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Bad news, would-be Xbox Series X/S buyers: Microsoft just bumped up its console prices, with select peripherals and first party games also affected

Bad news, would-be Xbox Series X/S buyers: Microsoft just bumped up its console prices, with select peripherals and first party games also affected


Microsoft has announced a rise in price for the Xbox Series X|S worldwide. This, the company stated in a statement to IGN, is due to the increase in import costs due to “market conditions and the rising cost of development.” In addition, first party Xbox games will be retailing for $80 by the 2025 holiday season, and select peripherals will be impacted too.

The full statement goes as follows, “We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players”

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For those in the US, an Xbox Series X will now cost $599, up from $499. Meanwhile the Xbox Series S (512GB) will not cost $379.99 up from $299.99. For those like us in the UK, an Xbox Series X is only £20 more expensive than it was , while an Xbox Series S (512GB) is getting a bump up in price by roughly £50. While everyone is obviously going to suffer with increased prices, it seems as though those in the US are getting it the worst.

For a full list of which products are getting price hikes, EIC of The Game Business listed price changes for the US, UK, Europe and Australia. All of which we’ve linked to here and below.

It’s a tumultuous time in the world of tech. Costs are going up, as the US / China trade war kicks up, sending ripples to countries all over the world that relies on the global trade norms that have previously allowed for trouble-free, conveniant manufacture and transport of goods. For the Xbox Series X|S, which is already a luxary good in the wider scheme of things, a price rise could prove a hard sell at a time when more and more people are saving money day-to-day.

Would you buy an Xbox Series X|S at this new price point? Or how about anything Xbox at all? Let us know below!





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May the Cloud Be With You: GeForce NOW Unveils 21 New Games This Month

May the Cloud Be With You: GeForce NOW Unveils 21 New Games This Month


May brings more than just rainbows and sunshine — it’s also time for fresh adventures and epic battles. This GFN Thursday spotlights 20 can’t-miss games joining the cloud this month, with something for every kind of gamer.

Gear up with the nine games available this week, on top of the launch of Rust’s Jungle Biome update.

Welcome to the Jungle

In Rust, a multiplayer survival game by Facepunch Studios, everyone starts off with only a rock and torch and must gather resources, build bases and fend off environmental threats and other players in a harsh, open-world setting. The game features intense player vs. player combat, dynamic alliances and frequent updates.

Crocodiles, snakes and tigers — oh my!

The latest update introduces a new jungle biome: a lush but dangerous environment filled with crocodiles, snakes, tigers and other wildlife. Added features include new early-game weapons, like a blowpipe with venom darts, as well as unique mechanics, like regrowing jungle vines.

GeForce NOW members can experience the intense survival gameplay of Rust from the cloud. Whether on an underpowered PC, Mac, smartphone or smart TV, dive into the game’s open-world chaos with smooth performance and stunning visuals.

May-day Games

Haunted House Renovator on GeForce NOW
Spoooooky.

Check out Haunted House Renovator, new in the cloud for members to stream. Step into the shoes of a paranormal renovator to explore and restore haunted locations, all while dealing with mischievous spirits that can help or hinder. Whether players are exorcising spirits or taking a more forceful approach, the game offers a unique blend of ghost hunting and home-makeover fun — perfect for fans of both genres.

Look for the following games available to stream in the cloud this week:

Deadzone: Rogue (New release on Steam, April 29)
Haunted House Renovator (New release on Steam, April 30)
Far Cry 4 (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, April 30)
Anno 1800 (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, May 1)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, May 1. Find it on GeForce NOW in the Call of Duty experience)
Blood Strike (Steam)
DREDGE (Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store)
LONESTAR (Steam)
Soulstone Survivors (Steam)

Learn how to stream supported Ubisoft games from PC Game Pass on GeForce NOW, including this week’s additions of Far Cry 4 and Anno 1800.

