Character.AI Unveils Parental Insights: How This New Feature Helps Parents Monitor Teens' AI Chats Without Compromising Privacy6 min readJust now--Photo by William Daigneault on UnsplashAs artificial intelligence continues to revolutionize how we interact with technology, platforms like Character.AI are shaping the way teens connect with digital assistants and chatbots. Recently, Character.AI introduced a new feature aimed at giving parents more control and insight into their teen's interactions on the platform: Parental Insights. But what does this mean for the future of AI-driven conversations, and how does it impact the relationship between parents and their kids? Lets dive into the details.Photo by Snowscat on UnsplashWhat is Parental Insights?Character.AIs Parental Insights is a feature designed to help parents monitor and guide their teens' interactions with AI chatbots. With increasing concerns around online safety and digital wellbeing, this new tool allows parents to gain visibility into their child's conversations with AI characters. Through Parental Insights, parents can see chat logs, analyze conversations, and set guidelines for appropriate content.But theres more: Character.AI has launched a new update allowing teens to send their parents a weekly report of their chatbot interactions. The report includes time spent chatting and the bots engaged with, but does not reveal conversation content. This update responds to growing concerns about minors exposure to inappropriate chatbot behavior and AI regulation.The feature isnt about surveillance; instead, its a proactive way for parents to stay informed while respecting their teens autonomy. This balance helps parents provide guidance without overstepping boundaries, offering a sense of security in the digital age.Key Takeaways:Visibility: Parents can access chat logs to monitor AI interactions.Control: Parents can set rules for what kind of interactions are allowed.Guidance: It encourages healthy conversations and digital wellbeing.Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on UnsplashHow Parental Insights WorksParental Insights uses machine learning algorithms to flag potentially concerning interactions. Parents are notified when certain keywords or phrases appear in the conversations, such as topics related to cyberbullying, inappropriate language, or mental health struggles. This gives parents a chance to intervene when necessary and have a conversation with their child about online safety.The weekly report feature provides even more oversight, offering transparency without breaching privacy. The report will only contain details like the time spent on the platform and the names of the bots engaged with, but it will not disclose the contents of the conversations. This ensures privacy is maintained while giving parents an overall sense of their teens activity.Photo by ketan rajput on UnsplashParental Insights Features:Automated Alerts: Get notified about concerning language or patterns.Content Monitoring: Ensure the content your teen is exposed to aligns with your familys values.Frequency Tracking: Monitor the time spent interacting with AI characters, identifying potential emotional red flags.Weekly Reports: Teens can opt to send their parents a summary of chatbot interactions (time spent and bot names).Photo by National Cancer Institute on UnsplashThe Benefits of Parental Insights for ParentsFor parents, Parental Insights provides a peace of mind that wasnt possible before. It offers transparency in a world where digital interactions can often feel opaque. With the rise of AI-powered platforms like Character.AI, its more important than ever to ensure that teens are using these technologies responsibly.With this new tool, parents no longer have to worry about their child interacting with inappropriate content or engaging in harmful conversations. The ability to set limits and monitor interactions empowers parents to have more informed, relevant conversations with their children. This proactive approach fosters trust between parents and teens, as opposed to reactive, restrictive measures.Key Benefits for Parents:Increased Transparency: Understand exactly what your teen is discussing online.Peace of Mind: Protect your child from harmful interactions without intrusive control.Improved Communication: Open the door for more meaningful discussions about digital behavior.Weekly Reports: A clear snapshot of teen interactions without compromising privacy.Photo by Vitolda Klein on UnsplashAddressing Safety Concerns and Regulatory PressureCharacter.AI has been under increasing scrutiny due to concerns over its impact on minors. Legal complaints have arisen, accusing the platform of exposing teens to inappropriate content, with some chatbots allegedly providing sexualized material or encouraging harmful behavior. In response, Character.AI has implemented changes, such as shifting under-18 users to a safer AI model and adding clearer disclaimers that chatbots are not real people.This move comes amid rising regulatory pressure on AI platforms and the need for better protection of minors. Major tech companies like Apple and Google have reportedly issued warnings about the apps content, contributing to the growing calls for AI regulation in the digital age.Key Points:Parental Oversight: Teens can opt to send parents a weekly report of chatbot usage.Privacy Maintained: Reports include time spent and chatbot names but not conversation content.Safety Concerns: Character.AI has faced legal complaints over inappropriate content in its chatbots.Regulatory Pressure: The platform is adapting to growing AI regulation and child safety concerns.Photo by Fuu J on UnsplashThe Impact on Teens and Their Digital FreedomWhile Parental Insights offers numerous benefits to parents, it also impacts how teens use AI platforms. On one hand, it encourages responsible digital behavior and a safer online environment. On the other hand, teens may feel their privacy is being compromised.However, the feature is designed to respect the balance between safety and autonomy. Teens are encouraged to engage with AI characters in healthy, safe ways. By involving teens in the conversation about the use of Parental Insights, parents can help them understand the importance of digital wellbeing without sacrificing privacy.Teens are growing up in a digital-first world, and having an open dialogue about how they use AI can be a valuable lesson in responsibility and online safety.Photo by Z on UnsplashWhat This Means for the Future of AI and Parental ControlParental Insights represents a significant step forward in the intersection of AI and family life. As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect more tools that balance safety with autonomy. This shift will empower parents and teens to create a more harmonious relationship with AI, understanding that technology can be both a tool for learning and growth and a platform that requires responsible use.This feature is not just a one-off addition. Its part of a broader trend where platforms are becoming more transparent and offering tools to make digital environments safer for users. Expect similar features from other AI-driven platforms in the future.Photo by Matteo Vistocco on UnsplashHow do you feel about AI platforms offering parental controls? Let us know in the comments how you would use Character.AIs Parental Insights to help guide your teens digital journey.

