Animal Crossing: New Horizons has received a surprise patch today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the life sim series. The update, version 3.0.2, is available across the Switch and Switch 2 versions of the game.
The Summer Game Fest 2026 Day of the Devs showcase dedicated to indie games just finished, and this year we saw 20 new titles. All of the announcements involved peeks at gameplay footage and, in some cases, new commentary and details from the people behind the titles. This appeared alongside a dedicated Steam section focusing on things that came up during the showcase for easy wishlisting. However, none of the games are shadowdrops this year.
Here’s the full list of June 2026 Day of the Devs games from Summer Game Fest:
You can see both the full SGF 2026 showcase and Day of the Devs presentation below. It also should appear on the official Day of the Devs YouTube account later today.
The first of the games that showed up in the Day of the Devs SGF 2026 showcase will be 33 Immortals, which launches on June 10, 2026 on the Xbox Series X and PC.
The post All of the Day of the Devs Games Shown at SGF 2026 appeared first on Siliconera.
Recent shadowdrop release Super Bomberman Collection brings back some classic Bomberman games, some for the first time outside Japan, and we’re happy to see it! But if we’ve learned anything from modern retro compilations, the quality is extremely dependent on execution. So how does this one do?
The package contains the five Super Bomberman games, all originally released on the Super NES and Super Famicom, as well as two bonus Famicom games. The later Super titles didn’t originally release outside Japan and have received localizations here, which is a nice touch! Frankly, though, these are fairly language-agnostic games and you probably would have been fine.
Putting these five games together in one collection might feel a bit redundant! And it is, to a degree. The advantage is in two ways. The first? Historical value. The game makes it easy to look at what power-ups are added in each one, and preserving all five is good regardless. The second is that you can choose your favorite variant. Each of these changes does color the experience, and through either taste or nostalgia, you’ll likely have a favorite.
If you’re having trouble deciding, though? We’d recommend going straight to 5. It has almost all the things from the other games, and there are options to configure it however! And as such a late Super Famicom game that other staff at Hudson were probably already working on Mario Party during development, it really takes advantage of the hardware. If it drops the ball on anything? Maybe it’s aesthetics. It’s trying really hard to do a robot/sentai thing in a way that a lot of the selectable characters feel same-y.
It’s also true that each of these games has a solo campaign. The franchise’s bread and butter is its competitive play, but there’s a dedicated group of people who really embrace the single-player arcade levels. And these are good ones! We’ve spent a while playing, and we are undeniably bad at them but there’s a puzzly element to taking on risky opponents in an optimal order.
When it comes to gallery modes in retro compilations, our usual stance is that it’s a great effort of preservation! But we don’t spend a lot of time with that stuff. Super Bomberman Collection’s “unbox” mode feels a lot more robust, though. With the detail and ability to virtually open the box and pull out the manual, it captures a bit more of the nostalgia of the originals.
While it doesn’t have built-in functionality for this sort of thing, Super Bomberman Collection takes advantage of system-level multiplayer features like Switch 2’s GameShare and Steam’s Remote Play Together. How well does it work? Better than you’d think! We spent our time testing it out on Switch 2, and didn’t experience any of the frequent connection issues we usually get. What’s more, it’s the sort of game that can weather some minor hiccups if you get them, and it also doesn’t look too bad in the windowed GameShare screen.
Super Bomberman Collection, developed by Red Art Games and published by Konami, is out now on Switch 2, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series and Steam. Physical editions of the game will launch on August 25, 2026.
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Death Howl is one of those unique strategic roguelikes that someone could play for 15 minutes for five hours straight, and it means the Switch version couldn’t come soon enough. I thoroughly enjoyed this brutal game when I played it on the PC. But there’s something about the nature of it that makes the gameplay loop and narrative beats feel highlighted so well here.
As a quick refresher, Death Howl is a strategic roguelike with a nearly monochromatic kinds of color palettes and melancholy story. Based on Scandinavian folklore, we follow a grieving mother named Ro searching the other side for her dead son Olvi who was stolen away from her. This means traversing different areas, facing all sorts of entities and beasts with abilities she gathers.
The narrative is fantastic. There are so many themes running through it. Revenge is a critical one, since there’s a central stag figure associated with her son’s death and apparent abduction. Not to mention she’s angry with Death itself over the loss. Coming to terms with the situation is another, since this is a journey about grief and clearly she’s going through the bargaining and depression stages while also being angry about everything and denying that this is a situation that can’t be undone. But there’s also this veil of uncertainty over everything. Due to the use of symbolism and design choices, Ro is an unreliable narrator and there are gaps in our knowledge as players. Which means part of the motivation that keeps us going is to finally know the truth of it all. Having the game on the Switch makes it easy to keep going so we can absorb the information and take in what possible truths could be hinted at as we play.