Here’s what to expect for the rest of May:

Survival Machine (New release on Steam, May 7)
Revenge of the Savage Planet (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, May 8)
Spirit of the North 2 (New release on Steam, May 8)
The Precinct (New release on Steam, May 13)
DOOM: The Dark Ages (New release on Steam, Battle.net and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, May 15)
Blacksmith Master (New release on Steam, May 15)
9 Kings (New release on Steam, May 19)
RoadCraft (New release on Steam, May 20)
Monster Train 2 (New release on Steam, May 21)
Survive the Fall (New release Steam, May 21)
Blades of Fire (New release on Epic Games Store, May 22)
Tokyo Xtreme Racer (Steam)
The Last Spell (Steam)
War Robots: Frontiers (Steam)
Torque Drift 2 (Epic Games Store)

April Showers Bring More Games

In addition to the 21 games announced last month, 13 more joined the GeForce NOW library:

Forever Skies (New release on Steam, April 14)
Hunt: Showdown 1896 (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, April 15)
Crime Scene Cleaner (New release on Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, April 17)
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, April 22)
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection (Steam and Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store)
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Demo (Steam and Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store)
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Demo (Steam)
Diablo III (Xbox, available on PC Game Pass)
Gedonia 2 (Steam) 
MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Steam)
Path of Exile 2 (Epic Games Store)
Sands of Aura (Epic Games Store)
Sultan’s Game (Steam)

What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.



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13 Things We Learned About Borderlands 4 After Today’s Big Event

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13 Things We Learned About Borderlands 4 After Today’s Big Event


Image: Gearbox / 2K / Kotaku

Today, we learned a lot more about Borderlands 4 during a roughly 20-minute PlayStation State of Play dedicated exclusively to Gearbox and 2K’s upcoming sci-fi looter shooter sequel.

Announced last year, Borderlands 4 is set to launch on September 12. That date is a bit earlier than previously announced and was leaked yesterday by Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford a few hours before the official news was revealed. Pitchford has since claimed that the game’s release date shifting has nothing to do with other games like Grand Theft Auto 6 or Marathon. Regardless, the looter shooter is coming out sooner than expected, and so it makes sense that Gearbox wanted to show it off via a new PlayStation State of Play.

On April 30, Sony aired a 2o-minute gameplay deep dive into Borderlands 4 in which we learned a lot more about the upcoming FPS. Here are 13 key pieces of information from the event.

Pitchford claims Borderlands 4 is going to have a more “grounded tone” that harkens back to the original game.Two of the new Vault Hunters in the game were given names and we learned more about them. Vex is a powerful Siren with a ghost-tiger that she can pet and use in combat. Rafa is a former Tediore soldier who uses advanced tech during fights. Borderlands 4 is set on Kairos, a new planet that was previously controlled and hidden by a mysterious alien being known as the Timekeeper. Some years before the game started, however, a rogue moon crashed into the planet and caused a ton of chaos. (OG character Lilith might have been involved in that…) The looter shooter will support crossplay at launch. It will also let you play two-player split screen c0-op. While playing with others you’ll be able to set your own difficulty and all loot will be instanced, so no gun stealing between friends. Kairos will feature four massive zones that players can explore freely with no loading screens. In the mission we saw during the demo, the new hunters were infiltrating a secret blacksite research facility alongside Borderlands 3 character Armata. You can now glide across large gaps and use your zipline on certain points in exploration or during combat. Gearbox confirmed that sliding, double jumping and dashing are back, too. Players will have access to a “Digirunner,” a vehicle which looks a lot like a Sparrow from Destiny. These are single-seat hovercraft that you can spawn into at any point while out in the world. While exploring Kairos you’ll discover silos. These are locations that aren’t tied to side quests, but function more like the kinds of activities you might seen in a big open-world game like Assassin’s Creed. Most of the weapon manufactures from past games, like Tediore and Jakobs, are back. But this time around guns can spawn with “Licensed Parts.” So a Jakobs rifle might have a different brand of scope or barrel, which might change how it fires or the kind of damage it does. This will make the already wildly unique loot you find in Borderlands games even more varied. Speaking of loot, Gearbox has reworked how often rare loot drops and promises that Legendaries will be rarer and more powerful than in Borderlands 3. You’ll also be able to unlock enhancements that can make certain weapon brands more powerful. Borderlands 4 will feature repayable missions and boss fights, which should make it easier than ever to grind for specific loot.

So yeah, we learned a lot of about Borderlands 4! And I’m excited to see more of the game between now and its (earlier than planned) launch of September 12. Borderlands 4 is set to arrive on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Switch 2.