Microsoft has announced that, after spending some time away from the subscription service, Grand Theft Auto 5 will be making its way back to Xbox and PC Game Pass on April 15. In a post on Xbox Wire, senior Game Pass senior community lead Megan Spurr has also revealed that PC Game Pass players will get access to GTA 5 Enhanced Edition. Since GTA Online differentiates between PC players on the regular edition of GTA 5 and the more recent Enhanced Edition release, PC Game Pass players have access to both versions of the game so that they can hop online with their friends without worrying about version mismatch errors. Grand Theft Auto 5 Enhanced Edition was released as a free update to PC players back in March. On launch, however, the game was met with mixed reviews from its players. Even now, GTA 5 Enhanced Edition has a user review aggregate of Mixed on Steam, featuring more than 33,000 user reviews. While players have been quite happy with the visual and performance upgrades brought in by the Enhanced Edition release, many have complained about technical issues, including HDR not being supported in some cases. More recent reviews have complained about GTA Online lobbies feeling much emptier than they used to, as well as the heavy-handed implementation of microtransactions. The enhancements brought in to the PC version of GTA 5 include the graphical upgrades we first saw with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game. The upgrade also brought with it a host of new vehicles, along with new activities to take on like the Wildlife Photography Challenge. GTA 5 Enhanced Edition is also hoping to bolster the player base for GTA Online by giving newer players a gentler learning curve by letting them have GTA$4,000,000 to start out with. For more details about Grand Theft Auto 5 Enhanced Edition, check out our thoughts about why it offers little more than a relatively decent visual upgrade, with its new content not quite feeling up to par with the rest of the game. Since its release back in 2013, Grand Theft Auto 5 has been incredibly successful for developer Rockstar and publisher Take-Two Interactive. Back in February, Take-Two revealed during its quarterly earnings report that more than 210 million copies of GTA 5 have been sold worldwide. This brings up cumulative sales for the GTA franchise as a whole up to more than 440 million units. Red Dead Redemption 2 has also been doing quite well. While not as successful in terms of copies sold as GTA 5, the game still managed to sell more than 70 million copies worldwide. In the meantime, Rockstar is currently developing Grand Theft Auto 6. While no details about the game have been revealed so far, many developers are holding their breath since it will likely be a massive launch that has far-reaching effects on the gaming industry. The game is being developed for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. There has been no word of a PC release so far.

NewsMetroid Prime 4: Beyond Gameplay Showcases Quality Mode, Boss Battle, and Mouse Controls on Switch 2The opening of Retro Studios' first-person shooter has Samus and the Federation battling the Space Pirates to secure an artifact.Posted By Ravi Sinha | On 03rd, Apr. 2025In its Treehouse: Live stream, Nintendo showcased Metroid Prime 4: Beyond running on the Switch 2. Running in Quality Mode at 4K/60 FPS, it covers the beginning, where the Galactic Federation battles the Space Pirates to secure a sensitive artifact.Samus must get to it before Sylux, whos allied with the Pirates. Much of the classic Metroid Prime mechanics are present, from scanning and full 3D maps to transforming into a Morph Ball and traversing through cracks and under hazards. You can still lock on to enemies and slay them with charged shots and missiles.The biggest new addition on the Switch 2 is mouse controls, which allow for leading targets more precisely. You can switch seamlessly back to the regular controls and activate mouse support by placing the Joy-Con 2 flat.The first boss fight against Aberax is shown, though it transforms courtesy of a wayward Metroid. This leads to Samus targeting different weak points and using a double jump and the Morph Ball to avoid shockwaves. After defeating it, Sylux appears and accidentally shoots the artifact, triggering a reaction (which could lead to Samus gaining her new Psychic Powers).Along with Quality Mode, players can also use Performance Mode for 1080p/120 FPS gameplay. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond doesnt have a release date, but its out this year for Nintendo Switch 1 and 2. Tagged With: Atomfall Publisher:Rebellion Developments Developer:Rebellion Developments Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PCView MoreMonster Hunter Wilds Publisher:Capcom Developer:Capcom Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PCView MoreSouth of Midnight Publisher:Microsoft Developer:Compulsion Games Platforms:Xbox Series X, PCView More Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out! Nintendo Switch 2 Features Support for Hardware Ray-Tracing, Nvidia DLSS According to Nintendo's engineers, it will be up to game developers to see whether they want to make use of th... Grand Theft Auto 5 is Coming Back to PC and Xbox Game Pass on April 15 PC Game Pass subscribers will have access to the base game as well as its Enhanced Edition so that they can pl... Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Gameplay Showcases Quality Mode, Boss Battle, and Mouse Controls on Switch 2 The opening of Retro Studios' first-person shooter has Samus and the Federation battling the Space Pirates to ... Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Gets New Behind-the-Scenes Video About Becoming Indy The video features a host of voice actors talking about their time working on the game, as well as the voice o... Nintendo Switch 2 Uses LCD Display Over OLED Because of Advancements in Technology Nintendo also pointed out that, despite featuring an OLED display, the Switch wasn't able to support HDR, unli... Mario Kart World Grand Prix, New Items, Rail Riding, and Much More Showcased in New Gameplay Nintendo's latest kart racer operates on a whole different scale with larger courses and more racers when it l... View More

