While some OG Nintendo Switch games will be receiving paid Switch 2 upgrades, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, several others will receive performance upgrades for free. Though a game like New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe already looked and played pretty great on the original Switch, you know Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are going to need all the help they can get. Through a system update, “you can download free updates for selected games that may improve graphics or add support for features such as GameShare. The contents of these free updates will differ depending on the game,” Nintendo said. Most of the games currently listed will receive improvements to optimize their display for the Nintendo Switch 2’s screen and higher resolution TVs. Some, like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, will get boosts to their frame rates, and others, like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom, will receive HDR support. Perhaps most notable are the GameShare and GameChat additions for certain games. For example, Super Mario Odyssey is receiving an update so that “two people can play together, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Cappy. Share locally or share online via GameChat.” GameChat is one of the Switch 2’s biggest new features as it’ll integrate Discord-like video and audio chat so you can hang with your buds while playing a game together. However, after the “Welcome Offer” expires on March 31, 2026, GameChat will require a Nintendo Switch Online membership to use it. Head to Nintendo’s official site to read about all the performance upgrades ahead of the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch on June 5. That’s right, folks — it’s almost here.

In brief: If you're looking to grab some discounted games and even a free one that usually costs $50, head over to the Epic Games Store now. Its Mega Sale continues until June 12, during which time you can grab up to 75% off titles, get weekly free games, enjoy giveaways, and receive a 20% boost to Epic Rewards. The first two titles being given away during the first week of Epic's Mega Sale are Dead Island 2 and Happy Game. The former is the one you're more likely to have heard of, being the sequel to the popular 2011 first-person zombie-killer, more famous for its amazing reverse-time trailer. Dead Island 2 had a notably turbulent development cycle. When it was first unveiled at Gamescom 2014, it was the work of Spec Ops: The Line creator Yager. But "mutual differences" saw Dead Island 2 move to Sumo Digital in 2015. That relationship ended after four years when the game changed developers once again, this time to British company Dambuster Studios, which is owned by Deep Silver. Dead Island 2 has a Mostly Positive overall Steam rating, while the Recent Reviews are even better at Very Positive. Critic reviews are mostly in the good-if-not-great category, earning a Metascore of 75 on Metacritic. All of which makes it the perfect game to try when you don't have to pay for it. Meanwhile, point-and-click adventure Happy Game is also free. The budget title has positive reviews on Steam, and its Metacritic score is 81. Two new free games will unlock in six days. // Related Stories There are also plenty of discounted games worth your time in the sale. The Last of Us Part 1 and Spider-Man Remastered are both half price at $30. Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is $40; Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Hogwarts Legacy are $15; and Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition is down to $27.99. A lot of older games have some big reductions, too, including several Far Cry and Assassin's Creed entries. Epic is also boosting its Epic Rewards from 5% to 20% through to August 31. The rewards can be redeemed for discounts when making purchases on the PC, mobile, and the web using Epic's payment system. In addition to the free games, Epic is giving away free DLC for games such as Fall Guys, Rocket League, Smite 2, World of Warships, and more.

Looking to play some of your Switch 1 games on Nintendo's new console? Then you'll be pleased to know that 12 games will get free updates, including Pokemon Scarlet and VioletTech10:31, 16 May 2025Updated 10:31, 16 May 2025Switch 2 is just weeks away(Image: AFP via Getty Images)The Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World are 20 days away, meaning in three weeks we'll (hopefully) have one in our hands.While reports have suggested outlets like ours won't be able to offer detailed reviews before launch, one of the things we're most excited for (other than our dream Switch 2 ports) is playing Switch 1 games at higher resolution and with a smoother frame rate.‌Thankfully, while some games will require paid updates, Nintendo has promised free patches for some of our favourite Switch titles. Now, as we approach launch, the company has finally revealed what we can expect from each, and it's likely to be big news for anyone looking to pick up Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.‌Scarlet and Violet disappointed at launch because of performance issues(Image: The Pokemon Company)Twelve games will see free improvements released via downloadable patches."By connecting your Nintendo Switch 2 to the internet and performing a system update, you can download free updates for selected games that may improve graphics or add support for features such as GameShare," Nintendo explains.Article continues below"The contents of these free updates will differ depending on the game."Thankfully, the company has revealed what we can expect from each. While some games will gain HDR support or the option to share experiences with other players locally via GameShare, some are getting improved resolution and frame rates.These include ARMS, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, and, perhaps most significantly, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.‌Both games launched in pretty rough shape, clearly butting up against the limitations of the first Switch hardware, but the idea of it performing better could mean it's almost like a new game–not bad for a free update.We've put the full list of updates Nintendo has confirmed below.ARMS‌Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityFrame rate: optimised for Nintendo Switch 2 for smoother movement (even when playing with three or more players)HDR supportBig Brain Academy: Brain vs BrainGameShare support:‌Up to four people can play in Party Mode.Share locally or share online via GameChat.Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is cute, but surprisingly challenging(Image: Nintendo)Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker‌Visuals: Optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityHDR supportGameShare support:Two people can play all of the courses.Share locally or share online via GameChat‌Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide ClassicsGameShare support:Up to four people can play 34 gamesShare locally or share online via GameChat‌Game Builder GarageVisuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualitySupports Joy-Con 2 mouse controlsNew Super Mario Bros U Deluxe‌Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityPokémon Scarlet & Pokémon VioletVisuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityFrame rate: improved for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2‌Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s FuryVisuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityFrame rate: improved for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2 (including Bowser’s Fury)HDR supportGameShare compatibility:‌Up to four people can play Super Mario 3D World. In Bowser’s Fury, two people can play together, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Bowser Jr. Share locally or share online via GameChatIt's high time we got another 3D Mario titleSuper Mario Odyssey‌Visuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityHDR supportGameShare support:Two people can play together, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Cappy.Share locally or share online via GameChat.‌The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WisdomVisuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityHDR supportThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s AwakeningArticle continues belowVisuals: optimised for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image qualityHDR supportFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.‌‌‌