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How to Make a Hamburger Steak in Disney Dreamlight Valley

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How to Make a Hamburger Steak in Disney Dreamlight Valley


Hamburger Steak is a 4-star Entrée Meal added with the A Rift in Time expansion. Players can make this meal for themselves to restore energy or gift it to villagers to increase their Friendship Level. However, this recipe is exclusive to the owners of the expansion. This guide will help you cook Hamburger Steak in Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Required Ingredients to Make Hamburger Steak in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Players can make a Hamburger Steak Entree Meal with the following ingredients.

Venison is a protein ingredient that you can purchase from Gaston’s Stall for 1000 Star Coins. You will have to pursue Gaston’s Friendship Quests to unlock the stall. Goofy sells potatoes at his stall in the Forgotten Lands (Valley) and the Wild Tangle (Eternity Isle) biomes. It will cost you 189 Star Coins for one potato. Moreover, you can purchase a Potato Seed for 55 Star Coins and grow it on your own. However, it will take 35 minutes for the potato seed to grow.

To get Beans, you must grow them on your own using the Bean Seeds. Goofy sells Bean Seeds at his stall in the Glittering Dunes biome for 49 Star Coins. It takes 1 hour for beans to grow. Lastly, you can use any vegetable ingredient to complete the ingredients for the Hamburger Steak. Some of the easiest vegetable ingredients that you can get are Carrots, Lettuce, Tomatoes, etc.

How to Cook Hamburger Steak in Disney Dreamlight Valley

After gathering all the ingredients for the Hamburger Steak, go to any Cooking Station to start making it. Go to any cooking station in the Valley/Eternity Isle and interact with it. After that, put the ingredients into the Cooking Pot individually and then select the “Start Cooking” option to cook the Hamburger Steak Entree Meal.

Use of Hamburger Steak

Players can choose to eat the Hamburger Steak to restore 855 Energy. Moreover, they can gift it to other villagers to increase their Friendship Level. Lastly, they can sell it to Goofy for 1774 Star Coins.



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Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival Adds Kasane Teto Pack DLC | TheXboxHub

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Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival Adds Kasane Teto Pack DLC | TheXboxHub


TAIKO NO TATSUJIN Rhythm Festival KeyArt
TAIKO NO TATSUJIN Rhythm Festival

Get ready to drum along to some MORE synthesised beats as a Kasane Teto DLC drop has landed in Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival.

A new DLC pack featuring the popular UTAU and Synthesizer V character Kasane Teto has arrived for Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival.

Available today, the KASANE TETO Pack brings three energetic songs to the rhythm game festival on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

New Kasane Teto Tracks to Master

Priced at a reasonable £3.99, this pack adds three new songs to your library, playable across game modes like Taiko Mode and the frantic Great Drum Toy War:

Mesmerizer – Easy ★3 | Normal ★5 | Hard ★4 | Extreme ★7

Override – Easy ★3 | Normal ★5 | Hard ★6 | Extreme ★9

Medicine – Easy ★3 | Normal ★5 | Hard ★6 | Extreme ★8

As with many Taiko DLC tracks, it’s worth being aware that these songs might also become available through the separate Taiko Music Pass subscription service at some point, so check your subscription if you have one before purchasing.

More Rhythmic Fun for the Festival

This new pack adds yet more specific flavour to the already varied tracklist of Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival. As we noted in our 4/5 review of the base game: “Taiko No Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is an excellent rhythm game for solo or multiplayer enjoyment. With a wide variety of songs, four difficulty levels, a training mode, and engaging multiplayer options, there’s something for everyone.“

The KASANE TETO Pack specifically caters to fans of the character and her music, providing challenging new charts across all difficulty levels. Whether you’re a long-time Teto follower or just looking for some fresh rhythm challenges, this pack offers a focused dose of synthesized J-Pop energy.

Grab your drum (or controller!) and check out the Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival – KASANE TETO Pack on your platform’s digital store today! For us Xbox players, that means taking a trip to the Xbox Store.



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Nintendo Switch 2 HD Rumble is much quieter than the often-annoying OG Joy-Con vibrations

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Nintendo Switch 2 HD Rumble is much quieter than the often-annoying OG Joy-Con vibrations



You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you’re reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here

The Nintendo Switch 2 HD Rumble feature was revealed alongside its specs and launch games as an improved, more precise version of the original handheld. In a recent website update, the company has revealed one of the most exciting improvements for me: the HD rumble won’t be as damn loud as the original Joy-Cons.