PhendriftMemberOct 25, 201733,170Shown in the last 30 seconds of the Direct, but here's the full list of games getting treehouse segments in the order listed:- Mario Kart World- GameChat- Super Mario Party NS2 Edition + Jamboree TV- Drag X Drive- Street Fighter 6 Switch 2 Edition- BotW and TotK Switch 2 Edition- Switch 2 Welcome Tour- Donkey Kong Bonanza- Bravely Default Remaster- Kirby & The Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World- Nintendo GameCube: Nintendo Classics- Metroid Prime 4: BeyondWith Prime 4 being last, I wonder if this is the order they're playing them in and they'll end with a release date for it.Edit: here's timesAngie said:April 3 at 6:00 a.m. PT / 9:00 a.m. ET / 22:00 JST. YouTube (Americas, Europe, Japan) and Nintendo.com (Americas, Europe, Japan).Click to expand...Click to shrink...Angie said:PhendriftApril 4, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET. You will be able to watch it on YouTube.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Last edited: Yesterday at 12:26 PM MarioleeAvengerOct 25, 201711,291Excellent, will be here for Mario Kart World, Metroid Prime 4, and Donkey Kong BonanzaL176MemberJan 10, 2019923Is there somewhere where we can see the times for these?claudelabonteMemberOct 27, 2017238St-LambertDONKEY KONG BANANZA YES!!!!!AngieBest Avatar Thread Ever!MemberNov 20, 201748,540Kingdom of CoronaDK alone is hypeWasn't expecting thatkuroneko0509MemberOct 25, 20172,569huh they'll show bdff remaster? interestingBrodo BagginsMemberOct 27, 20175,415Dang was hoping to see more Hyrule Warriors but I guess that is outside the launch window so they won't be kicking off marketing til closer to release.tiebreaker"This guy are sick"MemberOct 25, 201714,198Only Bloodborne 2 I was interested to see more of and it's not there.DK is a buy, I don't need to see more lolVampirololMemberDec 13, 20176,547Great lineup, and Prime 4 finally! Guess they will finally show a little more of that gameLotusOne Winged SlayerMemberOct 25, 2017121,912DK, Donkey Kong~Can't wait AngieBest Avatar Thread Ever!MemberNov 20, 201748,540Kingdom of CoronaL176 said:Is there somewhere where we can see the times for these?Click to expand...Click to shrink...April 3 at 6:00 a.m. PT / 9:00 a.m. ET / 22:00 JST. YouTube (Americas, Europe, Japan) and Nintendo.com (Americas, Europe, Japan).OP OPPhendriftMemberOct 25, 201733,170Brodo Baggins said:Dang was hoping to see more Hyrule Warriors but I guess that is outside the launch window so they won't be kicking off marketing til closer to release.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Yeah, we'll likely get more on that and air ride in a June direct or somethingFaiyazMemberNov 30, 20176,338Bangladesh^Same, wish Age of Imprisonment was also there, but looks solid.STGHMAAVMemberOct 26, 2017332Don't think with the current buzz abput prices they're gonna activate the chat for the streamsStoofUncle Works at NintendoMemberOct 25, 20175,114All in to see the new DKMarcelloF"This guy are sick"MemberDec 9, 20209,415Phendrift said:With Prime 4 being last, I wonder if this is the order they're playing them in and they'll end with a release date for it.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Hopefully, because I'll definitely be home from work by then lolZen HeroMemberOct 25, 20175,936Omg they're playing DK? I will definitely catch the footage at some point.NotLiquidOne Winged SlayerMemberOct 25, 201737,365Ohhh baby it's Prime timeFalchionMemberOct 25, 201743,913Looking forward to a Mario Kart deep dive.AngieBest Avatar Thread Ever!MemberNov 20, 201748,540Kingdom of CoronaPhendrift April 4, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET. You will be able to watch it on YouTube. MandosMemberNov 27, 201737,998Ahhh so no surprises then. Plenty of fun thoZebesian-XMemberDec 3, 201824,743Thank god for Prime 4 gameplay, it desperately needs a blowoutcw_sasukeMemberOct 27, 201729,375Ill be there for MK World, Prime 4 and DK.NaikoGamesMemberAug 1, 20223,643oh baby thats a lineup alrightRailWaysOne Winged SlayerAvengerOct 25, 201717,679In for Mario Kart, DK, and MetroidOP OPPhendriftMemberOct 25, 201733,170Angie said:PhendriftApril 4, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET. You will be able to watch it on YouTube.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Thanks! Put your posts in the OPFreelance BrianMemberOct 25, 20172,015In there for Prime 4KimbouMemberJan 22, 2021891Sounds great!I hope Drag x Drive leaves a better impression after seeing more of it here.CloseTalkerSister in the CraftMemberOct 25, 201737,566god speed to the poor soul that needs to try and sell that wheelchair basketball gameKaitosTens across the board!ModeratorOct 25, 201718,199Metroid omg yes KouriozanMemberOct 25, 201724,129Sad no Warriors, it'd be a great way to show the incredible power of the Switch 2 with tons of ennemies and fps not hitting sub 20 like Age of Calamity lmaoMetroidMemberOct 27, 2017204Here's hoping for a MP4 release date during the treehouse!Yoshimitsu126The FallenNov 11, 201716,812United StatesI hope they show off how Switch 2 handles BC on titles that don't have Switch 2 editions. Like I can play Xenoblade X even slower if it's confirmed the resolution can be output