The Switch also makes for a good way to appreciate the art direction in Death Howl in the same way that the Steam Deck and other handheld gaming PCs do. This is a strategy game with sprite-based designs, an isometric perspective of the board, and limited color palettes for each region. Actual spirit designs play with shading and color options to depict details that wouldn’t otherwise be possible with the limitations. When there are effects from actions and spell usage, we see intricate animations. While it is possible to view these and take away the excellence, I feel like having it in handheld mode where you could really take a moment to look closer at details.
It also helps that the Switch port is a great version of Death Howl. Given how text-heavy it is for cards and combat, the color and font choices make it clear even when the lettering is little. It’s almost always clear and legible. Pair that with the great controller-based scheme carried over from the PC release, and it is quite comfortable to play.
Handhelds are a good fit for roguelike games, and the artistic direction, narrative, and gameplay of Death Howl make it feel especially strong on the Switch. It’s a great port that plays well on the system. The nature of the storyline makes it a perfect game to play in a darkened room. Since the gameplay encourages deck experimentation and strategic decisions, you can really get cozy and experience it. It feels exceptionally at home here.
Death Howl is available on the Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
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Square Enix shared a special PV video on YouTube that ended with the phrase “NieR: Automata to be continued.” This suggests we could see a new NieR: Automata project, though the vagueness means it is uncertain if it could be related to the anime adaptation, a game, or book. Additional statements also confirmed current sales figures for that game and NieR Replicant.
First, here’s the “NieR: Automata to be continued” announcement video suggesting a new project like a game or other form of media is in the works. It’s specifically designed to honor the fact that this game passed 10 million units sold physically and digitally worldwide. That applies to the Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions of the game. At the 5:48 mark of the PV, the screen scrambles and the ominous text suggesting more is in development shows up.
Square Enix also shared new key art on social media honoring the sales milestone. That features 2B at the forefront, with 9S right behind her and A2 at the back.
As for the new sales figure update for NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139, that wasn’t accompanied by a special video. Square Enix just took to social media to share the update. It’s now at two million copies sold worldwide digitally and physically. That takes into account the PS4, Xbox One, and PC copies.
There is a piece of art shared to commemorate that, however.
NieR: Automata is available on the Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC, the anime is on Crunchyroll, and Square Enix’s books division handled a number of spin-off books worldwide.
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Some Pokemon Day 2026 reveals appeared ahead of the actual event on February 27, 2026, and it involves Switch releases of Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen and a Pokemon Presents showcase stream. The presentation will air first at 6am PT/9am ET/3pm CET, and the digital GBA games will show up on the eShop after.
In the case of the Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen Switch releases, there are a few details about these versions. They will be $19.99 each, and the eShop pages for both are live. These will be the exact JRPGs we remember. However, if you want different languages, like English, French, or Spanish, those will be separate purchases instead of an option you select from a menu in-game. (Italian and Japanese aren’t available in the North American eShop.) The Sevii Islands will be present in-game. If you want to battle or trade other people, it is only going to be possible via local multiplayer, and there is no Pokemon Home support at launch. They are both confirmed Switch 2 compatible.
Here’s the official trailer:
As for the Pokemon Presents 2026, there are fewer details about that. We know the time and date. We know it will be on Twitch and YouTube. Presumably, these two Switch versions of the GBA JRPGs will also appear in a spot during it as a reminder of their release after the stream as well.
Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen will come to the Switch and be playable on the Switch 2 on February 27, 2026, and they are also available on the GBA.
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HoYoverse just wrapped up a big Honkai: Star Rail Special Program. We’ve been waiting for this one for a couple of weeks now thanks to a delay, but the developer has finally delivered all the news on Version 4.0, which will arrive February 13.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder getting the Switch 2 Edition + expansion treatment in March feels like Nintendo making the correct call, and I couldn't think of a better game to be getting that bit more attention on the new system.
Vince Zampella, known for co-creating the Call of Duty series, among many other roles, has died. Zampella, 55, died in a car crash in Los Angeles on Sunday. The fatal crash killed him, along with the occupant of his car.
We enjoyed Fairy Tail: Dungeons when the roguelike launched on the PC in 2024, but somehow the deckbuilder game is even better on the Switch in 2026. Part of this is a universal thing. Ginolabo kept working on the manga and anime-inspired adventure. The new update is massive, free, and everywhere. But the console accessibility combined with Switch 2 compatibility somehow helps make it even more appealing.
