 Microsoft LifeCam Studio HP 4310 Lenovo WHWC500 (mostly from this Reddit thread) Opal C1 Elgato Facecam Pro Elgato Facecam Neo Elgato Facecam MK.1 Nexigo N60 Sony ZV-E10 Sony EyeToy PS5 HD Camera PS4 Camera Insta360 X3 Microsoft Xbox One Kinect To Nintendo's credit, it is incredibly easy to test which cameras do work with the console. Just go to Systems Settings > Controllers & Accessories > Test USB Camera and working ones will automatically display an image on the screen as soon as you plug them in. And to Elgato's credit, it tells The Verge it may try to update its cameras: 'For cameras that do not work, we will explore firmware updates to enable compatibility with Switch 2,' reads a statement via spokesperson Justin Ocbina.
News.com.au
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Thousands queue at midnight for Nintendo Switch 2 release
Gamers across the country were lining up at midnight to be the first to get their hands on the 'biggest game launch of the year'. EB Games stores across the country were jammed packed last night as people rushed to buy the new Nintendo Switch 2. The original Switch is currently the third highest selling console of all time, and today marks he release of the brand new Nintendo Switch 2. People of all ages have already sold out first wave pre-orders at most stores worldwide, and are stretching to prepare for the first fully brand new traditional Mario Kart game in 11 years, while parents are girding their loins (and wallets) to brave the shopping gauntlet at Christmas. But, for the uninitiated, let's dive into why the Nintendo Switch 2 is a big deal, what's new, what's weird, and why it's so gosh darn expensive. What's so special about it? First up, the Nintendo Switch is a game console that can be both docked at home connected to a TV, and taken around as a portable console. In old fashioned terms, it's the answer to both the Nintendo 64 and the GameBoy. The Nintendo Switch 2 does everything the Switch could do, and adds better graphics, a larger screen with a higher refresh rate for smoother motion, Joy-Con controllers that can also be used as mice, a new focus on Game Chat, allowing players to see and talk to people on their friends list, newer fancier games, and a higher price tag. That Game Chat feature allows players to plug in an external camera to video chat with other people while they play games, making it easier for families to stay connected overseas, and for bosses to come up with innovative new ways to make budget meetings interesting. People can also use the camera to play games using motion controls Daniel Cusumano, General Manager of The Gamesmen games shop in Sydney, said that he thought the reason why the Switch 2 was such a big deal was because of the relationship people have with the brand. 'Nintendo has been around for over 100 years, and they have the strongest IP lineup of any competitor with Mario, Kirby, Zelda and Donkey Kong. All of their IP titles seem to be extremely popular.' Selling out While the Switch 2 is big news for Nintendo players looking forward to new instalments of their favourite games, according to Ron Curry, the CEO of the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association in Australia, a new console is actually good news for all gamers. 'Any time a new piece of hardware comes into the market it invigorates the category altogether and invigorates consumers and developers, too.' His prediction is that new and interesting hardware will lead to new and interesting games that hopefully players will enjoy, while giving the other console making companies inspiration for the future. At first, there was some skepticism that the Switch 2 might be too expensive, given the price tag of $699, compared to the original Switch OLED's current price of $539 (generally found discounted for under $500). However, sales of the Switch 2 look to be strong, with initial preorders selling out across most stores. Cusumano told that he'd initially been sure that he'd have stock left to sell on launch day, but preorders outpaced his expectations. However, unlike the PlayStation 5, which was difficult to find in stores for a year after it was released, he says Nintendo has significantly more stock available and consoles should be easy to find soon. Launch titles are always a major factor in the initial success of a console, and Nintendo is coming out swinging. Although many of the hotly anticipated games will be coming out a little after launch, the heaviest hitter is Mario Kart World Tour, which is the first full new traditional Mario Kart game since Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U in 2014. It's the biggest Mario Kart game yet, with all the tracks interconnected, and players able to free roam around the open world in a new mode, or between races. Bigger still, races allow for up to 24 players at a time, with the new Knock Out Mode (which eliminates four players at each checkpoint) being delightful chaos. Other major launch titles include Cyberpunk 2077, Street Fighter 6, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and upgrade packs for The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and other popular Switch 1 titles. Looking ahead, anticipated games coming soon include Donkey Kong Bananza (17 July), Kirby. Air Riders (later this year), Drag X Drive (winter 2025), AFL 26 (2025) and Hades II (2025). Accessory sales are also expected to be strong, with gamers using this as an opportunity to upgrade headsets, as well as get new controllers and compatible cameras. Dean Katsimalis, Marketing Manager for ANZ at Steel Series, says that this is going to be a big year. 'With the current economic situation, people are going to be looking for value in their purchases, and spending more time choosing carefully. 'I think the majority of the market will be looking for budget-friendly accessories, but given the price point, I think we will also see lots of people purchasing premium products that are compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2. 'Steel Series is currently number one in Australia for gaming audio, so I think we're well positioned to meet that demand.' Given the console's focus on Game Chat, Katsimalis thinks that gaming headsets will be the most popular accessory after extra controllers. The brand released the new SteelSeries Nova 3 Wireless headset yesterday in anticipation of the Switch 2 launch for $199, with the Arctis GameBuds as the premium option for $359. Popular gaming accessories brand Razer is also prepping for the launch with a push of the Barracuda X Chroma headset. Other accessories expected to do well are SanDisk MicroSD Express memory cards to expand storage, Nintendo Pro Controllers, USB-C cameras, and screen protectors and cases from companies like 3rd Earth and Power A. The high price of the Switch 2 is influenced by a few factors, primarily that everything is more expensive now, but also the novel pieces for the console that make it stand out, like the new magnetic controllers that double as mice. Many of the people I spoke to pointed out that the Nintendo Switch 2 is still considerably cheaper than an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5. The centrepiece of the Switch 2 is connecting people through gaming. We saw during the lockdown era how important games were for keeping people connected through games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It's beautiful to see a console concept built entirely around the way games help you meet new friends and spend time with family separated by distance. According to Curry, playing together is one of the things that makes us human. 'We know that play builds culture and connections, which is incredibly important,' he said. 'We see people to continue engaging with games because that's what we've always done. 'We've been playing together as a culture for millennia, this is just a new way of doing that.' As for how the Nintendo Switch 2 is going to sell, that's largely up to gamers if they want to buy it and game developers if they want to create engaging games for it. Nintendo has a history of follow ups to successful consoles with an added gimmick that's more expensive not going well (specifically remembering back to the Nintendo Wii which sold over 101 million units, compared to the Wii U, which sold 13.56 million). Having now spent a lot of time with the console, I hope it's embraced by both gamers and developers, because it has so much potential to do amazing things. At the moment, the Switch 2 is projected to sell 15 million units in its first year, already outpacing the Wii U. It'll be interesting to see where it goes from there.