to 1440p or even higher frame rate.OP OPPhendriftMemberOct 25, 201733,170Metroid said:Here's hoping for a MP4 release date during the treehouse!Click to expand...Click to shrink...The list in the OP is the order listed in the direct and it's not alphabetical or anything, they gotta be ending on it and announcing the date let's hopeNeverxProphet of Truth - One Winged SlayerMemberSep 17, 20203,778FloridaPrime 4 needs a release date already. Really wish it was at launchLotusOne Winged SlayerMemberOct 25, 2017121,912Kouriozan said:Sad no Warriors, it'd be a great way to show the incredible power of the Switch 2 with tons of ennemies and fps not hitting sub 20 like Age of Calamity lmaoClick to expand...Click to shrink...They should just play Age of Calamity and see how long it takes someone to notice, then play it off as the power of the Switch 2RyudoMemberJun 19, 20241,058Will definitely tune in for the Mario Kart and Donkey Kong segments. Both games look really fun.NabiscoFeltOne Winged SlayerMemberAug 15, 20198,288Weak set of games overall but it'll be cool to get more from the big ones (MK, DK, Prime)hsojlightfootAVALANCHEMemberApr 6, 20205,722Tempted for MP4. Hopefully gets release date at this.JasperMystPowered by FriendshipMemberSep 25, 2023657Has it been confirmed who's working on the new DK game? Always found it weird how Nintendo doesn't show which developer is working on their IP's, like with the whole Mario RPG scenario.So weird and so very Nintendo.Assuming it's the Odyssey team of course. JCalMemberOct 27, 20179,465Los AlfheimOhh Prime 4. Now I'm interestedwingthorMemberSep 18, 2021910Why would they announce a release date at a treehouse and not the direct? I don't think that's ever happened.Starphanluke Legend MemberNov 15, 20178,270I still think we may get a Prime 4 release date this week.wingthor said:Why would they announce a release date at a treehouse and not the direct? I don't think that's ever happened.Click to expand...Click to shrink...They've announced entire Metroid games in Treehouses lol.I imagine it might be to help the game get its own headline separate from all the others.mnkMemberNov 11, 20177,775The worst part of the Direct not having any new games I cared about is now there's nothing in the Treehouse I care about. :(AxeMemberOct 27, 20173,437United KingdomThe GameChat segment will be worth watching just for the high chance of it going horribly wrong.GreywarenMemberJul 16, 201912,565SpainCool! Looking forward to more Mario Kart and Donkey Kong.Spooky_LanternMemberNov 21, 20172,063Gimme dat Metroid prime 4SavinownedMemberOct 25, 20171,452Nashville, TNImagine Team Cherry pops up nonchalantly to show a demoOP OPPhendriftMemberOct 25, 201733,170Starphanluke said:I still think we may get a Prime 4 release date this week.They've announced entire Metroid games in Treehouses lol.I imagine it might be to help the game get its own headline separate from all the others.Click to expand...Click to shrink...I think Nintendo is experimenting with how they give news. Announcement on treehouse + Nintendo Today maybe?Ocarina_117MemberOct 26, 20179,848Hopefully we get a big trailer for MP4.The direct one was very tame, to put it one way

Witchcraft"This guy are sick"MemberOct 9, 20221,645Nintendo's first post-Switch 2 Nintendo Direct Treehouse livestream is being flooded with angry comments from users calling on the company to "DROP THE PRICE."A cursory glance at the YouTube chat for the stream shows a flood of complaints about the pricing of Nintendo's move to the next-generation, which includes the $449.99 Switch 2 and, perhaps most controversially, the jump to $79.99 for Mario Kart World.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Nintendo's Switch 2 Treehouse Livestream Is Just a Flood of Angry Comments Shouting "DROP the PRICE" - IGNNintendos first post-Switch 2 Nintendo Direct Treehouse livestream is being flooded with angry comments from users calling on the company to DROP THE PRICE.www.ign.comIt also looks like there's already been a price drop in France? Users on social media are mentioning the price dropping to 439 . IDontBeatGamesThreadMarksman - Saved Transistor's sanity twiceMemberOct 29, 201720,403New YorkI was watching it and yeah, the entire chat was just "DROP THE PRICE" for the entire time I watched.BlackbirdUnshakable Resolve - Prophet of TruthMemberOct 25, 20177,146Brazil"but the games were already expensive in the past, ha!gotcha!"DalUncle Works at NintendoMemberAug 18, 20242,015I know AI summaries are awful but it was funny reading the one for the livestream's chat:"Viewers are upset about the price of the new Nintendo Switch game. They think it's too expensive and are demanding that Nintendo drop the price."Tom Nook Says...MemberJan 15, 20196,756The cost of the console seems fair, especially considering that 5 days ago plenty of people didn't expect it to feature 120Hz, DLSS, VRR and so on. Pricing Mario Kart at $80 and asking people to pay like $5-10 for what should obviously just be a free demo are where Nintendo seems particularly greedy.RpgNMemberOct 25, 20171,757The NetherlandsWhatever comes from this, even if nothing changes, good on those Nintendo fans. That's the way to make them understand.IDontBeatGamesThreadMarksman - Saved Transistor's sanity twiceMemberOct 29, 201720,403New YorkTom Nook Says... said:The cost of the console seems fair, especially considering that 5 days ago plenty of people didn't expect it to feature 120Hz, DLSS, VRR and so on. Pricing Mario Kart at $80 and asking people to pay like $5-10 for what should obviously just be a free demo are where Nintendo seems particularly greedy.Click to expand...Click to shrink...When Tom Nook is calling out Nintendo for being greedy you know we're cooked.SP.MemberOct 27, 20178,117Good, speaking with your wallet is the only way to combat corporate greed.The price of the console is about what I expected but the game pricing is insanity.KadzorkHas got mad skills!!MemberOct 27, 201723,450My real question is - to what?I would honestly love to know the expectations here.CenaToonMemberOct 25, 20175,510When people find about about the tariffs... KouriozanMemberOct 25, 201724,129They've been doing this for 4 hours, I applaud the perseverance and that they don't have anything better to do currently lmaoSome are about to get a massive wake up call when tariff go into effect and are reflected upon the consummer on virtually everything.KahhhhyleMemberJun 8, 20213,015Kadzork said:My real question is - to what?I would honestly love to know the expectations here.Click to expand...Click to shrink...