As a refresher, Fairy Tail: Dungeons features an original story. Gates to an underground labyrinth are appearing below guild halls, with people falling into them and disappearing. In the case of Fairy Tail, it’s Gildarts Clive is gone, and Natsu and Happy get sucked in when they’re investigating. They meet Labi, who appears to be another cat-shaped Exceed and is looking for his missing friend Arthur. Arthur is attempting to seal a dragon to protect everyone. So Natsu and other members of the guild will need to survive the ever-changing labyrinth and its dangers while holding Tome of Remembrance pieces to find out what’s going on.
Part of the nature of the labyrinth is that characters lose their abilities when they enter and must regain magic via collecting cards, with Cana Alberona retaining her Magic Card ability and helping with that. You also pick Amulets when you go in, and can collect items to use in (or rarely out of) battles. Labi’s lantern can protect players for X number of moves on a floor so they can gather Lacrima to power up abilities in the skill tree, explore spaces, face enemies, buy from merchants, rest to do things like regain health or enchant cards, and prepare for the boss fight when turns expire. Once you get past the base labyrinth, you unlock the labyrinth deaths with stricter requirements, Tomes are collected, and you need to prioritize character synergies with their different movesets.
So first of all, Fairy Tail: Dungeons works flawlessly on the Switch. The sprite-based character designs really stand out on the screen and become the focus. The UI’s always been designed in such a way that it works and looks fine on a smaller screen. It’s also an ideal pick-up-and-play game for a quick run or two, which helps. It suits the nature of the system in every respect, which is appreciated. But most importantly is the fact that it is appearing alongside the major January 2026 update that added content both in the main campaign and post-game.
Said major element is huge. People who are just getting the game or didn’t beat it yet could choose a Casual Mode to ease into it if they’re having trouble and unlock Gildarts, Laxus, and Mirajane for the party and runs. There are over 170 Magic Cards for new strategies, so you can build on what you’re doing, and can enhance ones if you keep getting doubles beyond the existing Enhancements at campsites. For more experienced players, there are Labyrinth and Grand Clash new difficulties and Gajeel and Juvia in the post-game. There are more references to the original manga and anime via new bosses and Hiro Mashima’s past works like Rave Master. (I happened upon the August battle form addition myself.)It’s a lot in a good way. The pixel art is especially impeccable for the new characters and opponents.
It’s a situation in which Fairy Tail: Dungeons started out as a solid roguelike when it launched, and the Switch port appearing alongside and with all the additions in the free update makes the game even better. Pretty much every major character we could want is playable now. There’s even more endgame content, for those of us who are near the end or almost through it. People just getting started have new elements that will bolster what was already there. Plus it fits so well on Nintendo’s system. It’s just great.
Fairy Tail: Dungeons is available for the Switch and PC.
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While major Splatoon 3 updates are done, Splatfest events are still happening, and the recurring Frosty Fest one begins at 4pm PT/7pm ET on January 9, 2026. It will end on January 11, 2026. This marks the third Frosty Fest since the game’s debut in September 2022.
While Splatoon 3 launched in 2022, the Frosty Fest Splatfest events didn’t start in game until the one that took place in January 2024. Each one features winter themes in Inkopolis and Splatsville, special decorations, holiday mysic, and different outfits for Shiver, Frye, Big Man, Callie, and Marie. The theme for the first one was “who do you spend the holidays with,” and the options were Friends (Shiver), Family (Frye), and Solo (Big man), with Team Solo winning. The 2025 event asked “what would make you happiest,” with the teams being Money (Shiver), Experiences (Frye), and Presents (Big Man). Team Presents won that year.
The 2026 Frosty Fest is basically a rerun. The theme is “Who do you spend the holidays with” again. The teams are the same too. So you can choose Team Friends (Shiver), Team Family (Frye), and Team Solo (Big Man).
Here's the official image for it:
Splatoon 3 is available for the Switch, with a Switch 2 update available, and the Frosty Fest Splatfest runs January 9-11, 2026. The next game in the series will be the Splatoon Raiders spin-off with the members of Deep Cut Shiver, Frye, and Big Man.
The post Splatoon 3 2026 Frosty Fest Splatfest Starts Tonight appeared first on Siliconera.
Square Enix has announced that it will hold a live stream to celebrate the 9th anniversary of NieR: Automata on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 7:30 PM JST (5:30 AM ET). The stream will be available in Japanese worldwide via YouTube, as well as the Japan-exclusive Niconico platform.
