Good news for fans of Japanese rail sims or shooters.

A couple of games whose localization was in question have suddenly appeared on the North American eShop.

Japanese Rail Sim 3D: Journey to Kyoto and shooter/slasher Radirgy Swag both released today in North America: Rail Sim is US$49.99/$64.99 while Radirgy Swag is $19.99/$24.99. Both titles are listed as published by Dispatch Games.

15 can become 31 so fast it'll make your head spin.

Last week saw the release count nearly double before the end of the day the list was first posted, and more than double by the end of the week (15 to 31), so expect similar shenanigans this week as we get back into the full swing of things. Some notable items that were dropped out of nowhere: Bandai... Read more...

One suspects that wasn't the main reason for the buyout.

The Take Two family has added another Switch publisher to its list - though they have a bit of a history.

Take Two have announced a deal to acquire Zynga - publishers of the upcoming Star Wars: Hunters - in a cash-and-stock deal worth US$12.7bn. The deal is expected to formally close by the end of June.

In about a decade and a half they went from Super Sandwich to super speedways.

An old friend of Nintendo has been acquired by the developer of one of the most well known simulators in racing.

Minnesota-based Monster Games have been acquired by iRacing Motorsports Simulations, the makers of the iRacing simulation that covers multiple formats of racing including stock cars,... Read more...

Still holding on to that eShop credit, I guess.

It's another quiet week - though at least Japan does have a few releases planned for the week. Perhaps the priciest of the bunch is "modern fantasy" visual novel Arcadia Fallen, which before I read up on it thought it would trigger the Kemco Alert. (Instead, that falls to Justice Chronicles.) Also,... Read more...

A great in football, game design, and turducken.

A sports Hall of Famer who had a profound impact on video games has died.

The NFL issued a statement today announcing the death of John Madden at the age of 85. No cause of death was disclosed for the Super Bowl-winning coach and commentator.

NFL legend John Madden died unexpected this morning. He was 85. pic.twitter.com/FoC1mAzoF6

We end the year with... crickets?

2020-2: Electric Boogaloo is ending with a definite whimper: Japan, for instance, is taking the entire week off barring the inevitable TBA Archives game. A major game is coming west anyway however, with the shooter compilation Deathsmiles I + II coming over (along with some DLC) - and aside from adventure title Lacuna, that's basically it for major releases to round out the year.

It will take all of Donald's strength this Festivus to not hold the Airing of Grievances in the middle of a client phone call.

Initially I thought about doing this as a Night Before Christmas ripoff but when I still have to do my non-NWR job all week after flying more than 3000 miles (4800 km), right after "the arse fell outta her", my usual lack of Christmas spirit is only exacerbated. So instead, we note that at least Nintendo... Read more...

RISE FWOM YOUR GWAVE

Sega apparently does what Nintendoes a fifth of.

A new update for the Genesis app available for subscribers to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass has dropped five new games into the app. The games are the same for both the West and Japan: RPG Sword of Vermillion, shooter Thunder Force II,... Read more...

And this game works in Sinnoh the way one might work in "Naga" or ironically, "Arceus".

A new trailer for Pokemon Legends: Arceus has shown off some familiar sounding clans.

The video (below) reveals a pair of clans who serve as "wardens" for Pokemon in the region, called the Diamond and Pearl clans. A group of merchants were also shown, including one who may be an ancestor of future Sinnoh Pokemon League champion Cynthia.

Our News Editor used to have to troubleshoot Java at work, he can tell you why it's not supported on Switch.

A highly acclaimed strategy RPG on PC is aiming to release on Switch, but it's not going to be a simple process to get it there.

Wildermyth, which released last month on PC and has "overwhelmingly positive" Steam reviews, was revealed on an upcoming episode of the "Thanks For The Knowledge" podcast... Read more...

This should keep you going for almost the entire year.

Today's Indie World presentation featured a host of new game announcements and a couple of updates for titles as well. The "one more thing" of the presentation was psychological horror RPG Omori, which is slated for release on Switch in the spring. Based on the webcomic of the same name, Omori (short... Read more...

Welp, if you bought any eShop cards for Christmas they're gone now.

As has become tradition for an Indie World, there are several titles available today on the eShop:

Celebrate the holidays solving nonograms on a touchscreen.

Picross S7 is coming out in most regions on December 27 and adds touchscreen controls for the first time on Switch.

Available for $9.99 (or local equivalent), the game will launch in European and Australian eShops on December 27 with a North American release following on January 10.

The touchscreen... Read more...

I for one hope these races aren't decided by the marshalls.

Some old friends are confirmed to be on the grid for the Chocobo GP.

Square Enix have released a new trailer for the multiplayer racer, and also confirmed its launch for March 10, 2022. The trailer shows racers including the classic summon pair Shiva and Ifrit, as well as Final Fantasy VI heroine Terra Bradford - riding Magitek armor.

Well, we know THIS won't be in the Indie World tomorrow.

A long awaited sequel is going to warm up the dead of Northern Hemisphere winter.

DotEmu have confirmed a January 20 launch date for Windjammers 2, the sequel to the cult classic disc soccer game. It was originally announced for Switch in an "Indie Highlights" video in August 2018.

The launch trailer is below:

This time last year, we saw this presentation vent.

What will likely be Nintendo's final video presentation of 2021 will air tomorrow.

The third Indie World of the year (following presentations in April and August) will air tomorrow at noon ET / 9 am PT / 1800 CET. As is standard, the presentation promises 20 minutes of titles coming to Switch from indie developers.

How did the big half of the Turkey Five treat Nintendo in the US?

The Switch showed its strength in November's NPD Group sales survey, with both of the month's biggest releases reaching the software chart as well.

All data based on dollar sales unless indicated for the period of October 31 - November 27. Nintendo does not contribute eShop sales, though other publishers do.

And down the stretch we come with a shovel.

For Shovelry, cries the puzzle-game playing part of my heart, as Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon sews up the "last major release of the year" slot barring any late shadowdrop shenanigans. Neal has already pulled rank to get the code, so check a look at his review. There's also a historic game this week,... Read more...

For longtime members of the staff, the location will be familiar.

Nintendo appears ready to expand their home base.

As first reported by Nikkei (note: link is restricted by a paywall and text is in Japanese), Nintendo is leasing approximately 8500 square feet (790 square metres) in order to expand their development base and reduce outsourcing costs. The facility is targeting May of 2022 for first use.