$70 for Mario Kart seems expensive enough lol. Idk if it needed to be $80pbayneCorrupted by VengeanceMemberOct 27, 201710,925the youtube comments in 2025a bastion of great opinionsIzanagi89"This guy are sick" and Corrupted by VengeanceMemberOct 27, 201718,318GoodMinkyeroMemberMar 21, 202536I'll be honest this is just gonna be a Dexit 2.0 scenario Nintendo ain't doing nothing about the price as they know people are gonna pay itZee GiesbrechtMemberNov 2, 201750Great, I'm sure N will try to stop the negativity wave they created somehow.JawmuncherCrisis DinoModeratorOct 25, 201743,975Ibis IslandWas interesting to see everyone in the stream seemingly on the same page.With that said, I can't recall too many times where Nintendo "listened" to criticism like this and course corrected.The only thing that would really impact the Game Prices would be if they seemingly don't do as well as they're expecting. Similar to how they lowered the price of the 3DS after sales were falling off.The period after the first 6 months will be interesting to see, as much like the WiiU, that's when the "hardcore" market should be accounted for and the rest is trying to get everyone else on board.McfrankMemberOct 28, 201717,537Comments are a mistakeNotLiquidOne Winged SlayerMemberOct 25, 201737,365Dexit vibesCatchphraseMemberNov 28, 20232,101Do they work for Poilievre KadzorkHas got mad skills!!MemberOct 27, 201723,450Jawmuncher said:Was interesting to see everyone in the stream seemingly on the same page.With that said, I can't recall too many times where Nintendo "listened" to criticism like this and course corrected.The only thing that would really impact the game Game Prices would be if they seemingly don't do as well as they're expecting. Similar to how they lowered the price of the 3DS after sales were falling off.The period after the first 6 months will be interesting to see, as much like the WiiU, that's when the "hardcore" market should be accounted for and the rest is trying to get everyone else on board.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Ambassador Program 2.0.JohnnyToonamiMemberDec 16, 20186,138EarthOutside of the ERA bubble, folks are not happy about this reveal overall. Tons of misinformation going around from those who just buy the new consoles and don't partake in the general discourse.Really interested in seeing how this unfolds over the rest of the year.Tom Nook Says...MemberJan 15, 20196,756IDontBeatGames said:When Tom Nook is calling out Nintendo for being greedy you know we're cooked.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Excuse me? I offer 0% APR loans with flexible repayment schedules.Future Gazer Legend The FallenOct 26, 20174,414As it should be.Roliq Legend MemberSep 23, 20187,140Jawmuncher said:Was interesting to see everyone in the stream seemingly on the same page.With that said, I can't recall too many times where Nintendo "listened" to criticism like this and course corrected.The only thing that would really impact the game Game Prices would be if they seemingly don't do as well as they're expecting. Similar to how they lowered the price of the 3DS after sales were falling off.The period after the first 6 months will be interesting to see, as much like the WiiU, that's when the "hardcore" market should be accounted for and the rest is trying to get everyone else on board.Click to expand...Click to shrink...The thing is that a reason was that the first year of the 3DS sucked, for here we have an actual brand new Mario Kart since 8 and a new DK and Metroid Prime, Pokemon in the next monthsEven if they are on Switch the ones in Switch 2 will have better performanceLightsongMemberNov 11, 20228,699RpgN said:That's the way to make them understand.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Is it though?HoundMemberJul 6, 20192,018The hardware price seems fine. The software price, especially for upgrades to existing software, it out of line though. At $80 for a new game, it only make me wait for a sale and guarantees that I won't buy any non-exclusives on the system.Bill GaitasMemberOct 25, 20173,928John Nintendo will get right on thatGrimm FandangoMemberOct 28, 20173,181I must concur the welcome tour thing being priced is stupid, make it free.doemaaanMemberOct 27, 20172,652I'm surprised Nintendo never disabled chat. kimbo99MemberFeb 21, 20215,009Don't blame them at all. Still getting it, but pricing people out isn't a good lookLilo_DMemberOct 29, 2017534Well, with you know who raise the tariffsPeople (specifically in US) will shout out "drop the price" to many things : (LinkStrikesBackOne Winged SlayerMemberOct 27, 201718,404Someone should show them the inflation graphs, that'll for sure make them all feel silly and know the errors of their ways.CenaToon said:When people find about about the tariffs...Click to expand...Click to shrink...When people find out there are countries and people annoyed by this that don't live