This week's column is only technically legal in eight US states and soon Canada.

There's a little bit of calm before next week's Switch storm for North America, with the honor of the big release of the week falling to Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap. Check out Neal's review from earlier this week to see if the throwback action will be up your alley, then listen to this handy Retronauts episode that tries to explain the relationship between Wonder Boy, Monster Boy and Adventure Island. As one would expect, it goes poorly.

Quite a bit larger than the Wii U.

Details about the upcoming Switch version of Minecraft were announced on a livestream yesterday, and they will give Wii U veterans a lot more room to work.

The maps on Switch will be approximately 3072 squares by 3072 squares, roughly 13x the size of a map on Wii U (864 x 864) but smaller than... Read more...

Switch owners won't be the only ones who get to try the high-impact adventure.

The Specter of Torment is about to hang over older versions of Shovel Knight.

Updates will be sent out for the Wii U version of Shovel Knight on April 21 and the 3DS version on April 25 to add the Specter of Torment expansion. The price of the game on the respective eShop will be increasing at the same time to reflect the new content.

So much smoke it's turning the test units yellow.

The NES Classic Mini may have had to die so a SNES Classic may live, according to Eurogamer.

According to sources, the SNES Mini would come out in a similar timeslot to the NES Classic last year, and would include preinstalled games as well. The nature of the bundled games was not discussed.

Development of the SNES unit would likely be handled by Nintendo European Research & Development ("NERD") and is reportedly already underway.

Scope out the full title.

The professor may be retired, but his daughter will pick up the slack for all this fall.

Previously known as "Lady Layton", the sequel will launch in North America and Europe as Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and The Millionaires’ Conspiracy. The mobile version will launch worldwide with the release of the 3DS game in Japan on July 20, while the 3DS version will release in the west this fall.

The Switch lineup keeps rolling along.

One of the Nintendo Indie Showcase's more intriguing announcements will be out on the Switch early next month.

TumbleSeed, the "rolling roguelike" was announced today for release on May 2. The announcement was accompanied by a new trailer, which can be seen below:

How "temporary" this suspension is, we don't know.

The NES Classic is discontinued around the world, but there still may be hope for the Famicom Mini in Japan.

An update on the Japanese website for the pocket console has announced that production on the unit has been temporarily suspended. The site will update if / when it goes back into production.

And a 1.02 attach rate for Breath of the Wild.

An early release from the NPD Group has cemented the Switch as the fastest selling hardware for Nintendo in the United States in company history.

The public report will be available next week, but Nintendo has confirmed that in its first 30 days of sale in the US (March 3 to April 1) the Switch sold 906,000 units. A full worldwide accounting of the Switch's sales will be available April 27 with Nintendo's year end financials.

May the restock gods be with you.

An upcoming shipment of the NES Classic to North America may be the system's last.

Nintendo confirmed the discontinuation in a statement to IGN today, and that final shipments would be sent to retail in Nintendo of America territories throughout April.

“Throughout April, NOA territories will... Read more...

Uh oh, left nut kick I'm sore?

Yesterday's Nintendo Direct put a charge into the lineup for all territories, but especially North America. It was already looking to be a busy week with Mr. Shifty and The Jackbox Party Pack 3 launching, but throw in a free-to-start version of the Robobobobobobo(etc)t minigame Team Kirby Clash and a farewell to BoxBoy on top of it for us.

So much for that Twitter joke.

HD Rumble is about to be put to its weirdest use yet as Senran Kagura is coming to the Switch.

Series produced Kenichiro Takaki showed an early concept for Senran Kagura Refure in the Japanese Nintendo Direct video, which will support HD Rumble to achieve the series's trademark aesthetic.

No release date was given for the game.

One part RPG, one part action

THQ Nordic will have two Switch titles hitting this summer.

Sine Mora EX is an expanded version of the horizontal shooter with time elements, with both arcade and story mode gameplay that can be played either in single player or co-op. It will release this summer for $19.99 US/€19.99.

Battle... Read more...

XSEED's bringing you more Switch action.

Fate/Extella was announced for the Switch at today's Nintendo Direct.

Already out on PlayStation 4, the action title puts you in a role as a master who works with spirits that battle large amounts of enemies.

It will arrive in North America on July 25, Japan on July 20 and Europe 21 July, and will include 35 character outfits that were previously paid DLC.

Giving Switch owners options

Nintendo finally announced when Switch owners can get their hands on a standalone dock in today's Nintendo Direct. The dock will be available in limited quantities beginning on May 19 in North America. Dates for other regions were not specified.

The Nintendo Switch Dock Set can be purchased at... Read more...

Wakka wakka, baby.

The Namco Museum retro game collection will make its first appearance on the Switch this summer.

Among the 10 games announced for the collection are Pac-Man, The Tower of Druaga, Dig Dug, Galaga '88 and Rolling Thunder. Vertical / "tate" mode support will be supported for the collection, as well as online high score boards.

Worst case scenario it costs a Baltic Avenue

One of the biggest causes of family separation will be coming to the Switch this fall from Ubisoft.

Ubi and Engine Software have teamed up to create a Switch version of Monopoly that will release worldwide this fall. The new version will support up to 6 players for local play and support HD Rumble when throwing the dice.

More Rayman coming your way.

It was reiterated on today's Nintendo Direct that a new version of Rayman Legends is headed to the Switch.

Titled Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition, this version of the game will feature new skins, levels, items and a Kung Foot tournament mode.

It is currently scheduled for release later this year.

Four player multiplayer combat comes again to the Switch.

A new title was announced for all territories today, known tentatively as Project Mekuru.

The game is a four player combat game where the objective is to eliminate the other players by leaping into the air and flipping the tiles that make up the ground. Both local and online play will be supported.

Can you dig it?

It took the Wii U three years to get Minecraft, but the Switch will get it in under three months.

The multi-billion dollar construction sim will launch on the Switch eShop on May 11 in North America and 12 May for Europe and Japan with a retail release to follow. As with other versions, the Switch version will support four player local play including tabletop mode and eight-player online, plus contain the Super Mario Mash-Up pack.

Hopefully priced closer to Fates than Awakening's.

Like its 3DS predecessors, Fire Emblem Echoes will have DLC and a season pass.

A full breakdown of the costs for North America and Europe will come closer to the game's May 19 release, but the Japanese website has confirmed a mix of free and paid content will be available. On release day in Japan, experience, gold and item-granting maps will be made available.