"My workout plan is every time someone asks for a Direct, I do one pushup." "...jesus christ."

Open the happening bunker and reset the clock, it''ll soon be Direct Day again.

The first Nintendo Direct of 2023 will air tomorrow (February 8) at 5 p.m. EST / 2 p.m. Pacific / 2300 CET. The direct is slated for 40 minutes and will mostly focus on software for the first half of the year on Switch.

So many Mausholds it's going to start a housing crisis.

The holiday quarter was unusually light in release quantity for Nintendo, but even when down year over year there were still record breaking numbers - both now and in the future - for Nintendo per their quarterly results released earlier today.

All figures based on Nintendo data from October 1... Read more...

This might look small on Monday but you get odds for picturing it doubling by Saturday.

Things we missed last week: PowerWash Simulator finally got a price ($24.99 US or equivalent) at launch with FF7 DLC because of course, Namco's Greek myth-themed shooter Phelios was the Archives title of the week... and we got a farming sim that is more notable for being entirely in Japanese.

Nintendo's... Read more...

Now if only they'd bring that video back up on YouTube.

After a brief hiccup on Monday, North America can once again partake in the Nintendo Switch Online voucher program.

They can be purchased on the Switch natively via the "Nintendo Switch Online" option, or on the web here for US accounts or here for Canadian accounts: the prices are US$99.98 and C$132.99, the same prices as the original round of vouchers in 2019.

Time to save some cash on your Pikmin 4 and Bayonetta Origins buys.

A popular feature of the eShop that was discontinued in North America may be about to return.

Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers were introduced in 2019 and provided the ability for Nintendo Switch Online members to purchase first party games in pairs for US$99.99 or equivalent ($10 off / game). The... Read more...

This is what they were accused of doing ten years ago, only now it appears to be actually true.

If E3 is to be revived, it apparently will not be with Nintendo in the LA Convention Center.

Multiple sources have confirmed to IGN that Nintendo, along with their console competitors Sony and Microsoft, will not have a presence at the 2023 event that was planned for June 13 - 16 in Los Angeles.... Read more...

In absolute numbers, 30 songs is a lot - but it's like 3% of the game?

A sample from the Final Bar Line is coming in on Wednesday.

During a livestream today, Square Enix announced that Theatrhythm Final Bar Line will have a demo ahead of the game's launch on February 16. The demo (available from midnight ET on February 1) will cover thirty songs, involve thirty characters, and have multiple difficulty options. The list of songs can be found here.

Once again, the premier baseball sim will avoid being stuck in AAA.

The Show is returning for a sophomore season on Switch.

Major League Baseball has announced the 2023 version of MLB The Show will launch on Switch as part of an all-platform launch on March 28. The previously Sony-exclusive and published baseball sim will be published by MLB directly.

The cover... Read more...

None of these games have left Japan before, though a couple had a longer wait.

2023 is the 30th anniversary of Nippon Ichi Software (NIS), and the company is bringing over a couple of RPGs to celebrate.

DIsgaea 7, which launched in Japan last week, was confirmed for a fall 2023 release today. Subtitled "Vows of the Virtueless", the strategy RPG will include a new "Jumboification" feature and 40 character classes.

Maybe the groundhog will let me know I won't have to deal with six more weeks of mandatory overtime.

Things we missed last week: The digital version of the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection, THQ Nordic's action RPG Risen, and Taito's The New Zealand Story in the Archives. Oh, and Goldeneye in the N64 app.

It's a big week for mid-range Switch titles, which kicks off on press day as Devolver's Trek... Read more...

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...