in the USA...Mr. PresidentMemberOct 27, 20173,489Nintendo's Switch 2 Treehouse Livestream Is Just a Flood of Angry Comments Shouting ______________Meg CherryMemberOct 25, 20177,752Seattle, WAYeah, Nintendo is in for another 3DS launch. Too high of a price for too low an upgrade, and it'll probably take a major price adjustment for it to eventually hit mass adoption.FossilPhantomMemberOct 22, 2019144Are people asking for Mario Kart to be $10 less or is it more about the cost of the console?The BoatMemberOct 28, 20175,058Witchcraft said:Nintendo's Switch 2 Treehouse Livestream Is Just a Flood of Angry Comments Shouting "DROP the PRICE" - IGNNintendos first post-Switch 2 Nintendo Direct Treehouse livestream is being flooded with angry comments from users calling on the company to DROP THE PRICE.www.ign.comIt also looks like there's already been a price drop in France? Users on social media are mentioning the price dropping to 439 .Click to expand...Click to shrink...There was no price drop, Nintendo doesn't set prices in Europe, prices often vary by retailer. Switch was 330, but you could find in cheaper than that.RumenappForza PhotographerMemberNov 9, 201716,625Slow news day for ign it seemsYuriLowellMemberOct 26, 20174,289This has the MW2 Boycott energy written all over it.Knight613MemberOct 25, 201723,806San FranciscoI wonder if current Nintendo would even think about a Switch 2 Ambassador Program if they dropped the price too soon. BassForeverOne Winged SlayerMemberOct 25, 201731,443CTJohnnyToonami said:Outside of the ERA bubble, folks are not happy about this reveal overall.Tons of misinformation going around from those who just buy the new consoles and don't partake in the general discourse.Really interested in seeing how this unfolds over the rest of the year.Click to expand...Click to shrink...The era bubble is pretty upset too. Feels like we're back to 2017 when people said Switch was doomed.AxeMemberOct 27, 20173,437United KingdomThe duality of manSkel1ingt0nMemberOct 28, 201711,102People want it.People can't afford or justify it in 2025.We should all get used to not being able to afford luxury goods moving forward. It sucks ass, but it is what it is at this point.GarudaSmilesMemberDec 14, 20183,110Hound said:The hardware price seems fine. The software price, especially for upgrades to existing software, it out of line though. At $80 for a new game, it only make me wait for a sale and guarantees that I won't buy any non-exclusives on the system.Click to expand...Click to shrink...I agree. It's the software prices that are out of line. That and the tour game not being a pack in.LotusOne Winged SlayerMemberOct 25, 2017121,912Not really sure what the issue is regarding the console, it delivered on just about every aspect other than not having an OLED screen, and $450 was predicted as the max for most. Though I don't know how it is in other regions obviouslyThe games on the other hand... please drop the price HeRingerMemberOct 28, 20174,744Jawmuncher said:Was interesting to see everyone in the stream seemingly on the same page.With that said, I can't recall too many times where Nintendo "listened" to criticism like this and course corrected.The only thing that would really impact the Game Prices would be if they seemingly don't do as well as they're expecting. Similar to how they lowered the price of the 3DS after sales were falling off.The period after the first 6 months will be interesting to see, as much like the WiiU, that's when the "hardcore" market should be accounted for and the rest is trying to get everyone else on board.Click to expand...Click to shrink...I think this time they will get away with it.KouriozanMemberOct 25, 201724,129The Boat said:There was no price drop, Nintendo doesn't set prices in Europe, prices often vary by retailer. Switch was 330, but you could find in cheaper than that.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Yep, EU retailer are free the set whatever price they want, and in France videogame can get pretty cheap.I got Switch 1 day 1 at 294 and that 36 less than base price.Same for Mario Kart World being 69 in France right now, and 59 for Donkey Kong BananzaPoyunchThe FallenOct 25, 20172,951Jawmuncher said:Was interesting to see everyone in the stream seemingly on the same page.With that said, I can't recall too many times where Nintendo "listened" to criticism like this and course corrected.The only thing that would really impact the Game Prices would be if they seemingly don't do as well as they're expecting. Similar to how they lowered the price of the 3DS after sales were falling off.The period after the first 6 months will be interesting to see, as much like the WiiU, that's when the "hardcore" market should be accounted for and the rest is trying to get everyone else on board.Click to expand...Click to shrink...Yeah it's giving 3DS vibes which is really funny since it's the same situation of moving from an extremely successful portable to its next iteration.I wonder if it's causing any concern to longtime Nintendo employees.NaiadMemberAug 27, 20203,108Dal said:I know AI summaries are awful but it was funny reading the one for the livestream's chat:"Viewers are upset about the price of the new Nintendo Switch game. They think it's too expensive and are demanding that Nintendo drop the price."Click to expand...Click to shrink...We've made it a game in some of my Discord servers about placing bets on how their AI bot will summarize some of our chats, it's incredibly funny.Ry.AVALANCHEMemberOct 10, 20213,359the planet ZebesI was playing 80 bucks for SNES games in the 90s. CDs allowed for major price cuts.I've always just figured it was a matter of time before that price point returned. Kinda surprised it took this long.