When I got my first job in games journalism 30 years ago, I arrived just too late to review games for my favourite ever console: the Sega Mega Drive. Although a few titles were still being released for the machine in 1995, the games magazine world had moved on and all anyone wanted to read about were the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. It was a bitter blow.Fast-forward to 2025 and a resurgent interest in producing new games for vintage home computers and consoles has led to Farming Simulator: 16bit Edition – a Mega Drive instalment in the hugely successful agricultural sim series. The passion project of Renzo Thönen, lead level designer and co-owner of Farming Simulation studio Giants Software, the game has been written using an open-source Mega Drive development kit, and manufactured in a limited run of genuine Mega Drive cartridges. Slotting this brand new release into the cart of my dad’s ancient Mega Drive II console felt ridiculously moving and I thought the game could only be a letdown after that. But I was wrong.The cartridge of Farming Simulator: 16bit Edition. Photograph: Giants SoftwareFarming Simulator: 16bit Edition takes the basic rhythms of its stablemates – sowing, harvesting and selling crops – and puts them in an isometric environment where workable fields are interspersed with useful buildings such as fuel depots, seed stores and garages. You begin with basic tractors and harvesters, but as you carefully work the land, you grow and sell wheat to earn money, thereby opening the prospect of upgrading your machinery and buying more powerful vehicles. Eventually, you make enough money to unlock new farm areas, but the basic game play is always the same: you slowly and carefully drive your tractors over your land, ploughing and sowing and harvesting as the seasons pass.In this reduced format, the sedate pace of the farming simulator games should become a dull repetitive chore; robbed of intricately detailed 3D visuals, real-time weather systems and supplementary activities, all you’re doing is effectively mowing the lawn. Over and over again. Let’s be honest: transferring the complex, multilayered 3D sim into a console that launched at the same time as the world wide web and the first mass manufactured Nokia mobile phone was always going to be a technical challenge.A trip down memory lane … a Sega Mega Drive running Farming Simulator: 16bit Edition. Photograph: Keith Stuart/The GuardianBut somehow, the system still works. Perhaps it’s the nice chug-chug sound effects of the tractors, or the amusingly precarious steering that often sends you crashing into a tree; or maybe it’s the sheer nostalgia of the rugged 2D visuals. I don’t know. I just know that I’ve kept playing. Veteran Mega Drive owners may be reminded of the Desert, Jungle and Urban Strike games or the isometric strategy delights of Populous or General Chaos. But what’s really fascinating is seeing a modern game genre on this old machine and wondering, what score would it have received from contemporary gaming mags such as Sega Power or Mega?Perhaps, this is one for Mega Drive nuts like me who thrill at the idea of running something new on their beloved artefact – like playing a 4K Blu-ray movie on a Toshiba video recorder. It’s also going to be tough to secure one as only 1,000 are being made. However, Giants has previously released a Commodore 64 version of the game, Farming Simulator C64, which is now available to play for PC, and perhaps an emulated version of this one will also find a way to modern machines.And yet, like a deluxe half-speed remaster of some old vinyl album, there is emotional value in the format itself. This is why Giants isn’t alone in producing new carts for the old consoles. The excellent puzzle platformer Tanglewood appeared for the Mega Drive a few years ago and a promising shooter Earthion is coming later this year. Limited Run games has also made a whole range of new SNES carts for classic titles.I wish my dad were around to see me reviewing a new release for the last console we played on together. As someone who spent all his boyhood summers staying on a farm, he certainly would have loved this game. For now, I will keep ploughing these fields and selling wheat, enjoying the tranquil cycle of nature as rendered on a machine as out of date as an ox cart.

