The promise of last year's September direct finally realized.

The Rare developed, Nintendo 64 classic, GoldenEye 007 will be coming to the Nintendo Switch Online service on January 27th. The title was previously announced in Nintendo's September 2022 Nintendo Direct. The release is part of a deal between Microsoft and Nintendo to make the game available on both the Nintendo Switch in addition to Xbox One and Xbox Series systems. It will also be available via Microsoft's Game Pass service.

In honor of the Fist of the North Star sequel coming soon: "NANI????"

Nintendo's first new content of the year is for one of the more unexpected games in their catalogue.

A new update is now available for Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm and Exercise, which adds a new instructor and the first DLC for the game in more than a year. The new DLC includes six songs (split into two packs of three) at US$1.49 or equivalent per pack and a pack of new nature-themed backgrounds for the same price.

After last week, I for one could use a break from death, dismemberment, and creepy party members. But enough about Engage...

Things we missed last week: A remake of Colossal Cave Adventures (one of the original text adventures) called Colossal Cave, which puts the game into 3D environments and was helmed by Roberta and Ken Williams. Yes, first-ballot Hall of Famers Roberta and Ken Williams. Tank Force, Namco's 1991 follow-up to Battle City (which I played on 31-in-1 back in the day) joined the Archives.

Along with recaps for the year that was 2022.

NPD Group analyst Mat Piscatella posted the monthly sales survey from the group this morning which also included yearly insights, and hey - Nintendo had a pretty good year.

All monthly data based on dollar sales from November 27 - December 31, 2022 unless noted. Third party digital sales are included where applicable.

This week's soundtrack includes Reincarnation, Give Me, and Black Rain.

Things we missed: The old Tecmo arcade shooter Senjyo in the Archives, as well as something called "Virtual Autography" that is apparently based on the Touhou franchise, which makes me wonder how you get an autograph from something that is intended to be open source.

And NOW we have our first major... Read more...

Is this sand as utterly busted as Dale Grubb's pocket sand?

Nintendo have confirmed that some of the "Deluxe" content in next month's Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe is new powers.

A social media post has confirmed that one of the new abilities is called "Sand". Using this ability, Kirby can form solid objects out of the coarse, rough, irritating material - including a castle for defense, and a fist. The "Festival" power, which debuted in Kirby: Star Allies (2018) will also be added.

Come get your duds in order, 'cause we're bound to leave tomorrow.

Things we missed last week: Galaga was your Archives release of the week.

Last week went from 17 releases to 40, but apparently all of the quality was held over to this week. We'll have a review for Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider this week so that seems to have Game of the Week honors, but I'm kind... Read more...

Hey, that publisher looks familiar.

One of last year's biggest PC hits will hit Switch before the end of the month.

An announcement from developer FuturLab has confirmed that PowerWash Simulator will release on Switch January 30. Originally launched in July for PC via Steam, it was announced to be coming to consoles "soon" in September.

For the record, I originally had 202*2* in the year but this was originally written on New Year's Eve.

Things we missed last week: Bubble Bobble was the Archives release, and that game that was listed as a December 31 release and I couldn't tell if that was a filler date actually DID launch in Toy Soldiers HD.

The first week of the year is typically quiet, though there will probably be a brisk business... Read more...

The House of Indies will teach the news desk to assume a light downloads week going forward, we assume.

Things we missed last week: TWENTY FIVE GAMES dropped with no warning, including the House of Indies games; Floppy Knights, Mortal Shell, The Captain, The Punchuin, Sonority, Sail Forth, Melatonin, Hyper Gunsport, and Sports Story. Surely there won't be a repeat this week, right?

Well... not likely,... Read more...

That explains all those updates we've been getting this year.

Some older Nintendo games have been found to have security holes that can be exploited by simply playing online.

The "ENLBufferPwn" exploit, rated as a 9.8 / 10 (Critical) on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) scale, has been found in older Nintendo games dating back to Mario Kart 7... Read more...

Five days of shadowdrops and other reveals.

Nintendo has posted a series of videos this week advertising new indie titles - including multiple titles available the day of the videos.

Note: Does not resolve issue where Thwomps are, apparently, tankies.

A software update is now available for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe that resolves a couple of issues with the latest round of DLC courses.

The 2.2.1 update makes the following fixes, according to Nintendo:

Jupiter expands beyond their usual Picross format with a new twist on the format.

Picross X: Picbits vs. Uzboross is releasing in North America and Europe on December 19 following the August release in Japan. The game launches at $19.99 (or equivalent pricing) and will have a 25% discount until January 3.

The hook for Picross X involves quick-paced 5x5 puzzles and a more cartoony art style. More than 100 puzzles with different twists and rules are included. Co-op is available with up to eight players.

...this week is all about the sales, let's be real here.

This week's totals (outside of Japan, where commerce keeps going next weekend) barely creep into the double digits, which given some weeks this year is a downright blessing. Some fun out of Japan, where the listing for "Aero Strikers: World Invasion" got Google-translated into "Erotic Strikers" which left me with several dozen questions, but aside from that you have a lot of stuff being sent out to die.

The only thing worse than the font is the timing of the announcement (Jump Festa or not, 2 am on Sunday morning?)

Following a listing by the ESRB, Square Enix has announced one of the most requested Switch series will come to the platform next year.

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters - hi-res 2D versions of the games available on PC and mobile - will come to Switch next spring, according to a posting on the company's website. The announcement was made on the 35th anniversary of the Famicom release of the original Final Fantasy.

That last one is highly questionable.m

Four more Genesis titles have just landed in the library for subscribers to the Switch Online Expansion Pack.

Evoking memories of long, long RPGs.

A pair of Persona can now be pre-purchased ahead of their launch next month.

Persona 3 Portable and 4 Golden are now live for pre-order on the eShop for US$19.99 or equivalent each, alongside a dual pack for $39.49 US. The charge would occur on the 12th and unlock on January 19.

Atlus has released... Read more...

The person who gave Adol Christian his own ship to wreck is either getting promoted or sacked, we're not sure which.

Nihon Falcom is preparing a pair of Ys titles for 2023 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the venerable series.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana will launch in spring 2023 in Japan, a remastered version of the 2010 PSP action RPG which was itself a remake of Wanderers of Ys - the third game in... Read more...

With two more to come before the year's out and the last one to come with native versions of their home game.

The slow lurching of the Amiibo train will continue in 2023 with four more of the Smash Fighters Pass 2 figures.

Sephiroth and Kazuya Amiibo figures will launch on January 13, according to a new trailer posted by Nintendo of America's social media. Pyra and Mythra will follow sometime later in 2023, though it is not known if they will come in a dual pack as with Minecraft's Steve and Alex a couple of months ago.