Nintendo – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Skip to main content

Nintendo

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
The Switch 2’s Joy-Cons are more durable than expected.

That’s according to Gal Silver, a technician at GameTraderZero who’s modded and repaired more than 1,000 Switch 2 Joy-Cons over the past year. You can read their findings on NintendoLife but despite using older thumbstick tech, the new Joy-Cons have much improved durability with fewer issues and no instances of “drift issue straight out of the box.”

A photo of the Joy-Con 2 controllers for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Nintendo opens up Fire Emblem with the gigantic Fortune’s Weave

As Fire Emblem has gotten bigger, it’s gotten more ambitious, yet the new game is as engrossing as ever.

Jay Peters
Cameron Faulkner
Cameron Faulkner
Nintendo won’t issue tariff-related refunds to customers, but it will discount some games.

The company is hosting a “Customer Appreciation Sale” from September 13th through the 26th, calling it one of its largest promotions ever, because of the $300 million US tariff refund it received. It’ll knock 30 percent off “dozens” of Nintendo Switch games (digital and physical), DLC, accessories, amiibo, and more. Is this sufficient appreciation for you?

My colleague Antonio Di Benedetto told me “knock 30 percent off a preorder of Ocarina remake and I’ll consider myself appreciated.”

Cameron Faulkner
Cameron Faulkner
The Switch 2’s VRR update doesn’t extend to third-party docks, it seems.

After installing the recent version 23.0.0 update on my Nintendo Switch 2, I can’t access the VRR settings option while it’s plugged into the Jsaux OmniCentro dock (I haven’t tried Genki’s Covert Dock 3 yet). The good news is that this dock still works post-update, but the ball is in third-party makers’ court to deliver a patch that enables VRR.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
A whole new world.

The Direct ended with the reveal of an all-new Kirby game that launches in 2027, in which the adorable pink ball seems to discover that the world is much larger than he realizes. He also gets a pretty big sword this time around.

Kallie Plagge
Kallie Plagge
Time for some Slayhem.

Danganronpa 2x2 comes to Switch and Switch 2 on January 14th, 2027. It includes the original story from Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair as well as a new story in what’s called “Slayhem” mode. I cannot wait to find out what Slayhem entails.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Persona 6 is coming to the Switch 2.

We still know basically nothing about the game, but we do know it’ll be on Nintendo’s handheld console at some point.

Kallie Plagge
Kallie Plagge
Mario Kart World gets a new update later today.

The free update adds 10 courses based on ones from the original Super Mario Kart, including Choco Island 1, Vanilla Lake 1, and Ghost Valley 1. There are also two new routes coming to Knockout Tour.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
The spirit of Wii Sports lives on.

Nintendo’s next sports title hits the Switch 2 in October, and it continues to look like a blast. The new trailer also details some surprisingly deep Mii customization.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Return to Resident Evil remakes.

Resident Evil 2: Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil 4: Gold Edition are all coming to Switch 2 on October 16th. And don’t forget that the new Resident Evil movie is out next week.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Pikmin 4 is getting a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.

The upgraded version of the game lets you talk to the dog-like Oatchi character with voice commands and has a new a Dandori Academy mode to play extra challenges (72 will be released over time). It launches on November 12th.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
A true gentleman leaves no puzzle unsolved.

The latest Professor Layton brings a steampunk vibe, and it boasts “the biggest collection of puzzles in series history.” It launches on the Switch 2 on December 10th.

Kallie Plagge
Kallie Plagge
New pokémon are coming to Pokopia.

We knew that Part 2 of the Pokopia DLC would feature wearable accessories and add Snubbull, but now we’ve seen more of the new pokémon that will be added, including Skitty, Braixen, and Doduo. Skitty in particular is the perfect candidate for playing dress-up.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Star Fox’s adventures.

If you ever wondered what Fox McCloud gets up to outside of his ship, well, that’s what the GameCube classic Star Fox Adventures is for. The game is coming to the Switch 2 for NSO subscribers later today, while a free update is also coming to the new Star Fox remake later this month.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
More Hyrule Warriors.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity — Definitive Edition is launching on Nintendo Switch 2 on February 25th, 2027. It includes improved frame rates and more enemies onscreen at a time as well as a new harder difficulty mode.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Monster Hunter Wilds launches on Switch 2 in December.

