JJtheTexan

Every Nintendo handheld and wireless controller before the Switch came with a user-replaceable battery (or just used off-the-shelf batteries). I've replaced batteries in a GBA SP, Three 3DSs, and the Wii U GamePad, with minimal expense and zero difficulty.

I understand there are engineering reasons for permanent batteries, and certainly in the Joy-Con, but anything that gives us the ability to easily replace the OEM battery is really welcome.

I would be OK with the current Switch 2 design regarding batteries if Nintendo offered an affordable and convenient battery replacement service.

@Eruanno we don't have VAT in the U.S. We have what's called "sales tax," which varies from state to state and city to city, as it is assessed by local and state authorities. (There is no national sales tax on retail purchases.) In some states, like New Hampshire, there is no sales tax at all, so buyers there will pay $80, full stop. In Texas, where I live, it's about 10 percent, so I would pay around $88.

For digital purchases, sales tax is levied based on where you live, based on the physical address tied to your bank or other payment method.

@SteamyDeck that's a good point. The user data could ultimately be worth whatever losses they take on the Machine.

I don't blame Valve for the outrageous pricing; I blame the big tech A.I. scam. I do, however, think Valve is stuck in a sunk cost fallacy. They spent what I assume was many millions of dollars developing the Steam Machine, and are trying to recoup some of those costs at the worst time in history to release gaming hardware.

They probably should have taken the L, shelved this, and started working on a more powerful machine with a goal to release in 2030 or whenever this stupid components crisis subsides.

@dccorona this is a good point, and one I had not considered. I still think Microsoft doesn't really care about its gaming division anymore, even more so if last week's reports are correct that MS has looked into spinning off Xbox.

Microsoft is a nearly $3 trillion company. If it wanted, it could invest in building the manufacturing capability to produce its own hardware components. Yes, this would take a few years at least to get up and running, but if prices are just going to keep climbing, what's stopping them? (Answer: Redmond is too obsessed with A.I. right now to give a hoot, and does not particularly care if its gaming hardware division dies as a result.)

I went into the Nintendo Direct with low expectations, and my expectations were mostly met / lightly exceeded. It wasn't bad! But it was mostly filled with ports of existing games, or announcements that don't interest me at all.

The two nicest surprises were the Muramasa remake and Final Fantasy spinoff. I was pleased Nintendo finally acknowledged the Ocarina of Time remake, though they might as well have just shown us a logo and "2026" for what little we got.

I have learned to keep my expectations very low for Nintendo Directs. The events have seen a steady decline in quality and "surprise and delight" announcements over the past three or four years, at least as far as my interests go.

It seems curious to me Capcom didn't either lock performance to 30fps or make it an option.

DRM does nothing to prevent or discourage privacy. It DOES harm paying customers. When will publishers learn this?

@Granadico I did not know that!

@DeathElevenTeen fortunately, the Nintendo Switch 2 version of this game supports the official GameCube controller and its analogue triggers. Unfortunately, that means you have to buy yet another controller for that experience.

This is probably a stupid question, but does the Nintendo Switch 2's GameChat function have a memory requirement for all games? It doesn't seem like anyone would want to run GameChat in a single-player title like this, but it's never been clear to me if Nintendo requires developers to allow for it in all cases.

Sam, I was sad to read Richard's note that your time at Digital Foundry is up! I visit the website every day and I have enjoyed reading your reviews and expansions on video content. I hope we'll see your contributions here again in the future!

Watching the video ASAP!

This is very encouraging! I just want to know the final file size for the full game...

I already have 100+ hours into the vanilla Switch version. I would love to play a 4K version on my NS2, assuming Bethesda fixes the latency issue later, but I'd really prefer a 60fps performance mode before I fully jump back in again. Too many newer games I still haven't tried...

Maybe Salvador meant the Analogue Mega SG? The NT Mini is a Famicom and NES FPGA console.

I, for one, welcome content like this and would love to see more of it if you have the bandwidth, Sam!

I guess we can always just download more RAM instead of buying it. I think I have a copy of SoftRAM floppies sitting around somewhere

Thanks Sam and DF for continuing to cover Nintendo Switch 2 releases so thoroughly!

@Granadico I would give my left kidney for a Kid Icarus: Uprising remake.

I had very similar setups at least twice (maybe three times?). That corner desk design was ubiquitous!

Excellent review! If only Analogue could create enough stock to keep up with demand, and continue to manufacture for years, rather than the "limited run" model it has kept so far.

@LooneyMango thanks! That's about what I expected. Surely this is going to be marketed as a sort of entry-level living room PC that can play most Steam games competently, with that sort of performance.

I'm guessing around $500? Maybe less

As something of a PC dunce (I built my last rig in 2015; I now use an employer-supplied laptop), my #1 question is: what existing console does this most-closely resemble, in terms of capability? Xbox Series S? PS5?

@Silver6477 I suspect you are correct. Nintendo may have done it all themselves and just had AAA GS drop it in later

@Solid_Python it occurs to me after watching the DF video in full that the cutscenes may have been directed and animated separately, perhaps by Nintendo internally, then dropped into the game, allowing AAA Game Studio to focus on gameplay and performance.

The 30fps prerendered cutscenes are a disappointment. I wonder what rationale would make KT choose that over real-time / in-engine?

I think it's reasonable to occasionally put major releases through their paces on Linux, but Windows should be your primary focus for the time being.

I do find it hilarious and fitting that Microsoft created Xbox Fullscreen to address a problem that Microsoft created. Sheesh!

Longtime viewer and huge fan, especially of John L. and DF Retro! I read Nintendo Life, Time Extension, and Push Square every day, so I'm delighted to see you join the Hookshot group to some extent!