Here's what Switch 2's free upgrades for Link's Awakening, Pokémon, Mario, and more will do Nintendo shares specifics. Image credit: Nintendo News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on May 16, 2025 Switch 2 is now less than three weeks away from release, which means Nintendo is feverishly filling in the few remaining blanks ahead of the console's arrival. And that finally includes specific details on what each of its previously announced free Switch 2 upgrades for the likes of Link's Awakening, Pokémon, Mario, Arms, and more will do on launch day. Nintendo announced two different types of Switch 2 upgrades for previously released Switch games as part of its big April news blowout: paid upgrades promising substantial new features or content alongside presentational enhancements, plus free upgrades specifically focused on the likes of enhanced performance and GameShare support. At the time, Nintendo announced 12 original Switch titles - including Arms, Super Mario Odyssey, and Pokémon Scarlet - would be receiving free upgrades on its new console, but stopped short of providing specific details. That's all changed thanks to an update on its website, so here's everything we now know owners of the original Switch editions can expect when playing the games on Switch 2 starting 5th June: Digital Foundry breaks down Switch 2's confirmed specifications.Watch on YouTube Arms Visuals: Optimised for Switch 2's display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality; optimised frame rate for smoother movements, even with 3 or more players; HDR support Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Visuals: Optimised for Switch 2's display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality; HDR support GameShare support: Two people can play all the courses, sharing locally or online via GameChat and a Switch Online membership Super Mario Odyssey Visuals: Optimised for Switch 2's display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality; HDR support GameShare support: Two people can play together (one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Cappy), sharing locally or online via GameChat and a Switch Online membership Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury Visuals: Optimised for Switch 2's display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality; optimised frame rate for smoother movement (including Bowser's Fury); HDR support (Bowser’s Fury only) GameShare support: Up to four people can play Super Mario 3D World, sharing locally or online via GameChat and a Switch Online membership; two people can play Bowser's Fury together (one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Bowser Jr), sharing locally or online via GameChat and a Switch Online membership Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics GameShare support: Up to four people can play 34 games, sharing locally or online via GameChat and a Switch Online membership The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Visuals: Optimised for Switch 2's display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality; HDR support The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Visuals: Optimised for Switch 2's display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality; HDR support Game Builder Garage Visuals: Optimised for Switch 2's display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality Supports Joy-Con 2 mouse controls New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Visuals: Optimised for Switch 2's display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality Pokémon Scarlet Visuals: Optimised for Switch 2's display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality; improved frame rate for smoother movement Pokémon Violet Visuals: Optimised for Switch 2's display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality; improved frame rate for smoother movement Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain GameShare support: Up to four people can play in Party Mode, sharing locally or online via GameChat and a Switch Online membership And that's everything for now. But while we mourn Yoshi's Crafted World's current exclusion from the list, there's plenty more Switch 2 information to peruse. You can check out everything we know about Switch 2 elsewhere on the site, and Digital Foundry has been diving deep into the machine ahead of its 5th June arrival.

