The card grading service PSA will no longer take direct submissions from outside the US in response to the Trump administrations new far-reaching tariffs. In an update on Wednesday, PSA says its reluctantly taking these measures to protect our international customers from significant tariff expenses.As noted by PSA, the tariffs are against the value of the items in the order rather than on the PSA service fee. That means sending high-value Pokmon or sports cards to PSA would result in hefty fees. Under a 10 percent tariff, for example, a card valued at $5,000 would incur a $500 fee.Though PSA is pausing international submissions now, that doesnt mean cards currently at or in transit to its facilities will escape additional charges. PSA notes that orders entering the US after 12:01AM on April 5th may be affected by tariffs, and may also face not-yet-announced retaliatory tariffs upon return. PSA will leverage available means to limit tariff exposure for customers outside of the US, the company says.PSA has already stopped accepting direct submissions from Canada, China, Hong Kong, and Mexico due to the first round of tariffs imposed earlier this year. However, PSA notes that customers in Canada and Japan can still get their cards graded by sending or bringing them to its physical locations in both countries.

The Pixel 9As main camera might go to the base Pixel 10.Googles upcoming base Pixel 10 might come with primary and ultrawide cameras that match the hardware recently introduced in the budget Pixel 9A, which arent as good as the cameras on the Pixel 9, Android Authority reports. However, the new phone may get a telephoto camera, which the Pixel 9 and other base Pixels havent had.As for the Pixel 10 Pro devices, Android Authority reports that they will have the same camera hardware as the 9 Pro, which could indicate thatGoogle may lean more on the abilities of its expected next-generation Tensor G5 chip to improve photos.Meanwhile, the upcoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which is rumored to have an almost identical design to the previous model, might also get the Pixel 9As primary shooter.Last year, Google announced its Pixel 9 lineup in August, and its possible that the company could pick that timeframe again to launch the Pixel 10 series. The company will release the Pixel 9A on April 10th.

Amazon has introduced a new Recaps feature on several Kindle models. | Image: AmazonAmazon is comparing a new feature for the Kindle to the Previously on segments that TV shows frequently use. But the Kindles Recaps feature is instead focused on book series and provides a quick refresher on storylines and character arcs before readers start the next book, Amazon says.The short Recaps, which do include spoilers, are available to readers in the US for thousands of bestselling English language Kindle books in series you have purchased or borrowed, according to Amazon.You can determine if a series youre reading has Recaps available by looking for a View Recaps button in the series page in your Kindle Library. It will also be available in a three-dot menu where you see a series of books grouped together in the Kindle UI.Recaps was first introduced on a Kindle software update released last week that also lets Kindle Colorsoft and 12th-gen Paperwhite Signature Edition users double-tap the back and sides of their e-readers to turn pages or scroll lists. The Recap feature will be available on a wider assortment of Kindle devices, including older models that are eligible for the 5.18.1 update.Amazon says its being rolled out as an over-the-air update over the next several weeks, but it can also be downloaded from Amazons website and manually installed on Kindles immediately. Amazon also plans to soon make it available on its Kindle app for iOS.

The biggest threat to the Steam Deck in 2025 wont be the arrival of other Windows-based handheld gaming PCs. Instead, itll likely be the Nintendo Switch 2, which arrives on June 5 for $449.99 smack dab between the cost of the $399 Steam Deck LCD and the $549 Steam Deck OLED. Ironically, the Steam Deck is also the Switch 2s biggest threat. While Nintendos new console may have Valves beat on screen resolution, refresh rate, and a custom Nvidia processor capable of DLSS and ray tracing, Steam trumps it in value, particularly with game prices.RelatedI get it, I get it. Theyre totally different devices. So even though comparing Nintendo and Valves hardware and software philosophies is an apples versus oranges exercise, the two devices and companies are more aligned than you might think. And thats especially true when consumers, whether because of tariffs or other economic reasons, need to choose between one or the other.Youve come to the right place, as well break down all of the specs worth caring about to show how they stack up.Pricing and availabilityAs mentioned, the Switch 2 and the Steam Deck have somewhat similar prices. The Switch 2 will launch on June 5 for $449.99 to start, though there will be a $499.99 bundle available for a limited time that includes Mario Kart World. Preorders go live on Wednesday, April 9th for the console, its accessories, and launch titles.Valves Steam Deck doesnt come with various game bundles, although there are two models to choose from: the $399 Steam Deck LCD (also known simply as Steam Deck) and the Steam Deck OLED, which starts at $549. Several specs, as well as storage amounts, differentiate the two. The Verges Sean Hollister has a review of the Steam Deck OLED that neatly sums up their differences. In the US, the Steam Deck is only available through Steam, Valves online game storefront. Internationally, its available through various stores.Display technologyThis is where things get really interesting. The Switch 2 took many by surprise by featuring a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate. Not only that, it supports VRR and HDR10. Compared to the launch Switch and Switch Lite, both of which had 720p LCDs of varying sizes (6.2 inches in the Switch, 5.5 inches in the Switch Lite), its a big difference in terms of added size, features, more clarity, and smoothness in how games appear onscreen. The same could be said for the Switch 2s screen improvements over the Steam Deck LCD, which has a 7-inch 60Hz LCD touchscreen (with chunky bezels) without VRR or HDR support.Image: NintendoThe Switch OLEDs 7-inch 720p OLED screen may be better than the Switch 2s screen in terms of contrast and viewing angles, but the Switch 2s is faster and better in every other metric.The Switch 2 meets its match in the Steam Deck OLED. Many hoped that Nintendo would come out of the gates with an OLED display, but that still makes Valves $549 handheld special. The Steam Deck OLED has a smaller 800p touchscreen than the Switch 2 at 7.4 inches (but without the chunky bezels of the Deck LCD), but adds 90Hz refresh rate and HDR into the mix. Its a gorgeous screen, with stellar viewing angles and brilliant color reproduction, making 800p games somehow look higher resolution. Some may prefer the higher refresh rate and VRR in the Switch 2, which will allow the screen to quickly adapt to a fluctuating frame rate without tearing. The VRR difference is something you have to experience yourself, and its great to have in the Switch 2 as not many handhelds support it, save for the Lenovo Legion Go S and select others.Performance and battery lifeThere is sure to be more to come in terms of comparing performance between the Switch 2 and the Steam Deck. Hands-on time with the Switch 2 has been limited to a few games coming at launch, so you should expect more on how games available for both compare in terms of visuals and frame rate.We can make some comparisons based on specs. Both the Steam Deck models use a custom AMD APU (bundling the Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU) that plays a swath of PC games relatively smoothly at good-to-great visual quality with surprisingly good battery life. Not every game can take full advantage of the Steam Deck OLEDs 90Hz refresh rate, but thats not a claim Valve makes. Some AMDs FSR graphical upscaling technology is available in select games to reduce the render resolution of the image and upscale it using AI. In many cases, it makes supported games run better on Steam Deck, but with a major hit to visual quality.Photo by The VergeOn the other hand, I think Nintendos Switch 2 is more of a spec powerhouse than anyone expected. It uses a custom Nvidia processor, though almost no details about its power have been unveiled at the time of publishing. Nintendo is publicly targeting up to 120 frames per second in some games in handheld mode, with a 60 frames per second cap at 4K when docked, indicating that theres quite a bit of potential in the Switch 2. Nintendo Switch 2 hardware engineers claim the console utilizes DLSS and ray tracing key features offered by Nvidia graphics cards. Its unclear how these features will be used in titles across the board, and if there are any downsides to its implementation.Switching over to battery life, the Steam Deck has the Switch 2 beat, though for both handhelds its important to note that battery longevity varies wildly depending on the games you play. Balatro, for instance, is less taxing on hardware than Cyberpunk 2077. The Switch 2 has an expected battery life between 2 and 6.5 hours. Valves Steam Deck LCD (which has a 40Wh battery) can last between 2 and 8 hours, while the Steam Deck OLED, thanks to its more efficient display and jump from 40Wh to 50Wh, lasts between 3 and 12 hours.Storage, dock, and moreBy default, the Switch 2 contains 256GB of speedy UFS storage that presumably cannot be upgraded by the end user. However, it can be expanded upon with microSD cards but not just any will do. Its one of the first devices to support microSD Express, which are classified as PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs, but are just as tiny as other microSD cards. The console supports up to 2TB capacities, though weve only seen up to 1TB models hit shelves so far (more will certainly show up in time for the Switch 2s June 5th launch).The Steam Deck offers more versatility. For one, all models come with M.2 2230-sized SSDs that can be upgraded by opening the system. Doing so doesnt void the warranty, but youll want to be careful. Once inside, you can replace the SSD with something bigger. Its unclear currently whether the Steam Decks built-in SSD is faster or on a par with the Switch 2s internal storage.If you want to supplement the SSD with more user-friendly expandable storage, each Deck also supports UHS-1 microSD cards. Those are slower than the Switch 2s microSD Express cards, but they do the trick.Photo by Owen Grove / The VergeBoth handhelds can be used as hybrids, either in handheld mode or docked to a TV. Speaking of their handheld use case first, the Switch 2 includes a versatile kickstand, while the Steam Deck doesnt. Placing either on a dock grants you more ports to connect to the console. The Switch 2 dock, which comes with each console, includes an HDMI port, USB-C for power, plus an Ethernet port for wired internet. The Steam Deck docking station is a separate $79 accessory that includes more ports, such as HDMI, DisplayPort, three USB-A ports, Ethernet, and a USB-C port for power.The Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 have USB-C ports that send video out to your display. However, only the Switch 2 features a second USB-C port, located on its top, which can be used to plug in peripherals, such as a camera for GameChat, or numerous other accessories to be released in the future. This Switch 2s secondary USB-C port doesnt support video out. In the case of the Switch 2, its dock unlocks more power capabilities, whereas the Steam Decks dock doesnt increase its power. Games and softwareThe Steam Deck puts your Steam library at your fingertips. Youll be able to play most of them on the Steam Deck, but how each game performs including whether you can launch it at all, due to anti-cheat or other incompatibility reasons varies depending on the game. Valve attempts to make it easy to know whether a game will work well on Steam Deck. If its Verified, that means youll probably have a good experience. If its Playable, there might be some controller-based difficulties that might negatively impact and otherwise good experience. Unsupported games are simply that they either wont work if you boot them, or Valve hasnt tested them and doesnt know what kind of time youre in for. One defining feature of Steam is that the store hosts many sales, and Steam games can be legally acquired through third-party sites at big discounts. Games are often significantly more affordable by comparison to the Switch and other gaming consoles.The Switch 2 supports almost all original Switch games, though there are some titles that have issues. It supports them through a method somewhere in between a software emulator and hardware compatibility, according to Switch 2 developer Takuhiro Dohta. This sounds somewhat similar to Valves Proton, a compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on the Steam Decks fork of Linux.Image: NintendoContinuing on the Switch 2, there are Switch 2 Edition upgrades to select Switch titles that add flourishes allowed by the more powerful hardware, ranging from faster frames per second and higher resolution (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom), as well as other Switch 2-only features, like GameChat functionality (Super Mario Party: Jamboree - Switch 2 Edition), or mouse controls (Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Switch 2 Edition). Then, there will be Switch 2-exclusive games, like Mario Kart World, that can only be played on new hardware.Games aside, lets speak about the underlying software. The Switch 2, much like its predecessor, is focused almost exclusively on gaming. We dont yet know whether video streaming services will be available. However, on the Steam Deck, you have the option to switch from gaming to desktop mode, essentially turning it into a Linux desktop. From there, you can install apps of your choosing, run a browser, connect Google accounts to it to type documents anything that comes to mind.By the numbersSpecificationNintendo Switch 2Steam Deck OLEDSteam Deck LCDProcessorCustom Nvidia chipset (details TBD)Custom AMD APUCustom AMD APUScreen type7.9-inch LCD7.4-inch OLED7-inch LCDResolution (handheld)1,920 x 1080, up to 120Hz, VRR, HDR1,280 x 800, up to 90Hz, HDR1,280 x 800, up to 60HzResolution (docked)3,840 x 2,160 at 60Hz, or 1440p/1080p at up to 120Hz7680 x 4320 at 60Hz, or 3840 x 2160 at 120Hz7680 x 4320 at 60Hz, or 3840 x 2160 at 120HzHDR10 support?YesNoNoInternal storage256GB512GB256GBExpandable storagemicroSD Express (up to 2TB)microSD (up to 2TB)microSD (up to 2TB)SensorsAccelerometer / gyroscope, mouse / brightness (in console)Accelerometer / gyroscope / ambient light sensorAccelerometer / gyroscope / ambient light sensorPorts (handheld)2x USB-C / 3.5mmUSB-C / 3.5mmUSB-C / 3.5mmPorts (dock)2x USB-C / HDMI / ethernet3x USB 2.0 / 2x USB-A / USB-C (power adapter) / HDMI / DisplayPort / Ethernet (dock not included)3x USB 2.0 / 2x USB-A / USB-C (power adapter) / HDMI / DisplayPort / Ethernet (dock not included)Wireless connectivityWi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth / NFCWi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.3Dual-band Wi-Fi / Bluetooth 5Wired connectivityEthernet (docked mode)Ethernet via optional dockEthernet via optional dockBuilt-in mic?YesYesYesSpeakersStereo speakersStereo speakersStereo speakersBattery capacity5,220mAh lithium-ion50Wh battery40Wh batteryBattery life (est.)2 to 6.5 hours3 to 12 hours2 to 8 hoursCharging timeAbout 3 hours 30 minutesNot advertisedNot advertisedGame card slotSwitch 2 and Switch cartridgesN/A, uses microSD card (plus internal SSD)N/A, uses microSD card (plus internal SSD)Weight (grams)399.16g (or 535.24g with Joy-Con 2 controllers attached)640 grams669 gramsDimensions4.5 x 10.7 x .55 inches4.6 x 11.7 x 1.92 inches4.6 x 11.7 x 1.92 inchesStarting price$449.99$549.99$399.99AvailableJune 5th, 2025NowNowSee More:

Just about everything with the Nintendo Switch 2 is more expensive than the original Switch.Its perhaps not unexpected that the console itself costs more money than the first Switch. That device launched more than eight years ago, after all. But following yesterdays big Switch 2 Direct, there has been a lot of sticker shock as people have seen just how much Nintendo is charging for the console and its games, including multiple titles with a price tag of just under $80. (And some of those games are just improved versions of years-old Switch titles.)Based on hands-on reports from my colleagues, the Switch 2 seems like another excellent device, with upgrades like an improved Nvidia processor and a bigger screen with support for HDR and 120fps framerates. Nintendo games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza seem like theyre shaping up well, too.But if youre looking to buy a Switch 2 for yourself pre-orders in the US start on April 9th youre going to have to pay up. (And, depending on the impact of President Trumps newly-announced tariffs, the Switch 2 could cost even more.)Here are some comparisons of console, accessory, and game costs betwee …Read the full story at The Verge.

With every new portable console comes a mountain of new third-party accessories. Weve already seen Horis Piranha Plant alternative to the Switch 2s USB-C camera, but Genki has announced a larger lineup of accessories designed to help protect the portable console while youre playing away from home, plus some clever ways to keep it and its Joy-Con controllers charged.The Joy-Station can charge four Joy-Cons simultaneously and turn them into two standalone controllers. Image: GenkiThe $49.99 Genki Joy-Station looks like a sleek way to avoid the annoying juggling act of keeping more than two Joy-Cons charged, with some additional, well thought-out functionality. The Joy-Cons attach to two delta-shaped grips turning each pair into standalone controllers. Two Joy-Cons can be simultaneously charged using a USB-C cable while attached to the grips useful for those times when you want to play and the Joy-Cons are nearly dead but they also charge when the grips are reattached to the charging base.The Energy Pack includes a small screen displaying temperature, charging speeds, and the remaining charge level. Image: GenkiThanks in part to a larger screen, the Switch 2s battery life is estimated to be between two and 6.5 hours per charge. You can extend that using Genkis $69.99 Energy Pack which is designed to conveniently magnetically attach to the back of the console and charge it at up to 30W speeds. The 10,000mAh Energy Pack is Qi2 compatible so you can also use it to wirelessly charge your phone, but the Switch 2 isnt, so the battery instead connects to the consoles top USB-C port using a short included cable.You can enhance your Grip on the Switch 2 using Genkis Attack Vector shell. Image: GenkiFor gamers wanting added protection while theyre playing the Switch 2, Genkis Attack Vector is a $49.99 three-piece dock-compatible protective shell that can be upgraded with a screen cover for an extra $10. Its most compelling feature is that it comes with three different sizes of sweat-resistant grips including a slim option designed for travel and a chunky option for maximum grip.The Joy-Cons remain easily removable while using the Force Field 2 shell. Image: GenkiThe $29.99 (or $39.99 with an optional screen cover) Force Field 2 shell is a cheaper alternative to the Attack Vector featuring a swing open design so you can detach and reattach the Switch 2s Joy-Cons without having to fully remove it. Its also dock-compatible, and allows for full use of the Switch 2s folding stand.If youre simply looking for a way to keep the Switch 2 safe from dirt and scratches while its stuffed in a bag, Genkis $42.99 Sleeper Case features a hidden zipper and a soft wool finish inside and out wrapped around a sturdy shell the company describes as both crushproof and virtually indestructible.Genki has also introduced a $19.99 Switch 2 screen protector called the Aegis Shield, and the Mimic Chest: a $19.99 plastic case sold in three-packs that each hold 12 game cartridges. All of the accessories are available for preorder now and expected to ship sometime in May or June 2025. If you want them all, Genki also sells the collection as a bundle with either the Force Field 2 shell for $184.99 or the Attack Vector for $199.99.See More:

Liberation Day has arrived. Get ready to be liberated from affordable vehicle prices. As promised, President Donald Trumps 25 percent tariffs for imported vehicles went into effect Thursday, sending the auto industry into full panic mode. Some analysts are predicting a $5,000 to $10,000 price hike on new cars out of the gate, while others are still struggling to wrap their heads around the logic of Trumps auto tariffs. It was a nuclear-level threat for the already unsettled auto industry, with little relief in sight. Trumps argument is relatively straightforward, if nonsensical: Dont like the tariffs? Just buy an American-made car. The only problem is that there is no such thing. Even vehicles made in the US rely on a complex supply chain that runs across borders and through multiple nations. The average car contains roughly 30,000 individual parts. Even cars produced domestically obtain 4050 percent of their parts from abroad, according to Dan Ives, the global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities, a financial services firm.The tariffs are a debacle of epic proportions for the auto industry and US consumers as the concept of a US made car with all US parts is a fairy tale fictional narrative, Ives wrote in a note to clients on Thursday. The more people we speak with from the auto industry around the world it is becoming crystal clear this tariff/US policy will cause pure chaos to the global auto industry and will raise the prices of a typical car to a US consumer by $5k to $10k out of the gates.It is becoming crystal clear this tariff/US policy will cause pure chaos to the global auto industryOther firms were predicting an even higher price increase as the new tariffs started to go into effect. Anderson Economic Group concluded that the tariffs could boost manufacturing costs by $4,000 to more than $10,000 per car, depending on the vehicle model. Battery-electric crossover SUVs could see the biggest spike of $12,000.The effect could be even more pronounced at the lower end of the market, with many of the most affordable vehicles from GM, Ford, Kia, and Hyundai produced outside the US. Affordability is already a huge problem for car buyers, with average transactions for new cars clocking in at $48,118 in January, according to market researcher Edmunds.There are only 27 vehicles available under $30,000 four of which have already been discontinued, including the Chevy Malibu and Nissan Versa. Many of these models are sourced from Mexico, Japan, and South Korea. Last year, these models made up 13 percent of all vehicles sold in the US. Slapping tariffs on these vehicles as they arrive in the US would drastically change the dynamics, pushing sticker prices up by an average of $5,300, according to Erin Keating, executive analyst at Cox Automotive. This is difficult news for an industry already staring down an affordability problem, Keating added in a statement. For decades, car ownership has been a hallmark of the American dream. We built our communities around car ownership, squeezing out transit, and shrinking pedestrian spaces to make way for bigger and bigger vehicles. For most people in the US, owning a car isnt an option; its a necessity to participate in daily life. This is difficult news for an industry already staring down an affordability problem.Consumers were already facing elevated costs when financing new vehicles before the tariffs hit. One in 5 new car buyers are taking on seven-year loans to finance a new car purchase, in a sign of increasing financial stress, Edmunds says. And an increasing number of people with car loans owe more than their vehicle is worth. Even with rates holding relatively flat, the continued reliance on extended terms and high monthly payments reveals how challenging car buying remains, says Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds. And now, with auto tariffs officially taking effect today, theres a risk that they will add fuel to the fire triggering a disruption that could push vehicles even further out of reach for many shoppers.The Trump administration is considering other methods of relief for car buyers. The White House said it is calling for tax breaks to incentivize purchases of US-made vehicles and pursuing deregulation to lower industrywide costs. But the outcome is uncertain. With prices expected to surge, many people who had been considering a car purchase are crowding into dealerships, trying to take advantage of pre-tariff prices. Consumer experts advise against panic shopping, but of course, most people arent thinking rationally as they watch the news with growing anxiety. It never pays to rush out and make a rash decision that you might regret, says Jake Fisher, senior director of Consumer Reports Auto Test Center. Even if the tariffs are here to stay, in a short time, the value of your trade-in will increase too.It never pays to rush out and make a rash decision that you might regret.Some automakers are taking advantage of elevated inventories the total number of new and used vehicles that dealers have for sale to offer short-term incentives to panicked shoppers. Ford is offering employee discounts on most models, including the Mustang Mach-E and Maverick, both of which are built in Mexico, to all shoppers through June 2nd, Reuters reports. Ford had more than four months of inventory in February, above the industry average of nearly three months, according to Cox.Hyundais response was to announce a $21 billion investment in the US to stave off the effect of the tariffs. And others are taking a more drastic approach. Stellantis said today it was temporarily laying off 900 workers at five of its US factories and pausing production at assembly plants in Canada and Mexico. Even Tesla, which is run by billionaire best buddy Elon Musk, is exposed to these new tariffs. The company assembles its vehicles in the US, but 2025 percent of its parts are sourced from Mexico, according to a list of car part origins published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The tariffs will likely lead to more automakers trying to negotiate deals or exemptions with the administration. And ultimately, this is probably what Trump wants: to be the most important person in the room, at the center of the chaos he helped create. 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Though Blumhouses first M3gan feature was a near-perfect blend of techno-horror and ridiculous comedy, the sequel looks like its going to blow its predecessor out of the water.Set a couple of years after the first film, M3gan 2.0 once again centers roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams) and her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) two of the few people who managed to survive M3gans (Amie Donald / Jenna Davis) initial murder spree.As an advocate for stricter regulations on the very same kind of artificial intelligence she helped create, Gemma knows how dangerous it would be if she were to bring M3gan back. But when a defense contractor uses Gemmas code to create an even more advanced killer robot called Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno), who immediately sets out to conquer the world, Gemma has no choice but to give M3gan a second chance at life.While the first M3gan was definitely silly, this trailers use of Oops! I Did It Again and its focus on M3gan flying through the sky in a wingsuit make clear that writer Akela Cooper and director Gerard Johnstone are fully leaning into the franchises camp. Blumhouses other recent AI panic horrors havent exactly sparked joy, but M3gan 2.0 feels like its going to be one hell of a good time when it hits theaters on June 27th.

Shares of Apple, Amazon, and other tech stocks are getting walloped on Thursday as the markets digest the impact of President Donald Trumps new round of tariffs announced on Wednesday evening.Shares of Apple were down about 9 percent on Thursday morning, which would mark the biggest drop in about five years if it holds until the close, according to CNBC. Amazon shares dropped about 7 percent.Both companies rely heavily on imports from other countries, like China, on which Trump plans to impose a 54 percent tariff beginning April 9th. Apple also manufactures some products in countries like Vietnam, on which a 46 percent tariff was announced.The tariffs, if they arent walked back, could mean increased prices on electronics for consumers or slimmer margins for companies like Apple and Amazon if they choose to eat some of the costs. Apple has typically had a gross margin, the amount of cash it gets to keep after it sells stuff, of around 38 percent, though it has been higher. Wall Street is likely concerned about lower demand if Apple has to increase the price of Macs, iPhones, iPads, and other products.Other big tech companies were impacted as well. Shares of Nvidia were down more than 4 percent on Thursday morning while Tesla stock was also down about 4 percent, giving up most of its Wednesday gains. Shares of Meta are down about 7 percent.

Though the last season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ended on a perilous note, when the Paramount Plus series returns, its going to lean into the whimsical energy that made the original 60s show feel fun.Ahead of Strange New Worlds season three premiere, Paramount Plus has dropped a new trailer teasing how the USS Enterprises crew are going to find themselves trapped in some kind of anomaly that transforms them into the stars of a kitschy sci-fi program meant to give audiences a reflection of their own world through the lens of fantasy.Captain Kirk (Paul Wesley), Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia), and Number One / Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) dont exactly seem to know that theyve been cast in a practical effects-filled sendup of the Enterprises adventures.But they all seem very game to play along with the silliness of their situation, and the trailer spotlights how those kinds of vibes are going to be a big part of this season. In addition to getting caught up in a Clue-style whodunnit, the Enterprises crew are going to find themselves outfitting their ship with analog telephone receivers under commander Pelias (Carol Kane) guidance. …Read the full story at The Verge.

As the US government launches investigations and threatens to pull federal funding, some elite universities have decided to take the path of least resistance. Colleges across the country have responded to the Trump administrations attacks on diversity programs and student protesters by complying with these anti-woke witch hunts. In recent weeks, university administrators at Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, and other schools have let the government interfere with entire academic departments, fired professors over allegations of antisemitism lobbed by right-wing groups, and announced their refusal to intervene in immigration arrests on campus.The Trump administration has warned it will yank funding from institutions that it claims have engaged in racial discrimination in the form of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and enabled antisemitism by not being hard enough on pro-Palestine protesters. These arent empty threats: in March, the administration rescinded $400 million in funding from Columbia and froze $175 million slated for the University of Pennsylvania over the schools policies on transgender athletes. This week, President Donald Trump paused several dozen grants issued to Princeton University and announced that its reviewing $9 billion in federal grants and contracts awarded to Harvard University. Universities are largely responding to these attacks by preemptively cracking down on free speech. The Rhode Island School of Design shut down an art exhibition which it had previously approved put on by the schools chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. New York University canceled a talk on USAID cuts over concerns that the topic could be seen as anti-governmental. Yale Law School suspended, and later fired, an international law scholar after an AI-powered right-wing news site falsely accused her of being linked to a Palestinian group under US sanctions. After Trump pulled funding from Columbia, the university agreed to comply with a host of the administrations demands, including completing disciplinary proceedings for student protesters, making changes to its admissions process, banning masks on campus, and placing its Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies department under new supervision.If universities are complying as a protective measure, its not guaranteed to work. When CNN asked if Columbia would get its funds back, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the university was on the right track but refused to confirm whether the money would be reinstated. She was more blunt in a subsequent interview: They have to abide and comply with the terms that weve set down, she told reporters.Title VI manipulationsAfter years of criticizing universities for their supposed stifling of free speech, conservatives now in power are weaponizing anti-discrimination law to quash student protests and eliminate diversity initiatives.In March, the Department of Education announced it was investigating 45 universities over their involvement with the PhD Project, a program aimed at increasing racial diversity among business school professors. The administration claimed the PhD Projects focus on hiring more professors of color violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in any programs that receive money from the federal government.The administration is also using Title VI as a cudgel against campus protests. Several universities have been probed by the Justice Department Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. The task force, formed in February, has plans to visit at least 10 universities across the country to determine whether they failed to protect Jewish students and faculty members from unlawful discrimination and therefore violated Title VI.The integrity of civic discourse and the freedoms that form the basis of a democratic society are under attack.Columbia, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania are among the schools that have been visited by the task force and have had their federal funding pulled as a result. While university administrators have largely complied with the administrations demands, student and faculty groups across the country have pushed back on Trumps campus incursions. Recent lawsuits have challenged Trumps funding freezes and deportation policies on First Amendment grounds, claiming that the administration is retaliating against students constitutionally protected speech. Unsurprisingly, the first of these suits involved Columbia. Last week, a coalition of labor unions sued the Trump administration, alleging that its revocation of Columbias funding violated the First Amendment. Trumps attacks on Columbia were an unprecedented effort to overpower a universitys autonomy and control the thought, association, scholarship, and expression of its faculty and students, the suit, filed in federal court in New York by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the American Federation of Teachers, claims. Columbia is in the crosshairs because of the Trump administrations disagreement with the perceived political views of students and faculty at the university, the complaint reads. In addition to violating students and facultys right to free speech, the suit argues the Trump administration didnt follow Title VI procedure before pulling the universitys funds. The budget cuts have caused severe and irreparable damage not only to Columbia but also to the broader community, the suit claims, affecting crucial public health efforts including research to prevent Alzheimers disease, to ensure fetal health in pregnant women, and to cure cancer. Worse still, faculty members say, university leadership is capitulating to Trumps demands instead of fighting back.Were seeing university leadership across the country failing to take any action to counter the Trump administrations unlawful assault on academic freedom, Columbia professor Reinhold Martin, who is also the president of Columbia-AAUP, said in a press release. As faculty, we dont have the luxury of inaction. The integrity of civic discourse and the freedoms that form the basis of a democratic society are under attack.Ideological deportationsThe AAUP is suing the Trump administration for using an ideological-deportation policy to chill speech on college campuses, according to a separate suit filed in Massachusetts. That suit, filed on March 28th in a New York federal court alongside the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia and the Middle East Studies Association, alleges that Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) recent arrests of student protesters violate the First Amendment. ICE has arrested at least five students over their alleged involvement in pro-Palestine activism on campus. The government is using an obscure provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to initiate deportation proceedings against the students. The law, enacted at the height of the McCarthy era, lets the secretary of state declare someone deportable if their presence in the country would compromise a compelling United States foreign policy interest. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has alleged that the students targeted by ICE have expressed support for Hamas, a claim for which the administration has provided next to no evidence.For example, officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claim that Rumeysa Ozturk, a graduate student at Tufts University who was arrested by ICE last week, had engaged in activities in support of Hamas. Ozturk, a Turkish citizen, wrote an opinion piece for the campus newspaper urging the university to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and divest its endowment from companies with ties to Israel, common demands made by student activists across the country. The essay almost entirely focuses on university procedure and at no point mentions Hamas. But it was cited as an example of Ozturks Anti-Israel Activism by the website Canary Mission, a database that tracks pro-Palestinian students a sentiment it conflates with antisemitism.RelatedOther international students targeted by DHS have left the country. Ranjani Srinivasan, a Columbia student who was in the country on an F-1 visa, fled for Canada after ICE agents showed up to her dorm looking for her. In a statement published on March 22nd, Srinivasan wrote that Columbias administration didnt help her and that the university has been cooperating with ICE instead of protecting its students. Meanwhile, the Justice Department is reportedly investigating whether Columbia officials were harboring and concealing illegal aliens on campus from DHS. Momodou Taal, a Cornell PhD student who sued the Trump administration in March over two executive orders ostensibly related to national security and combating antisemitism on college campuses, also left the United States. In a statement posted on X on Monday, Taal said he hoped his lawsuit would offer reprieve for myself and other students who had been targeted for their activism. But Trump did not want me to have my day in court and sent ICE agents to my home and revoked my visa, Taal wrote.The administrations efforts to arrest student protesters has created a climate of repression and fear on college campuses, the AAUP lawsuit claims. Out of fear that they might be arrested and deported for lawful expression and association, some noncitizen students and faculty have stopped attending public protests or resigned from campus groups that engage in political advocacy.Rubio recently claimed he has revoked visas daily since taking office, rescinding around 300 since January, including of students involved in pro-Palestine protests. The State Department reportedly launched a Catch and Revoke effort in March, which involves AI-assisted reviews of thousands of peoples social media accounts for pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel sentiment. Some universities have chosen to comply with Trumps efforts to deport their students. Johns Hopkins instructed faculty and staff not to intervene in ICE arrests on campus. Vigilante surveillanceThe Trump administration isnt acting alone. Its efforts to eradicate DEI and crack down on pro-Palestine protesters have been aided by a coalition of right-wing groups that share the administrations goals. Several pro-Israel groups have taken credit for ICEs arrests of student activists. The former executive director of Betar, a far-right Zionist organization, claimed he had personally spoken with aides for Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Fetterman (D-PA) about Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia student who was arrested in his university-owned housing despite having a green card. Betar claims it has compiled a list of foreign students that have criticized Israel and shared them with the Trump administration. And in late March, Canary Mission, which has tracked pro-Palestine student activists for years, added an Uncovering Foreign Nationals page to its website. The project identifies international students that Canary Mission would like the Trump administration to deport and even claims that immigration law allows for the denaturalization and deportation of naturalized American citizens for serious offenses involving national security and terrorism.A post by Jewish Onliner, a self-proclaimed AI-powered online hub for insights and exposs, was reportedly the catalyst for Yale Law Schools suspension of international law scholar Helyeh Doutaghi. The Jewish Onliner post claimed Doutaghi was a member of a terrorist group. Vigilantes have also sought to expose allegedly discriminatory practices in university admissions. A group of hackers recently leaked the names, test scores, and other identifying information of more than 3 million NYU applicants dating back to 1989. The hackers accused NYU of continuing to engage in racial affirmative action after the Supreme Court outlawed the practice in 2023.Thus far, few universities have pushed back against the Trump administrations assaults on higher education. But there is one notable example. The Rutgers University Senate passed a resolution last week calling for a Mutual Defense Compact in defense of Academic Freedom, Institutional Integrity, and the Research Enterprise. The alliance would include the universities in the Big Ten Academic Alliance, a consortium of 18 institutions including the University of Minnesota, Ohio State University, and the University of California, Los Angeles. Weve all been trying to figure out how to solve this collective action problem, Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, a professor at the University of Minnesota, said in a Bluesky post. This seems like a very positive big step in the right direction.See More:

Your plan price isnt the whole story.Verizon is announcing a new price lock policy today, and the timing is probably no coincidence. The company is extending a three-year price guarantee on certain plans, both for new and existing customers. The announcement comes a day after President Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs, and Verizon says its hoping to give customers more predictability in the current economic environment. But the fine print leaves Verizon plenty of wiggle room.The three-year guarantee covers the base charge for your rate plan, but not fees and taxes and you have to be on one of Verizons newer myPlan subscriptions to qualify. That means Verizon can still raise your monthly bill in the form of increased fees, which is what wireless carriers tend to do anyway when they want to charge more. They can also cut your monthly autopay discount in half, or persuade you to move to a pricier plan with the offer of a new phone. There are plenty of levers for companies like Verizon to pull, even with a price lock.The price lock isnt the only new offer on the table, though. Verizon is also throwing in a free phone to new and existing customers. Youll just need to trade in an old Apple, Samsung, or Google phone in any condition and again, youll need to be on a myPlan subscription to take advantage. With plenty of economic uncertainty ahead, a trade-in deal might sound appealing. Just make sure you read the fine print so you know what youre getting into.

Nintendo revealed its Switch 2 in full yesterday, just hours before Trump took to the White House Rose Garden for his own launch: his latest, and largest, round of tariffs yet. Unfortunately for Nintendo, the tariffs hit the countries where it builds its consoles, with new rates of up to 49 percent that it may pass on to US buyers.The company is in this position in part because it had to adapt to Trumps trade policy before. Its manufacturing was heavily based in China until Trumps first term, when the combination of tariffs on China, the covid pandemic, and later, Russias attack on Ukraine, created supply chain upheaval. That prompted Nintendo to diversify, and according to the Financial Times, more than half of its US hardware is now manufactured in Vietnam and Cambodia.Nintendos problem is that those are among the countries hit hardest by Trumps new reciprocal tariffs, which apply in addition to existing rates. Yesterday China was hit by an extra 34 percent tariff on its exports to the US, Vietnam by an extra 46 percent, and Cambodia by an extra 49 percent.But will everyday Americans be the ones to pay the price of the new rates? Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research on the impact of tariffs on China during Trumps first term found that US consumers of imported goods have borne the brunt of the tariffs through higher prices, with manufacturers and exporters passing almost the entirety of the price increase to the end consumer.The Switch 2 launches worldwide in June. Image: NintendoWhen the Switch 2 launches on June 5th, it will cost $449.99. Applying some back-of-the-napkin math, if we treat the new tariffs as averaging out around 40 percent, that equates to an extra $180 leaving a possible final price of $630. Apply the same logic to games, with Mario Kart World already set to cost $79.99, and you get a final price over $110. Use the worst case rate Cambodias 49 percent tariff and the numbers jump to $670 and $120.The good news is that there are a few factors that might mitigate the effect. The first is that Nintendo might well have priced some of this in already. The company didnt know what Trumps tariffs would be exactly, but it knew something was coming, and may well have included that consideration into its choice to set the Switch 2 at $449.99 thats 50 percent more than the $299.99 original Switch.The second is that theres evidence Nintendo has planned for this in a different way, by stockpiling hardware in the US. The Financial Times reports that the company has already imported hundreds of thousands of consoles to the US to get ahead of the tariffs, with 383,000 units across five days in January alone. Thats a lot, but the first Switch sold 4.8 million units in the US during its first nine months on sale, so theres no guarantee that Nintendos early imports will be enough to get the company through its first holiday season without feeling the need for a price hike.Finally, theres an important caveat to all of this: we dont know whats actually going to happen with the tariffs. Theyre supposed to go into effect soon, with a global 10 percent tariff starting April 5th, and the elevated rates on April 9th, but Trumps administration is nothing if not unpredictable and transactional. This could be a bluff, an opening gambit to start negotiations, or an empty threat, and theres every chance that tariffs will be either delayed or altered before Nintendo ever pays a cent.See More:

The first batch of 27 Project Kuiper space internet satellites are scheduled to launch next week. Amazon has secured 80 such launch missions that will each deliver dozens of satellites into low earth orbit (LEO) to create a constellation capable of competing with Elon Musks Starlink juggernaut. Amazon says it expects to begin offering high-speed, low-latency internet service later this year.The KA-01 mission satellites short for Kuiper Atlas 1 will launch on an Atlas V rocket from United Launch Alliance. Its currently scheduled for 12pm ET on Wednesday, April 9th, assuming weather and technology cooperate at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Amazons other Project Kuiper launch partners include Arianespace, Blue Origin, and yes, SpaceX.As a global service offering, Amazons space internet service will eventually be available from virtually any location on the planet. Users will need terminal antennas to tap into the satellite constellation. In 2023, Amazon said that its smallest dish, a seven-inch square design weighing just one pound, would offer speeds up to 100Mbps, making it a Starlink Mini alternative. Amazon will further compete with SpaceX by offering larger dishes for residential and enterprise use offering speeds up to 1Gbps. Amazon expects to produce the terminals for less than $400 each, which may or may not be subsidized to attract users.Amazon will offer terminals for mobile, residential, and enterprise use. Image: AmazonAmazons first-generation satellite system will eventually consist of more than 3,200 LEO satellites, all flying at 17,000 mph (27,359 km/h), 392 miles (630km) above the Earth, and circling the planet in about 90 minutes. SpaceXs Starlink constellation currently exceeds 7,000 LEO satellites, the first of which launched in 2019.Notably, the satellites flying on KA-01 are coated in a dielectric mirror film unique to Kuiper that scatters reflected sunlight. That should help make them less visible to ground-based astronomers, according to Amazon.Although Amazon already launched a pair of Project Kuiper prototype satellites, its upcoming mission will include a number of firsts that introduce risk. Weve done extensive testing on the ground to prepare for this first mission, but there are some things you can only learn in flight, and this will be the first time weve flown our final satellite design and the first time weve deployed so many satellites at once, said Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Project Kuiper.No matter how the mission unfolds, this is just the start of our journey, and we have all the pieces in place to learn and adapt as we prepare to launch again and again over the coming years.See More:

Smartphone apps that track our driving behavior may be the key to safer road conditions. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety just published a study that found that using smartphone apps to monitor driver behavior, and then providing summaries of that behavior via text message or a data dashboard, leads to safer driving. Researchers borrowed techniques from usage-based insurance (UBI) programs, in which insurance companies use smartphone apps to measure dangerous driving behaviors, like hard braking, sudden acceleration, and speeding. Rather than rely on actuarial data, like driving records and vehicle type, UBI programs use real-time data from app trackers to determine premiums. These are typically opt-in programs, marketed as a way to lower premiums. But if your driving isnt as safe as you think, it can lead to higher monthly payments. Most people have an aversion to being tracked in real-time by their insurance company. But the AAA group was able to show that these methods can lead to safer driving even after the tracking apps are turned off. Participants were told their data was being reviewed as part of a research study, and not being used by insurance companies to lower or raise their rates. Most people have an aversion to being tracked in real-time by their insurance company.The research team corralled 1,400 participants and split them into four groups: a control group; a standard feedback group, which were given weekly feedback via text on all behaviors monitored; an assigned goal group, which were given weekly text feedback on one behavior; and a chosen goal group, which selected their own behavior on which to receive feedback. Among the three feedback groups, 13 percent of participants showed a reduction in speeding, 21 percent showed a reduction in hard braking, and 25 percent experienced less rapid acceleration. Participants also gave their own feedback on tactics for changing their driving behavior: 67.4 percent said they would be persuaded by the potential to earn extra money; 53.9 percent liked weekly feedback via text message; and 45.8 percent preferred a weekly dashboard that provided detailed driving information for the week. The research team also monitored the groups use of smartphones while driving, and were surprised to find that terrible behavior remained mostly unchanged. They theorized that providing baseline safety scores at the start of the study led drivers to believe they were being safer than they actually were and therefore, less in need for improvement. 13 percent of participants showed a reduction in speedingAfter the 12-week study, participants were monitored for an additional six weeks without any feedback to determine whether their improved driving would persist. The study found that generally they continued to drive more safely. Its encouraging to see that many individuals stuck with safer habits even after the study, said Jake Nelson, AAAs director of traffic safety advocacy, in a statement. This shows that positive reinforcement, not just punitive measures, can lead to safer driving habits that can save lives.In 2023, over 40,000 people died in vehicle crashes in the US. AAA says the research results point to the need for innovative approaches to educating people about safer driving behavior. Most people have an aversion to being tracked while they drive especially when you consider that most drivers have an overinflated sense of their own behavior. But UBI programs are growing. In 2020, 16 percent of auto insurance shoppers were offered UBI and 12 percent of them enrolled, according to USA Today. In 2024, 15 percent of buyers were offered UBI, but a almost a fifth of them signed up.We already use our phones to monitor a lot of our behavior, including our steps, our sleep, and our eating habits. Why not driving?See More:

NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)is shutting down after more than 20 years of hosting its annual challenge for writers. In a video and an email sent to community members, the nonprofit organization explains that it can no longer continue after years of financial struggles.Before officially becoming a nonprofit in 2006, NaNoWriMo started out with just 21 writers in 1999. More than 400,000 writers participated in NaNoWriMos programs that challenged people to finish writing a novel within the month of November in 2022.In 2023, many writers abandoned NaNoWriMo after it refused to take a stand against the use of AI tools in writing. Around the same time, one of its moderators faced child grooming accusations, leading to more criticism from the community.As shown in the video, NaNoWriMo interim executive director Kilby Blades details how participation and fundraising in the program have decreased in recent years. The NaNoWriMo site will remain online for as long as possible, though it will no longer formally host its writing challenges.We recognize that the closure of NaNoWriMo represents a huge loss to the writing community, and that grief over this outcome will be exacerbated by the challenges of the past sixteen months, NaNoWriMos email to the community says. This is not the ending that anybody wanted or planned. Andbelieve usif we could hit the delete button and rewrite this last chapter, we would. But we do have hope for the epilogue.Even with the closure of NaNoWriMo, writers can still challenge themselves to write a novel during November. Or, they can try out an alternative.

Last week, Apple announced that lossless audio and ultra low latency would be coming to the AirPods Max with USB-C. It was a pleasant surprise for owners of Apples over-ear headphones, which have fallen behind the AirPods Pro in recent years when it comes to offering new features. The company briefly hit a snag in releasing the firmware update necessary for the AirPods Max to unlock these newfound capabilities, but resolved the issue on Wednesday afternoon.Firmware version 7E99 was supposed to arrive early this week alongside iOS 18.4 and macOS Sequoia 15.4. But late in the day Tuesday, Apple added an unusual coming soon asterisk next to the AirPods Max on a support site that lists each devices latest firmware. Both MacRumors and 9to5Mac reported on the delay, though Apple never gave an explanation. A newer AirPods Max software update, 7E101, was rolled out on Wednesday.The company also introduced a new USB-C to 3.5mm cable for the AirPods Max last week, and its worth noting you can use that regardless of what firmware youre on; it works right out of the box for connecting the headphones to devices with a traditional headphone jack and its a pretty good cable as these things go. (Youd hope so for $39.)Apple really needs to make the process of updating AirPods more straightforward. For years, it has just sort of happened in the background at a random moment when your iPhone and AirPods are near each other with the headphones charging. Theres no way of manually triggering an update, which runs counter to the way every other earbud maker does it. Can we get a simple update now button right in AirPods settings in iOS 19, please?Update, April 2nd 6:30PM ET: The article has been updated to reflect that the latest AirPods Max firmware is now available.

The Switch 2 is here well, almost. Nintendo took the wraps off its new console during its latest Direct event, providing us with a closer look at the $449.99 console ahead of its release on June 5th.In many ways, the sequel is a generational leap from the original console / handheld hybrid that rocked the gaming world over eight years ago. Nintendo is building upon the successful foundation it laid with the original Switch by offering a larger screen, more internal storage, and magnetic Joy-Con controllers that can operate like mice. Its also introducing some new features, like GameChat, which lets players make voice calls, screen share, and video chat.RelatedBelow, were taking a closer look at the on-paper differences between the Switch 2 and its various predecessors specifically, the original Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch OLED. Weve even thrown in the handheld-only Nintendo Switch Lite, just for good measure.In this articlePricing and availabilityThe Switch 2 will retail for $449.99 at launch, or you can buy it bundled with Mario Kart World a Switch 2 exclusive for $499.99 through the fall 2025 or while supplies last. The standard Switch, meanwhile, still retails for $299.99 while the newer OLED edition costs $349.99. Both models can often be found on sale, as can the cheaper Nintendo Switch Lite, but the OLED variant rarely dips below $299.99.Fortunately, like the Switch 2, Nintendo also continues to occasionally sell discounted bundles containing the Switch OLED, a three-month subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, and select games. The latest, which launched less than a month ago for MAR10 Day, contains a digital copy of Super Mario Bros. Wonder for $349.99.The Nintendo Switch 2 features a larger, 7-inch screen with HDR support. Image: NintendoDisplay technologyWith a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen, the Switch 2s display is noticeably larger than that of prior Switch models. The original Switch panel comes in at 6.2 inches while the display on the Switch OLED stretches the screen to a respectable seven inches (both support 1,280 x 720 resolution in handheld mode or 1080p when docked). The Switch Lite is the smallest of the bunch with a 5.5-inch 720p display and no docking option.Performance and battery lifeThe Switch 2s predecessors use a custom version of Nvidias Tegra X1 chipset, which uses an octacore Arm CPU and a Maxwell-based Nvidia GPU thats in league with the 900-series graphics cards that ruled the era. The power handily eclipsed smartphones of the time, but lagged well behind the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One that launched years prior. Still, that hasnt stopped developers from producing critically acclaimed games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and excellent ports of several popular titles within the last several years.Nintendo has yet to divulge many technical details about the Switch 2s new Nvidia chipset, only stating that it offers significantly improved CPU and GPU performance compared to the original Switch. We also know that the processor will allow for 4K gameplay at up to 60 frames per second in docked mode or 1080p at up to 120fps (with a variable refresh rate) in handheld mode. As for battery life, you can eke out between 4.5 and nine hours on the Switch and Switch OLED. Nintendo says the Switch 2 can last between 2.5 and 6.5 hours, depending on usage, and takes approximately three hours to charge, just like previous models. The Joy-Con 2 controllers, which magnetically attach to the Switch 2, are a welcome spin on the originals. Image: The Verge / NintendoJoy-Cons and other controllersThe Switch 2 will feature longer, magnetic Joy-Con slots for a more secure connection. Instead of sliding the controllers into a side-mounted rail, you instead push them into a recessed slot. In addition, each Joy-Con 2 will feature more durable analog sticks and function like a mouse in certain scenarios, allowing you to control functionality in select games by simply sliding them across a flat surface.The Joy-Cons that came with the original Switch were available in multiple colors. The Switch 2 controllers, meanwhile, come in a black colorway with red and blue accents surrounding the analog sticks. Matching colors drape the entirety of the attachment point where the shoulder buttons are located, which is visible when using a Joy-Con as a single controller. The inside of the attachment area also matches the Joy-Cons respective colors, and the right Joy-Con now features a C button for accessing various GameChat features.RelatedIf you find Joy-Cons too cramped, rest assured that Nintendo also introduced a new Pro Controller during its recent Direct event. Along with customizable rear buttons and a 3.5mm audio jack, it sports the aforementioned C button found on the Joy-Con 2, which launches a chat menu when pressed. Like Nintendos original pro-grade model, it also features bigger buttons and triggers than the Joy-Cons, but will cost $79.99 (up from $69.99).The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller comes with a new C button for accessing various GameChat features. Image: NintendoStorage, dock, and moreIn terms of storage, the Switch 2 offers 256GB of internal space, which is eight times the storage capacity of the original Switch and four times that of the Switch OLED. You can add up to 2TB of additional storage using microSD Express cards, too, which offer faster read and write speeds than your standard microSD card.Other notable hardware tweaks include an additional USB-C port on the top of the console and a built-in microphone with noise filtering, so you can chat with friends using Nintendos new Discord-like GameChat feature. GameChat also lets you screen share and make video calls via the new Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. Nintendo has added a redesigned, U-shaped adjustable kickstand to the Switch 2 as well, which spans the width of the display.As for the Nintendo Switch 2 dock, it comes with a built-in ethernet port just like the Switch OLED dock, whereas the original dock requires an optional adapter. The new dock also features a pair of USB-C ports, as opposed to just one, while retaining an HDMI port. The Nintendo Switch 2 console, Joy-Cons, and dock. Image: NintendoGames and softwareThe original Switch had about a dozen titles available at launch, with dozens more released by the end of 2017. As of writing, Nintendo has announced a number of Switch 2 launch titles, including first-party games like Mario Kart World and third-party titles such as Split Fiction and Cyberpunk 2077. Nintendo also announced that select GameCube games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online and that several enhanced Switch 2 Edition games will be available at launch, most notably The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.You will have plenty more to play on the Switch 2, however, as its backward compatible with most Switch 1 games. That said, Nintendo says some older titles may have some in-game compatibility issues, including Doom: Eternal, Rocket League, NBA 2K25, and Warframe. You also wont be able to make use of Nintendos creative VR kit (sorry, Labo fans).By the numbersThe standard Switch and Switch OLED are nearly identical on paper, but the Switch 2 has many notable upgrades. You can see how all three compare, along with the Switch Lite, in the chart below.SpecificationNintendo Switch 2Nintendo SwitchNintendo Switch OLEDNintendo Switch LiteProcessorCustom Nvidia chipset (details TBD)Nvidia Tegra X1 custom chipsetNvidia Tegra X1 custom chipsetNvidia Tegra X1 custom chipsetScreen type7.9-inch LCD6.2-inch LCD7-inch OLED5.5-inch LCDResolution (handheld)1,920 x 10801,280 x 7201,280 x 7201,280 x 720Resolution (docked)3,840 x 2,1601,920 x 1,0801,920 x 1,080N/AHDR10 support?YesNoNoNoInternal storage256GB32GB64GB32GBExpandable storagemicroSD Express (up to 2TB)microSD (up to 2TB)microSD (up to 2TB)microSD (up to 2TB)SensorsAccelerometer / gyroscope, mouse / brightness (in console)Accelerometer / gyroscopeAccelerometer / gyroscopeAccelerometer / gyroscopePorts (handheld)2x USB-C / 3.5mmUSB-C / 3.5mmUSB-C / 3.5mmUSB-C / 3.5mmPorts (dock)2x USB-C / HDMI / ethernet3x USB 2.0 / USB-C (power adapter) / HDMI2x USB 2.0 / USB-C (power adapter) / HDMI / ethernetN/AWireless connectivityWi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth / NFCWi-Fi 5 / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFCWi-Fi 5 / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFCWi-Fi 5 / Bluetooth 4.1 / NFCWired connectivityEthernet (docked mode)Ethernet via optional adapter (docked mode)Ethernet (docked mode)N/ABuilt-in mic?YesNoNoNoSpeakersStereo speakersStereo speakersStereo speakersStereo speakersBattery capacity5,220mAh lithium-ion4,310mAh lithium-ion4,310mAh lithium-ion3,570mAh lithium-ionBattery life (est.)2 to 6.5 hours4.5 to 9 hours4.5 to 9 hours3 to 7 hoursCharging timeAbout 3 hoursAbout 3 hoursAbout 3 hoursAbout 3 hoursGame card slotSwitch 2 and Switch cartridgesSwitch cartridgesSwitch cartridgesSwitch cartridgesWeight (grams)399.16g (or 535.24g with Joy-Con 2 controllers attached)299.3g (or 399g with Joy-Con controllers attached)322g (or 422g with Joy-Con controllers attached)275gDimensions4.5 x 10.7 x .55 inches4 x 9.5 x .55 inches4 x 9.4 x .55 inches3.6 x 8.2 x .55 inchesStarting price$449.99$299.99$349.99$199.99AvailableJune 5th, 2025NowNowNowSee More:

Before this morning, I knew I was going to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 but I didnt know when. After watching Nintendos Switch 2 Direct today, in which a purple block traced the GameCubes stylized G logo, followed by high-res footage from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and F-Zero GX and an announcement that theyll be playable at launch, I realized Ill be doing my damndest to get it on day one. It was the cherry on top of a stellar presentation that made the consoles $449.99 price tag way easier to swallow.GameCube games are coming to the Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) subscriptions Classic Game Library feature, which the company is now shortening to Nintendo Classics. It lets you play games from the NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis. Like the Game Boy and Nintendo 64 game collections, youll need the NSO Expansion Pack for GameCube games. The existing catalog of playable Classic Game Library games is far from complete, but together (and combined with DLC for contemporary Switch games), they make the Expansion Pack well worth it.The subscription gets even more enticing on the Switch 2, starting before the console even comes out Nintendo is prioritizing long-time subscribers (with certain caveats) when it sends out Switch 2 preorder invites. The Expansion Pack will also let you play the Switch 2 editions of Zelda games Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom (provided you own their respective Switch 1 versions). But the GameCube games are what Im most excited about. Id love for the Wii Us Wind Waker HD to get a Switch re-release, but the GameCube version is still one of the most beautiful games Ive ever played and looks great in Nintendos trailer for it. So does F-Zero GX, a game with such well-executed style and tight control that I would pit it against any futuristic racer today. The Switch 2 is also launching with Soul Calibur II, a game that featured adult Link as a playable character in his post-Ocarina of Time fighting-people-for-sport era.The company flashed a few other re-releases coming down the line, like Super Mario Strikers and Chibi-Robo!, in the latter of which you play a tiny, toothbrush-armed robot tasked with cleaning up a very messy house. Its way more fun than it sounds, and gives me hope for what Nintendo could announce. There are some excellent, but more obscure gems that never really leapt beyond the GameCube, like the creepy, Lovecraft-inspired Eternal Darkness: Sanitys Requiem and Cubivore, in which you play a small, wild cube trying to bring color back to the world by eating other boxy creatures, winning the chance to mate, die, and be reborn over and over again until youve become the fittest survivor of them all. And all of these will be playable with a forthcoming wireless recreation of the GameCube controller, as they should be. The GameCube wasnt an abject failure, but it sold nowhere near as well as the Wii or the Switch. Theres no guarantee that the Switch 2 will keep up the sales pace set by its predecessor, but even if it manages half that consoles sales, it could give some games a well-deserved second look. See More:

While sharing screenshots and videos from the original Nintendo Switch has always been an excessively complicated process, its going to be much easier for the Switch 2.During todays Direct presentation, Nintendo spent a lot of time talking about the Switch 2s new built-in GameChat functionality that will give players a way to share their screens during group video calls. But the company also announced that its rolling out an update for the Switch family of systems companion smartphone app. Now simply called the Nintendo Switch app, the application will continue to support Nintendos old voice chat feature for specific titles like Splatoon 3 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the original Switch. But for Switch 2 owners, the Nintendo Switch app will serve as the easiest way for you to move screenshots and videos from the console onto your phone, computer, or internet.To move screenshots previously, you had to pop a Switchs SD card out from behind its kickstand and slot it into another device. You could also share images and videos directly to Facebook and, until last year, X / Twitter by linking your Switch to accounts on either of those platforms. It was also possible to move media straight from your Switch to your smartphone by going into the Switchs Album section, hitting share, and then taking a picture of the QR code generated by the console. That last option was as clever as it was cumbersome, but it wont be an issue for the Switch 2. According to Nintendo, Switch 2 users will be able to access the consoles 100 most recent screenshots and videos directly from the smartphone app. Obviously, a Nintendo Account will be required to make this work, but the company noted that you will not need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to take advantage of the smartphone apps media transfer feature.The media transfer details alone are already a significant upgrade for the application, which never felt all that well-integrated into many of Nintendos games. But, as if to emphasize that it really does see the application as an important part of the Switchs future, Nintendo also announced the forthcoming release of Zelda Notes, a special set of features designed specifically for the Switch 2 editions of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears for the Kingdom. Located within the smartphone app, Zelda Notes is meant to serve as a useful tool to help guide you through the Zelda games with features like spoken directions to specific locations youve marked on a map. You can use Zelda Notes to hear Princess Zelda recall memories of places shes been as you guide Link to them. The application will also give players a way to share blueprints for their unique Autobuild creations.Zelda Notes feels like a very smart way to get people excited about coming back to two older games many people have already spent quite a bit of time playing. Its kind of wild to think of Nintendos smartphone app being one of its more promising Switch reveals, but these kinds of surprises are how you keep things interesting.See More:

Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, is laying off about 16 percent of its workers. In a memo posted to the companys website, CEO Matt Mullenweg says hes making the change to protect Automattics long-term future.Before the layoffs, Automattics website listed the company as having 1,777 employees. The company has since decreased its employee count to 1,495, meaning around 280 staff members were affected by the job cuts.Last year, the third-party hosting company WP Engine filed a lawsuit against Automattic and Mullenweg after the company blocked WP Engine from WordPress.orgs server and took over its Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin. Mullenweg has stated that the legal battle could go on for years and could potentially bankrupt me or force the closure of WordPress.org.In October, Mullenweg offered his employees $30,000 or six months of salary to leave if they didnt agree with his decision to ignite a public dispute with WP Engine. Automattic shed around 8.4 percent of its workforce after the first round of buyouts.We have reached an important crossroads, Mullenweg writes in his memo. While our revenue continues to grow, Automattic operates in a highly competitive market, and technology is evolving at unprecedented levels. To support our customers and products, we must improve our productivity, profitability, and capacity to invest.

Nintendo didnt spend much time on the Switch 2s UI during todays big Direct presentation, but the company has just given us a pretty good look at the new consoles homescreen.At the bottom of Nintendos webpage detailing how certain games are getting updated Switch 2 Editions, there is a small image of the Switch 2s homescreen highlighting where the eShop icon will be located. Aside from a few minute aesthetic changes, the homescreen looks more or less like the original Switchs. Presumably, youll also be able to select a darker UI option the way you can on Nintendos last console. Theres no word on whether the Switch 2s UI will gain customization features like what weve seen on the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X / Series S. But Nintendo went into great detail about the consoles specs, its new features, and how you will be able to preorder the system ahead of its June release.Homescreen customization isnt exactly what sells people on consoles, but something as simple as being able to set your own wallpaper can go a long way in terms of making you want to spend time looking at a screen. That feels like the sort of thing Nintendo might …Read the full story at The Verge.