This stream will feature four of the game's key staff members: Producer Yosuke Saito, Creative Director Yoko Taro, Composer Keiichi Okabe, and Senior Game Designer Takahisa Taura. The four will hold a lighthearted talk show for around two hours. Square Enix will afterward hold an after-talk session exclusively available to Niconico Premium members. The company has also put up a fine print stating that there will be no new major reveals related to the game series on either stream.
Niconico is also holding a public lottery that give Japanese residents the chance to watch the talk show physically in Tokyo. After closing applications on January 18, 2026, it will inform the winners on January 31, 2026. They must then purchase a ticket for 999 yen (~$6.35) by February 7, 2026, to confirm their attendance.
The 9th anniversary of NieR: Automata will formally fall on February 23, 2026. Square Enix first released the game for PlayStation 4 in Japan on February 23, 2017. NieR: Automata has also since been made available for PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It is also playable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2 via backward compatibility.
The post NieR: Automata 9th Anniversary Stream Announced appeared first on Siliconera.
Sanrio and Sunblink confirmed the next mascot who will join Hello Kitty Island Adventure as a permanent character, and it is Moppu from Marumofubiyori. He is in the mobile version of the game on Apple Arcade via update 2.12. He will show up in the console and PC version too, though there’s no release window for him yet there. However, all platforms will feature the Frosty Fashion Frenzy login event between January 15-26, 2026.
Moppu follows Cogimyun, who showed up in the Wheatflower Wonderland paid expansion, and he’s a new free friend. You will need to have unlocked the Icy Peak area and completed certain story missions as a result to reach him. There seem to be new cabins in the area, and visiting him at his home will let you play a brick-breaking arcade minigame called Ice Breaker. There’s a new cooking station for making snacks. We’ll also be able to change our avatar appearance to look like bears. More furniture sets will appear in the patch, with those being called the Gamer Set and Moppu Cozy Set.
Here’s the full Hello Kitty Island Adventure trailer showing what Moppu looks like in his Icy Peak home and the other new additions there, though it doesn’t confirm appearances of the other Marumofubiyori characters Gyoniku or Kanikama yet.
There are also some initial screenshots showing him off.
As for Frosty Fashion Frenzy, this will be the third year the event will run in Hello Kitty Island Adventure. Each time, winter-themed clothing is doled out for free. These are Daily Rewards, so all you need to do is log in to get the extra items.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is available for the Switch, Switch 2, PS5, PC, and Apple iOS devices via Apple Arcade, and the Marumofubiyori update with Moppu is live on mobile now and coming to other platforms.
The post Hello Kitty Island Adventure Gets Moppu From Marumofubiyori appeared first on Siliconera.
Two Nintendo properties are at two different restaurants in the US right now. If someone heads to Kung Fu Tea, they can get drinks and a straw cap based on Pokemon: Legends Z-A through January 31, 2026, while supplies last. Should people head to a Kura Sushi location until January 31, 2026, again while supplies last, they could get Kirby and Waddle Dee-themed sushi and merchandise.
In the case of Kung Fu Tea, there are three kinds of drinks, cups based on Chikorita, Tepig, and Totodile. It is also possible to get a straw cap that looks like Pikachu with your purchase. Each drink is inspired by locations and elements of the game, as well as characters So the Mega Evolution Matcha with brown sugar boba comes in a Chikorita cup, the Prism Tower Punch with aloe jelly, curacao, and lemonade is tied to Totodile, and the Z-A Royale Milk Tea features coconut, passionfruit, green tea, and honey boba. It is possible to order all of them from locations via the website.
Here’s the official art for that promotion:
With Kura Sushi, there are both Kirby and Waddle Dee types of sushi, giveaways for a cup set and blanket, and Bikkura Pon Prizes given away randomly for every 15 plates of sushi. Both the Kirby and Waddle Dee options have tamagoyaki (egg) as their base and seem to feature avocado, with one being the Kirby Dreamy Crunchy Roll and the other the Waddle Dee Feisty Feast Roll. You get the cups if you have the Kura Sushi Rewards app, a QR code, and a receipt showing you spent $85 to get the cups now. The blanket is the $85 reward available after January 14, 2026.
Here’s how those items look:
In 2025, Monster Hunter Wilds also appeared at Kung Fu Tea and One Piece was featured at Kura Sushi.
Pokemon is at Kung Fu Tea and Kirby is at Kura Sushi in the US until January 31, 2026, though some items may only be available while supplies last. Kirby Air Riders is on the Switch 2, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A is on the Switch and Switch 2.
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