Image: NintendoAs you might recall, Nintendo will be releasing "free updates" for select Switch games on the Nintendo Switch 2. It's already revealed the specific titles that will be getting this treatment and now it's detailed what exactly you can expect. Once again, these updates will enhance the overall gameplay experience with visual enhancements, frame rate improvements, additional feature support, and more. "By connecting your Nintendo Switch 2 to the internet and performing a system update, you can download free updates for selected games that may improve graphics or add support for features such as GameShare. The contents of these free updates will differ depending on the game."Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube812kWatch on YouTube Here's the full rundown, courtesy of Nintendo's official website. All of these updates will be available on 5th June 2025 alongside the launch of the Switch 2. On this page: 12 Switch Games Are Getting Free Switch 2 Upgrades, Here's What You Can Expect ARMS Updates included: Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. Frame rate: Optimized for Nintendo Switch 2 for smoother movement (even when playing with 3 or more players). HDR support. Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain GameShare support: Up to four people can play in Party Mode. Share locally or share online via GameChat. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Updates included: Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. HDR support. GameShare support: Two people can play all of the courses. Share locally or share online via GameChat. Club House Games: 51 Worldwide Classics GameShare support: Up to four people can play 34 games. Share locally or share online via GameChat. Game Builder Garage Updates included: Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. Supports Joy-Con™ 2 mouse controls. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Updates included: Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. Pokémon Scarlet Updates included: Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. Frame rate: Improved for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2. Pokémon Violet Updates included: Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. Frame rate: Improved for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury Updates included: Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. Frame rate: Optimized for smoother movement on Nintendo Switch 2 (including Bowser's Fury). HDR support (Bowser’s Fury only). GameShare support: Up to four people can play Super Mario 3D World. In Bowser's Fury, two people can play together, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Bowser Jr. Share locally or share online via GameChat. Super Mario Odyssey Updates included: Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. HDR support. GameShare support: Two people can play together, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Cappy. Share locally or share online via GameChat. Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Updates included: Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. HDR support. Zelda: Link's Awakening Updates included: Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs for improved image quality. HDR support. Next-gen TLC What do you think of these updates for these Switch games? Let us know in the comments. [source nintendo.com] Related Games See Also Share:0 0 Liam is a news writer and reviewer across Hookshot Media. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of many iconic video game characters. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Updates Its User Agreement To Crack Down On Emulation Offenders may find their Switch bricked PSA: My Nintendo Store Switch 2 Invites Are Starting To Roll Out Refresh that inbox Nintendo Switch 2 Final Tech Specs Have Been Confirmed GameChat has a "significant impact on system resources"

Just like Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong is getting a minor makeover as Nintendo moves into the next generation. And like the elder DK, Diddy will look a bit more like his The Super Mario Bros. Movie counterpart, with the addition of… teeth. A poster on the Famiboards forums noticed this week that the Nintendo Switch news channel showed off new artwork for Diddy Kong, and while the differences may be small in the grand scheme, they make the old, Rare-era Diddy look weird by comparison. Diddy Kong’s new look now includes a full mouth of teeth, the apparent removal of the Nintendo “racetrack” logo from his signature cap, and more realistic looking toes. Diddy’s pot belly has also been raised a bit, so it’s clearer where his tummy ends and his fur begins. Here’s an early look at the new Diddy Kong, via Famiboards poster Professor Chops: Compare that to this 2023 artwork of Diddy Kong from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass: The “new” Diddy Kong hews more closely to his Donkey Kong Country appearances than that of his brief cameo in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Yes, he had a full set of pearly whites in Nintendo and Illumination’s animated film, but the cinematic version of Diddy appeared slightly more muscular, had eyes that were set apart, and sported a basketball-style jersey, as opposed to a tummy-accentuating crop top. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Diddy with teeth, though. While many of his video game appearances render him toothless, Diddy Kong’s second amiibo, from the Super Mario collection, shows the younger DK with chompers — something the Diddy amiibo released as part of the Super Smash Bros. collection didn’t. All of this is to say that Diddy Kong has teeth now, and for the foreseeable future, no longer has to gum all of his food. Perhaps we’ll see more of this toothy Diddy in upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World, though the character hasn’t been confirmed to appear in either title just yet.

Just like Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong is getting a minor makeover as Nintendo moves into the next generation. And like the elder DK, Diddy will look a bit more like his The Super Mario Bros. Movie counterpart, with the addition of… teeth. A poster on the Famiboards forums noticed this week that the Nintendo Switch news channel showed off new artwork for Diddy Kong, and while the differences may be small in the grand scheme, they make the old, Rare-era Diddy look weird by comparison. Diddy Kong’s new look now includes a full mouth of teeth, the apparent removal of the Nintendo “racetrack” logo from his signature cap, and more realistic looking toes. Diddy’s pot belly has also been raised a bit, so it’s clearer where his tummy ends and his fur begins. Here’s an early look at the new Diddy Kong, via Famiboards poster Professor Chops: Compare that to this 2023 artwork of Diddy Kong from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass: The “new” Diddy Kong hews more closely to his Donkey Kong Country appearances than that of his brief cameo in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Yes, he had a full set of pearly whites in Nintendo and Illumination’s animated film, but the cinematic version of Diddy appeared slightly more muscular, had eyes that were set apart, and sported a basketball-style jersey, as opposed to a tummy-accentuating crop top. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Diddy with teeth, though. While many of his video game appearances render him toothless, Diddy Kong’s second amiibo, from the Super Mario collection, shows the younger DK with chompers — something the Diddy amiibo released as part of the Super Smash Bros. collection didn’t. All of this is to say that Diddy Kong has teeth now, and for the foreseeable future, no longer has to gum all of his food. Perhaps we’ll see more of this toothy Diddy in upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World, though the character hasn’t been confirmed to appear in either title just yet.