During Wednesdays Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo revealed that some games for the original Switch could be upgraded to enhanced Switch 2 Editions by purchasing an upgrade pack. This isnt surprising, coming from a company that has long loved to repackage old games for new consoles and sell them to fans a second (or third, or fourth) time. But it left some observers feeling that Nintendo was nickel-and-diming its fans and its a strategy that comes with risks. When launching a console thats fully backward-compatible with its predecessors games, console makers have some tricky choices to make. One of the trickiest involves how to handle pricing and upgrades when there are versions of the same game for both platforms particularly if the platform holder is increasing the price of games on the new system (as Nintendo is).Both Sony and Microsoft were faced with this conundrum when they launched their most recent consoles, and they made very different choices. Microsofts policy is both generous and simple: Any Xbox One games are upgraded to Xbox Series X editions automatically and at no extra cost. If you own the newer console, you can rest easy that you are always playing the best version of the game without thinking about it, and without shelling out for it.Sonys policy is a bit less generous, and much more confusing. Some upgrades from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 versions of games are free. (Quite a few, to be fair.) Many are not; it costs $10 to upgrade a copy of Marvels Spider-Man or Grand Theft Auto 5 to the PS5 version, for example. Sometimes this upgrade path was only available for a limited time. Sometimes its not available at all, and your only option, if you already own the game on PS4, is to buy it all over again on PS5.How much would you pay for a smartphone Zelda guide? Image: Nintendo EPD/NintendoUnderstandably, this messy, costly system didnt go down well with PlayStation players. When Horizon Forbidden West was announced with no upgrade path, fans were so upset that Sony was forced to back down, offer a free upgrade, and pledge to always offer upgrades in the future (albeit for a price). This is the minefield that Nintendo is now stepping into.There are a few caveats, however. Firstly, Nintendo did not announce pricing for its upgrade packs, and how players feel about the upgrades will depend to a large extent on where this pricing lands. Also, will the upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which improves performance and comes with some companion-app features, cost the same as the Switch 2 upgrade for Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which adds a whole new expansion to the game? Maybe, maybe not. To complicate things further, the Switch 2 Edition upgrades for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will be included in a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, but others wont.Thats not all. Nintendo is also offering a second tier of free Switch 2 patches for games like Super Mario Odyssey and Pokmon Scarlet and Violet. These dont count as full Switch 2 Editions, but they will improve playability and may improve performance or add support for features such as GameShare, depending on the game.As with PS5, its quite a confusing picture especially since we dont yet know pricing, or how third-party publishers will choose to handle Switch 2 Editions. (On PlayStation, many if not most opted to offer free upgrades.) But there is one important factor that distinguishes Nintendos strategy from Sonys.How much would you pay for Switch 2 Camera features in Super Mario Party Jamboree? Image: Nintendo EPD/NintendoThe only enhancements offered by many PS5 upgrades were in terms of visuals and performance: higher resolutions and frame rates, ray-traced lighting, or new performance and quality modes. Players felt they were being asked to spend $10 per game to unlock the power of the console they had already bought.Nintendo seems to have a policy that visual upgrades arent enough for a Switch 2 Edition. The Zelda games come with the (admittedly not very compelling) Zelda Notes companion features. Super Mario Party Jamboree has a new play mode, and makes extensive use of Switch 2 features like mouse controls and the camera. Kirby and the Forgotten Land has a whole new story. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has mouse controls. It seems clear that Nintendo always wants to add value in a Switch 2 Edition, either through additional content, use of the Switch 2s unique features (beyond its increased processing power), or both. Some of these releases Kirby and Mario Party especially would seem to be on a par with the Switchs Deluxe editions of Wii U games like Mario Kart 8 and New Super Mario Bros. U. (Theres one exception to this rule: The Switch 2 Edition of Pokmon Legends: Z-A does not feature any upgrades beyond a visual one, at least for now.)That should make the upgrade pack cost, however much it may be, easier to stomach. (Charging for upgrade packs will surely make all that extra development time easier for Nintendo to stomach.) Its a fairer proposition than Sonys, if hardly a less confusing one. But Xbox owners and PC gamers, for that matter, who never have to worry about such things would be justified in feeling quite smug by comparison.See More:

A slew of new amiibo were quietly revealed in addition to all the Switch 2 info shared on April 2, confirming details gleaned from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filings a month ago.The new figures, based on characters from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Street Fighter 6, will launch alongside the Switch 2 on June 5. Six Sage descendants Tulin, Yunobo, Riju, and Sidon represent the Zelda franchise, while Street Fighter newcomers Luke, Jamie, and Kimberly join the previously released Ryu and Ken figures as part of the fighting games amiibo offerings.amiibo figures of Tulin, Yunobo, Riju and Sidon from The Legend of #Zelda: #TearsOfTheKingdom are releasing on June 5! Each one can unlock a fabric for Links paraglider, as well as weapons and materials for your adventure. pic.twitter.com/fG9dBiQftP Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025As with past releases, all of these new amiibo will unlock special content in their respective games. A figure based on Minerus Construct from Tears of the Kingdom is also planned for the future.Despite an FCC filing indicating the new Joy-Con 2 controllers would maintain amiibo support on Switch 2, it was unclear whether or not Nintendo intended to release more figures. That sound you just heard was collectors and completionists groaning in agony over learning theyll need to continue getting up early to hunt down limited supplies of these silly little plastic doodads.