December 4th, 2026, to be specific. The upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance expansion will also come to Switch 2 sometime in 2027.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
It’s almost Nintendo time.

The September 2026 Nintendo Direct kicks off at 10AM ET, and you can watch it on YouTube. The show is set to last about 45 minutes, and after, Nintendo is also hosting a Treehouse Live stream to show off some games from the Direct in more detail.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Hori’s electronic Ocarina of Time requires no musical talent.

It was briefly shown during Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct today, but Hori’s website now has a listing for its $49.99 electronic ocarina. You can play your own songs by pushing buttons, play one of 12 pre-programmed songs from the games, use it with the Ocarina of Time remake’s sound recognition feature, or connect headphones for a private jam session.

1/3Image: Hori
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Zelda is getting a concert tour to celebrate the series’ 40th anniversary.

Shows in North America will kick off in February 2027, with the first performance taking place in Chicago.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Nintendo is launching a Zelda-themed Switch 2.

It has colorful green Joy-Cons and a lot of Triforce imagery. I think it looks nice. There’s a special Pro Controller and carrying case on the way, too.

They’ll all be available on October 29th, which is one week before the November 5th launch of the Ocarina of Time remake.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
The next Legend of Zelda Lego set features Link and Epona.

During its The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct today, Nintendo briefly shared a teaser for its next collaboration with Lego. The new set features Link brandishing the Master Sword while riding Epona as the horse rears up. Pricing and piece count aren’t known, but the set could arrive alongside Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time remake.

A Lego set featuring characters from The Legend of Zelda.
Screenshot: YouTube
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Link can jump now!

Eiji Aonuma just showed off the big change in Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time remake. In the original, Link only jumped if you walked toward a ledge.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
“The title is… ‘The Legend of Zelda.’”

That’s the official title of the upcoming live-action Zelda film, Shigeru Miyamoto said in Tuesday’s Zelda anniversary Direct. He also teased that the Triforce will play some kind of role in the film (shocker). No trailer shown yet, though.

The film is set to debut in theaters on April 30th, 2027.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Hey! Listen!

Or watch, I guess. The first of two Nintendo Directs this week kicks off today at 10AM ET. This one is focused entirely on Zelda, just in time for the franchise’s 40th anniversary. Fingers crossed we get casting news for live-action Tingle.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
A free Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update adds 8-player split-screen and camera support.

Nearly a decade after it launched on the original Switch the game is getting new Switch 2 features through a free update available now. In addition to faster load times and improved visuals, up to eight players can now compete on one screen while both cameras and GameChat are now supported so you can see your opponents.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

1/2Image: Nintendo
The amazing USB-C gadgets that play old Nintendo cartridges

The Epilogue SN and GB Operator are dream gadgets for Nintendo cartridge collectors.

Sean Hollister
Cameron Faulkner
Cameron Faulkner
More buttons for the original Switch Pro controller.

Jsaux has launched the Elite Extender, a $39.99 accessory for the original Nintendo Switch Pro controller that reminds me a bit of Sony’s Back Button Attachment for the PS4. It adds up to four mappable buttons for your most frequently-used buttons or for macros. The accessory boasts a 1,800mAh battery, though the host controller’s Amiibo functionality won’t work while it’s attached.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Cameron Faulkner
Cameron Faulkner
A capable little controller that lets you offer a helping hand.

Jsaux is launching the S1 Pro, a small $49.99 wireless controller that can wake the Switch 2, and connect to various other platforms via Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, or USB-C. It features Switch-like TMR sticks, gyro controls, and adjustable trigger throw distances. But its marquee feature is that it lets you connect two S1 Pros to a single 2.4GHz transmitter, and swap player assignments in local multiplayer games at will, so player two can jump in to help with a difficult part.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Image: Jsaux
Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
It’s Mimikyu’s turn to be a movie star.

During the closing ceremony of this year’s Pokémon World Championships, The Pokémon Company dropped a surprise teaser trailer for Pokémon: Wild Card — a new feature-length movie from studio CloverWorks that appears to be about the trading card game. The film’s set to release some time in 2027.

Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
I’m having way too much fun.

Ever seen an Xbox handheld play real Super Nintendo cartridges? Today I’m toying with the $60 SN Operator and $50 GB Operator, which turn your PC, Mac, and Linux devices into classic cart-playing consoles and backup your old games and saves. I’ll have a bigger writeup in the next few days!