In its April 2nd Direct event, Nintendo revealed a lot of the Switch 2 details weve been waiting for, including the consoles price ($449.99 in the US), its June 5th release date, and a slew of new games coming to it, like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. The video and details the company published after the event also helped create a more complete picture of what we should expect from the second-generation Joy-Cons that come with the system.The new Joy-Cons look a lot like the old Joy-Cons but are about a half-inch longer and black, with color accents on the connection rails and under the analog sticks blue on the left and a pinkish red on the right. Nintendo says theyll be more comfortable, too. They have the same general button layout as the originals, but with a new C button on the right Joy-Con 2 thats used for a Discord-like GameChat feature that lets you talk to friends using a microphone embedded in the top of the Switch 2 itself, and includes screen-sharing functionality and the ability to start streaming with the Switch 2 camera accessory Nintendo is selling separately.As Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto describes in a new Ask the Developer interview published today, the Switch 2s Joy-Cons have larger and more durable analog sticks with smoother movement. On its site, the company says that the Joy-Con 2s are quieter, too. Smoother and quieter makes sense if Nintendo is using Hall Effect sensors this time around, as previously rumored. Kawamoto also points out that the L and R buttons curve further down the side for easy reach. The Joy-Con 2s connect to the Switch 2 magnetically, something Kawamoto says the company originally wanted to do for the first Switch. The Joy-Cons have larger SL and SR buttons that are made of metal, while the magnets themselves are embedded in the console. Disconnecting them involves pressing a release button on the back, and in its Direct today, Nintendo claims they wont easily detach on their own, but well see about that when the system launches this summer. You cant even force them to detach with ghost hands. GIF: NintendoAnother big new feature of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons is that they can work like a mouse with select games. When theyre detached, you hold them, connection-rail-down, on a surface like a coffee table. Kawamoto said the feature will be used in games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, for aiming (gyro control is still an option too, according to a footnote on the page), and the thoroughly-named Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Plus Jamboree TV.Comparing it to the Wii Remotes cursor, Switch 2 director Takuhiro Dohta, who is also featured in the interview, says the company sees Joy-Con 2 mouse functionality as a way to let the Switch 2s touchscreen capabilities transition to playing in docked mode. The Joy-Cons come with wrist straps, which Nintendo says gives them a wider base for smoother gliding and better stability.RelatedKawamoto said the new Joy-Cons rumble feature, now called HD Rumble 2, is updated to allow for a wider variety of vibrations. Theyll also be stronger, he said, and have quicker response times. According to Nintendos official specs, the controllers will last about 20 hours between charges and recharge in about 3.5 hours, same as the original Joy-Cons. As for accessories, apart from the included wrist straps, Nintendo has also announced a $19.99 set of two wheels you can attach Joy-Con 2s to for games like Mario Kart World. The company will sell a $34.99 charging grip, and the console comes with a standard non-charging grip, as well. Nintendo did away with the IR sensor found on the right-hand first-generation Joy-Con, which I will miss for no reason other than that I love when gadgets have IR sensors. But in every other way, the updated Joy-Cons sound like an improvement over their predecessors, with intriguing new features and Nintendos promise of better comfort and improved rumble. Now we just have to wait to see if Nintendo managed to solve the first Joy-Cons stick drift problem.See More:

Sony has a replacement for its current flagship QD-OLED TV, the extremely well-received A95L. Thats the model that was crowned King of TV at last years Value Electronics TV Shootout, which Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel served on the judging panel for.The new model is called the Bravia 8 II. Sony claims that it has 125 percent the peak brightness of the A95L and 150 percent of last years Bravia 8, which will remain on sale as an OLED-but-not-QD option. It has a similar design to the A95L, and Sony even says itll be cheaper though pricing information wont be shared until later in spring. The guiding mission of the Bravia lineup, according to Sony, is to deliver the most authentic cinema experience possible in the living room. Yosuke Nakano, from the companys product planning department, claims the Bravia 8 II has the most faithful reproduction of the professional monitor look of any TV in the industry.The Bravia 8 II. Image: SonyTo that end, at a recent demonstration session at its Tokyo headquarters, Sony put the Bravia 8 II up against the A95L, Samsungs S95D, and LGs G4, along with even more formidable competition: Sonys own BVM-HX3110 reference monitor, which youd normally find on movie sets and studios for the most accurate HDR color grading possible. If you havent seen one of these in person before, I kind of recommend not seeking one out, because it will ruin all other screens for you. It costs nearly $40,000 and has 4,000 nits peak brightness. It looks absolutely out of control, and I would dearly love to have one on my desk.Thats what Sony is shooting for with the Bravia 8 II. Does it get there? Well, no. The BVM-HX3110s higher brightness gives HDR footage an almost surreal look thanks to its finer control over contrast. But in each TVs filmmaker mode, which is supposed to deliver the most accurate color possible, Sony got much closer than Samsung or LG. As the owner of a couple of LG OLEDs myself, I was actually a little surprised at how washed out and green-tinted the G4 tended to look in comparison. Now, Sony wont have chosen demo footage that might trip up its own displays, and its also at an obvious advantage when it comes to emulating the color reproduction of the BVM-HX3110. But Sony really is the market leader for reference monitors by some distance, so that still feels like a fair and relevant target. I would not be shocked if the Bravia 8 II turns out to be another winner by King of TV metrics.The Bravia 5. Photo: Sam Byford for The VergeSony is also updating several other products in its home theater range. The Bravia 5 rounds out Sonys lineup by bringing Mini LED backlighting to the midrange its replacing the X90L, which uses full-array local dimming rather than Mini LED, and consequently Sony says the Bravia 5 has up to six times more dimming zones. This line comes in sizes from 55 to 98 inches, the upper end of which is larger than any OLED Sony sells. Sony showed off the Bravia 5 against the X90L as well as Samsungs QN85D QLED set. Also part of this demonstration was the BVM-HX310 reference monitor, which is similar to the BVM-HX3110 but only reaches 1,000 nits peak brightness. The Bravia 5s control over backlighting and blooming was clearly better than its predecessor, and it looked to be a more robust solution than Samsungs as well. Sony also made a point of demonstrating its AI noise reduction feature, which is the kind of thing Id normally run away from but have to admit was quite impressive it did a good job of cleaning up old footage from Friends and Home Alone in real time. Unsurprisingly, the Bravia 5 couldnt come close to the BVM-HX310, since Mini LED still suffers in comparison to OLED when it comes to blooming and viewing angles. It also wont match the Bravia 7, which is staying in the lineup and offers 100 percent the brightness and 25 percent more dimming zones. But at least in this demonstration, the Bravia 5 made the most convincing attempt to reproduce colors and contrast as well as you could reasonably expect from a mid-range Mini LED TV.The Bravia 2 II. Photo: Sam Byford for The VergeSony is also introducing a new entry-level TV for the US, somewhat confusingly called the Bravia 2 II; the original Bravia 2 wasnt actually sold in the US before. This is a fairly standard LED TV that comes in sizes from 43 to 77 inches, but youll get similar image processing and software integration to the rest of Sonys Bravia range.If youre more of a projector person, Sony is adding the new Bravia Projector 7 to its range, joining the higher-end 8 and 9 models. The Projector 7 is pretty close to them spec-wise, reaching 2,200 nits in brightness and supporting 4K 120Hz. One difference is that the 7 has a standard lens, not the advanced crisp-focused optics seen in the 8 and 9. The Bravia Projector 7 is replacing the well-reviewed VPL-XW5000ES, which is a $6,000 projector, so even though this is an entry-level product its an entry to a very expensive category. Still, it did look impressive in a demo against its closest competition from JVC, so Id expect this to be a strong option for people considering a home theater setup. Finally, Sony is introducing some new audio options to integrate with its Bravia TVs. The Bravia Theater Bar 6 is a 3.1.2 soundbar with upward-firing speakers, the Bravia Theater System 6 is a 5.1 setup-in-a-box with a less capable soundbar, and the Bravia Theater Rear 8 is a pair of wireless rear speakers. All of these products can be paired to Bravia TVs and controlled with the Bravia Connect mobile app.As mentioned, Sony doesnt yet have pricing details for any of its new Bravia products thatll come sometime this spring.See More:

After years of rumors, Nintendo has finally announced a release date for the Nintendo Switch 2. The long-awaited follow-up to the Switch will be available on June 5th for $449.99. Although the console wont ship until later this year, the Switch 2 will be available for preorder in the US from select retailers starting on April 9th, as both a standalone console or bundled with Mario Kart World for $499.99.As predicted, the Switch 2 features a larger 7.9-inch LCD display, with support for 108op resolution and HDR, 256GB of built-in storage, and up to 6.5 hours of battery life. The Joy-Cons are bigger, too, and now magnetically attach to the console instead of relying on a pair of sliding rails to snap into place. Each also offers mouse-like functionality with select games, and the right Joy-Con sports a C button, which can be used for in-game chat features, screensharing, and other actions.RelatedAs for games, the Switch 2 will launch with Mario Kart World, along with third-party games like Split Fiction and Cyberpunk 2077. The console will also be backward-compatible with original Switch titles and support enhanced versions of select Switch 1 titles, including Below, weve rounded up all the preorder information you need if you want to be one of the first to get your hands on it. Well be updating this post regularly as more information becomes available, so bookmark this page if youre keen on learning more ahead of launch.How to preorder via NintendoThe only confirmed retailer as of now is the My Nintendo Store, which comes with a string of eligibility requirements one of which requires you to register your interest in advance of April 9th. To do so, youll need to sign in with your Nintendo Account and choose which console configuration you prefer (and which accessories). Afterward, youll receive an invitation email when its your time to make a purchase, assuming youve satisfied several other conditions.Nintendo Switch 2$450$450The Nintendo Switch 2 offers a 7.9-inch display with 1080p resolution and HDR support. It also features improved processing power and larger Joy-Con controllers, which magnetically attach to the sides of the console.$450 at Nintendo$500 at Nintendo (Mario Kart World bundle)As of right now, the reservation process is limited to Nintendo Account holders in the US and Canada who are at least 18 years old. Invitations will be valid for 72 hours and be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis, according to Nintendo; youll also need to have purchased a Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months and have logged 50 hours of gameplay on the original Switch as of April 2nd, 2025, to be eligible. Whats more, you must have opted in to share gameplay data with Nintendo (you can see if youve done so in the privacy section when logged into your Nintendo account).Once invitations have been sent to Nintendo Account holders who have met these criteria, Nintendo says it will send invitations to remaining eligible registrants on a first-come, first-served basis. Unsurprisingly, the invitations will be non-transferable and will be sent to the email address you used while registering your interest with Nintendo. Console and accessory purchases will be limited to one per eligible Nintendo Account, at least during the initial invitation period, with the first batch of invitations going out on May 8th, 2025.Additional invitations will follow periodically, though Nintendo hasnt specified details beyond that.How to preorder elsewhereAs mentioned above, Nintendo is the only retailer thus far that has provided any insight into how preorders will work when they open on April 9th. That said, you can already sign up at Best Buy and GameStop to receive notifications about the upcoming console and games. Presumingly, this will also include preorder details, once available.Like with previous launches, we anticipate that Amazon, Target, and Walmart will all have limited stock of the console as well, though, despite Nintendo taking risks to ensure it can meet demands, reports indicate US retailers might not have enough Switch 2 consoles to meet preorder demands. With any luck, Nintendos stringent reservation requirements will thwart any would-be scalpers.See More:

It wouldnt be a new Nintendo console without a big Zelda release, and the franchises next entry is sending the princess to war.During todays Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo announced the forthcoming arrival of Age of Imprisonment, a new installment of Koei Tecmos Zelda-inspired Hyrule Warriors series. Like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Age of Imprisonment is another prequel whose story connects directly with the larger tale unfolding in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. But this time around, the game looks even farther back into the past to focus on the battle Princess Zelda fought alongside King Rauru against Ganondorf.A brief trailer for the game highlighted how Age of Imprisonment will allow you to play as Zelda and Rauru as you fight against hordes of Hylian monsters. Nintendo didnt reveal much about the new games plot, but announced that its set for release this winter.Experience the untold story of the Imprisoning War when Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment releases exclusively on #NintendoSwitch2 this winter! #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/3ut5JqoVUe Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025The Zelda franchise played a key role in the original Switchs success. Breath of the Wild, which was also one of the last Wii U titles, quickly became one of the handheld consoles bestselling games and a critical darling that kicked off a new era of open-world gaming. The Switch gave Nintendo a chance to double down on Zelda spinoffs like the Hyrule Warriors series and Cadence of Hyrule.The company kept its Zelda momentum going with updated versions of classics like Links Awakening and Skyward Sword. And even though the first Switch was nearing the end of its life cycle, Nintendo pushed the series even further into the future with Tears of the Kingdom and Echoes of Wisdom. The way Zelda flourished on the Switch is undoubtedly part of why the franchise is being adapted into a live-action movie and seemingly getting the theme park treatment. And now we know a bit more about how the princesss legend will continue with the Switch 2.

We knew a Mario Kart game was coming to the Switch 2, and now Nintendo has finally shared some real details in its latest Nintendo Direct. Its called Mario Kart World, and it will be a day-one Switch 2 exclusive when the console launches on June 5th. Mario Kart World features an open-world mode, in-game atmospheric effects that depend on the time of day and weather conditions, and up to 24 drivers per race. After the Direct, Nintendo announced a $499.99 launch day Switch 2 bundle that includes a download code for Mario Kart World. The company plans to share more about the game in a Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 17th at 6AM PT / 9AM ET.Mario Kart Worlds open-world mode is called Free Roam, and itll sound familiar to Forza Horizon 5 players, letting users drive on or off-road around the world, take scenic drives with friends, and take photos together at different locations. Theres also a Knock-out Tour mode that lets you do a cross-country Cannonball Run-style checkpoint race.Drive virtually everywhere in Mario Kart World, a brand-new Mario Kart game releasing exclusively on #NintendoSwitch2 as a launch title! #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/zvN4C6l3ft Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025Nintendo showed off some new gameplay mechanics, like abilities to grind on rails and power lines or wall jump, as well as new vehicles like boats and snowmobiles. Other shots showed what looked like on-the-fly character customization. Characters that appeared in the trailer included standards like Mario and Wario, as well as new ones to the mainline series like the cow from Moo Moo Meadows in Mario Kart 64.Mario Kart was the one new game teased during the initial Switch 2 reveal event in January. And it makes a lot of sense as a debut title for the platform, as the kart racing series has arguably become Nintendos most popular franchise. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the bestselling Switch game to date, and its predecessor holds the same title for the Wii U. Meanwhile, Mario Kart 7 was the top-selling 3DS game, Mario Kart Wii was second only to Wii Sports on that platform, and Mario Kart DS sat just behind Nintendogs to claim third place on the handheld.Todays reveal was part of a Nintendo Direct event aimed at sharing more hard details about both the Switch 2 and its initial lineup of games.Developing

Apr 1Ash ParrishHow to watch the Switch 2 DirectIts finally time for the biggest video game event of the last few years. In January, Nintendo officially unveiled the successor to the Switch, helpfully called the Switch 2. The short video showed off some of the consoles features, like magnetized Joy-Cons, and provided a brief glimpse at a new Mario Kart game. But it didnt give us any specifics.From earlier press releases, we know that the Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with the Switch 1 cartridges and that you can easily transfer digital games between your Switch 1 and Switch 2 systems. We know it will be larger, feature redesigned Joy-Con controllers, and have some kind of new Mario Kart. At the Switch 2 Direct, well hopefully get answers to all our burning questions.Read Article >Feb 5Ash ParrishNintendo shares more info on its Switch 2 directImage: The Verge, NintendoAs we settle in for the long, excruciating wait for more tangible news on the Switch 2, Nintendo has thrown us a little extra nugget of information. While we knew the company was planning to share more about the Switch 2 on April 2nd, now we have a time: 9 AM ET / 6 AM PT / 10 PM JST. If you were taking bets on this time, you would have won handily as this is generally the usual time Nintendo holds its big events. The announcement on Nintendos website didnt contain any extra detail about the duration of the event or the exact breakdown of topics thatll be covered, other than to say it will share a closer look at the new device.Last month, the company finally confirmed the existence of its new console dubbed, helpfully, the Switch 2. The reveal itself was sparse on detail, only confirming that the console would be larger than its predecessor and that its Joy-Con controllers appear to attach via some kind of magnetic action. Because of the reveals relative lack of concrete information, were left with so many questions about the new console. Nevertheless, there was still lots of speculation about what the Switch 2 could possibly do. Theories were put forth that the new Joy-Cons contained some kind of mouse functionality and that the extra button on the right Joy-Con was related to some kind of party chat feature. Hopefully, Nintendo will let us know those if theories were correct during the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct on Wednesday, April 2nd bright and early at 9 AM.Read Article >Jan 16Ash ParrishNintendo announces Switch 2 Direct for AprilImage: The VergeNow that Nintendos reveal of the Switch 2 has put to rest years of anticipation and rumormongering, its time to hear more information about the console and, importantly, all the games. The company has announced it will hold a Switch 2 Direct scheduled for April 2nd.The Switch 2 reveal trailer showed footage that looks to be a new Mario Kart game, which is a good indication itll be a launch title. Theres speculation that the forthcoming Metroid Prime 4 might straddle both consoles the way Breath of the Wild launched on both the Wii U and the Switch back in 2017. The Switch 2 Direct might also reveal the follow-up to Super Mario Odyssey. Who knows?Read Article >

Samsung has launched the Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE Plus, the latest in its midrange Android tablet line, but they cost $50 more than their predecessors. For the first time neither tablet has a direct equivalent in the standard Tab S10 series. The FE is the smallest of the companys current tablet offerings, while the FE Plus comes in a new screen size that sits in-between the S10 Plus and the S10 Ultra, meaning all four of Samsungs Tab S10 tablets now come in different sizes. The S10 FE packs a 10.9-inch display, which has been Samsungs standard tablet screen size for some time but since the company never released a regular Tab S10, only Plus and Ultra models, its the first in that size for this series. The FE Plus offers a new 13.1-inch screen, larger than the 12.4-inch S10 Plus but smaller than the 14.6-inch Ultra.Both tablets still use LCD panels, rather than OLED, and are limited to 90Hz refresh rates. Despite the larger size the Plus model doesnt feature a bigger battery than its predecessor, though both are slightly slimmer than before instead. Theyre also both limited to a single rear camera the Plus losing its ultrawide but this has been upgraded to a new 13-megapixel sensor. Theyll ship running Android 15, along with Samsungs usual suite of AI features.Both tablets are powered by the same Samsung Exynos 1580 chipset, an upgrade to the 1380 found in the Tab S9 FE models, and are offered with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. IP68 dust and water-resistance returns, as does support for the S Pen stylus which is included in the box, but is a simplified version without support for Bluetooth features. That was true of last years FE tablets too, so likely would have happened regardless of the controversial decision to strip Bluetooth from the Galaxy S25 Ultras S Pen earlier this year.The Tab S10 FE and S10 FE Plus will both be available in the US from April 10th in gray, silver, or blue, though reservations are open now. The regular model starts at $499.99, with the Plus at $649.99 both $50 increases on the previous generation. Theres also a 5G version of the smaller Tab S10 FE for $100 extra, though this only comes in gray.See More:

Roblox is introducing new parental controls that give parents more tools to control the people their children talk to and the experiences they can access, according to a blog post from chief safety officer Matt Kaufman.The updates build on changes introduced last year, which included a special type of account parents and caregivers can use to remotely manage some aspects of how a child uses the platform, that followed reports highlighting times when Roblox failed to protect children.As part of the new updates, parents who have linked their account with a childs will be able to block and report specific people on that childs friends list. Kaufman says in the post that kids under 13 cant unblock users that have been blocked by their parents, but they will be able to request if those friends can be unblocked.Parents will also now be able to block their children from being able to access specific experiences and games. Previously, they could only block their kids from accessing experiences at a certain content maturity level. As with blocked friends, children under 13 wont be able to unblock experiences until they are 13 or older, though they can request to access them.In addition, Kaufman says the company will now let parents see the 20 experiences their children have spent the most time in over the last week.