Well, President Trump's new tariffs are now officially in, and the numbers aren't looking good for consumers at all since it is now expected that hardware prices could rise massively.President Trump's Newest "Reciprocal Tariffs" Are Expected To Target IT Manufacturers The Most Out of All OthersWe knew that with Trump 2.0, there would be consequences for the trade world, but with the reciprocal tariffs announced yesterday, the supply chain could potentially witness devastating impacts. The administration claims it is an "eye-for-eye" move, but based on what experts are claiming, the tariff percentages are higher than expected. It won't be wrong to say that nations where the consumer hardware supply chain lies, such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and many more, will now find exporting to the US much more costly, and the end user will ultimately pay for this.With China effectively witnessing a 54 percent tariff, Morgan Stanley claims that all significant IT products, including smartphones, PCs, wearables, and peripherals, are expected to see a massive increase in taxation. The decision lies with the manufacturer about whether to prioritize raising prices or taking a hit on margins. In light of this, it is claimed that prices could rise by up to 50% if companies decide to burden consumers, which means that all consumer PC hardware prices could soar massively.Judging by this estimate alone, we have compiled a list of PC hardware that is popular among users nowadays, and based on their MSRPs alone, we have estimated the post-tariff pricing. Here's how pricing could evolve under the new Trump tariffs:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 ($1,999 MSRP)25% Increase: $2,498.7550% Increase: $2,998.50NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 ($999 MSRP)25% Increase: $1,248.7550% Increase: $1,498.50AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D ($500 MSRP)25% Increase: $62550% Increase: $750Intel Core Ultra 9 285K ($600 MSRP)25% Increase: $75050% Increase: $900It is important to note that the above pricing is deduced from factoring in the MSRPs, and it doesn't take into account real-time price tags, which are far larger for products like the GeForce RTX 5090. It is safe to say that the overall price increase should be estimated to be around 25% to 50%, and this is given the fact that manufacturers decided to put pressure on the end consumer from Trump tariffs, which will most likely be the case.Another devastating factor with Trump's new policies is that hardware manufacturers cannot benefit from the "China+1" strategy anymore, given that the tariffs are also imposed on nations like Vietnam, Thailand, India, and Taiwan, which are deemed to be a viable alternative to China. So, a workaround to these tariffs isn't possible at all, and given how big the US markets are, manufacturers will be forced to make a tough decision.Morgan Stanley says companies like Apple, Cricut, Dell, Garmin, GoPro, HP, Logitech, and Sonos are expected to be influenced the most by these tariffs, and PC hardware manufacturers, such as AIBs like MSI, Acer, Gigabyte, will also face much higher taxes the next they export products to the US. The decision certainly isn't in consumers' favor, and will create devastating impact for those looking to get their hands on new hardware.Deal of the Day

According to two reliable leakers for news about Apex Legends, the long-awaited Titanfall 3 is not dead, and it is currently in the works at Respawn.Yorotsuki and Osvaldatore, two leakers with a solid reputation for Apex Legends leaks, took to X to reinvigorate players' hopes that Titanfall 3 is not lying in a ditch somewhere (or the digital equivalent on EA's servers).Yorotsuki was a little clearer than Osvladatore, claiming that Respawn is working on the game and that it will be revealed during The Game Awards 2025 showcase set for December 2025. Osvladatore simply posted a graphic of the game's alleged logo.The Titanfall franchise is arguably one of the best franchises in video game history that got dealt the worst hand possible. The first Titanfall game definitely wasn't perfect, but it brought a new and exciting flavor to the FPS genre that was dominated by Call of Duty and Battlefield.Then, Titanfall 2 stepped everything up, and if EA hadn't aided in Titanfall 2 being overshadowed by Battlefield 1 launching right beside it in EA's effort to keep up with Call of Duty launching its annual release, Infinite Warfare, in 2016, then there's a solid chance Titanfall 2's story ends differently.It still has what is regarded as one of the best single-player campaigns, not just in a first-person shooter, but in any game in gaming's history. And the rise and sustained popularity of Apex Legends continues to be proof that there's no other franchise that has mastered movement in a first-person shooter quite like what Respawn was able to accomplish with Titanfall.That's just a part of what has made Titanfall 3 a topic its fans bring up nearly as often as Bloodborne fans cry out for a sequel or remake. It's also why Respawn's chief executive officer and one of the original creatives behind Titanfall, Vince Zampella, has had to answer questions about Titanfall 3 time and again.Even though Zampella has previously stated that the studio is not working on Titanfall 3, the reality of the video game industry, of which EA is no exception, is that things can change on a dime. Just last month, another multiplayer FPS game Respawn was incubating was canceled, so it's entirely possible that the cancelation of that project has led to Titanfall 3 being kicked up again, which is where today's rumor comes from.There are plenty of unknowns here, but crazier things have happened during The Game Awards than a franchise that's beloved by millions coming back from the dead.Deal of the Day

A list of the most influential video games of all time from BAFTA is making waves online due to some controversial picks, including Shenmue and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.BAFTA, an independent arts charity representing creatives in several different entertainment industries, previously asked the public to vote on what they believed were the most influential games of all time. As can sometimes be the case with lists based on public opinion and votes, the results published on April 3 were funky. Some widely believed to be influential games, like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Dark Souls, and the original Doom, made the list. Some inclusions were head-scratchers, though.Namely, Shenmue takes the top spot, with BAFTA saying Sega's Dreamcast classic "feels like the original blueprint for the dynamic, detailed settings that have since become the expected norm at gamings bleeding edge." It ranking over games like Super Mario. Bros, Minecraft, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is quite the surprise, though.Continue Reading at GameSpot