Spotted by VGC, Nintendo has confirmed that the HD Rumble feature is now a lot quieter than the original Switch. In a list of games that either require the original Joy-Con or play better with them, Nintendo confirmed that the new controllers will have quieter vibrations overall.

Nintendo Switch 2 HD rumble won’t be as damn loud

In the list of games, Nintendo explains that the games like 1-2 Switch and Everybody 1-2-Switch will play differently on the new handheld due to the more subtle vibrations of HD Rumble 2.0.

Games like Joy-Con Hide & Seek, a game where you have to hide the controller somewhere in the room and listen to the vibrations to find it, may be harder on account of the quieter volume. Oh well, who’s playing that anyway?

“The volume of the Joy-Con 2 controllers’ force feedback vibrations has been reduced compared to the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers,” Nintendo explained. “So it may be more difficult to find hidden Joy-Con 2 in the minigame Joy-Con Hide & Seek.”

Personally, while first-party Nintendo games typically used the feature well, such as Super Mario Odyssey, quick ports to the platform resulted in extremely loud, almost-violent vibrations from the system. As someone who’s recently been replaying BioShock on the Nintendo Switch OLED in bed next to my sleeping partner, the vibrations can be rather infuriating.

While the volume of the handheld’s powerful vibrations may be lower, Nintendo has described the new feature is, generally, more powerful. However, perhaps better casing for the controllers’ powerful motors mean they won’t be used as an unintentional alarm clock during your partner’s cheeky 6:00 AM gaming sessions.

For more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage, read about how Nintendo has vastly underestimated demand for the system, or how the console’s hype is causing MicroSD cards to sell out. Additionally, read CD Projekt Red’s thoughts on why the new Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077 is the best way to play the game on the go.



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Game of Thrones: Kingsroad gets a May 21st release date | TheSixthAxis

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Game of Thrones: Kingsroad gets a May 21st release date | TheSixthAxis


Netmarble has announced that Game of Thrones: Kingsroad will be released on May 21st for PC and mobile devices. This Game of Thrones title puts you in the boots of the heir to House Tyre, a small noble House from the North. You are instructed by Jon Snow to travel around Westeros to rally the Great Houses and the lords of the realm to fight against the White Walkers.

There will be a fully featured character creation tool, so you can get your heir looking just right, and players will be able to select from one of three classes inspired by iconic roles within the original series – Sellsword, Knight or Assassin, with a a focus on player vs player combat as well as combat against threats that stalk the wilds of Westeros. Players will have the chance to roam freely through familiar settings including Castle Black, King’s Landing, and High Garden.

Dom spent some time earlier this year playing Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, and in his preview he said, “The mobile-centric free-to-play side of things does rear its head when you make your way to the upgrade tree, and the first of your upgrades is worth a 1% improvement in your skills. While it isn’t surprising to find that artificially slow progression here, what is surprising is that Kingsroad feels so much like a ‘proper’ action title, that it feels incongruos. Playing on PC I was immediately impressed by just how good Game of Thrones: Kingsroad looks, from the high-quality main visuals to the painterly effects laid over the animated cutscenes.”

As mentioned in Dom’s preview, Game of Thrones: Kingsroad will be a free to play title, though people can buy founder’s packs to play the early access version of the game on PC via Steam. If you are a mobile player, you can pre-register your interest by following the links; Game of Thrones: Kingsroad on the App Store & Game of Thrones: Kingsroad – Apps on Google Play.

Source: Press Release



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World of Goo 2 is out now on Steam and GOG – a great pick for puzzle game fans

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World of Goo 2 is out now on Steam and GOG – a great pick for puzzle game fans


This really brings back some memories. World of Goo 2 from 2D BOY and Tomorrow Corporation has officially launched on GOG and Steam with Native Linux support. Note: key provided by the developer.

I remember the early days of Linux gaming where we had a little surge in smaller indie games coming officially, with the original World of Goo all the way back in 2009, before even the first Humble Indie Bundle launched where we really started to see things change.

World of Goo 2 is like a familiar comfy blanket to wrap yourself up in.

While a fair amount of it is perhaps on the easy side, the key is in the challenges of each individual level on the amount of balls you get, the amount of moves you used and the time it takes you to complete them. Getting through them all and getting a tick in the box for all three is a thorough challenge.

This is not exactly a new release, just new to other stores (after being Epic Exclusive and direct from their website), although I hadn’t played the sequel until now and thankfully it retains all the charm and difficulty of the original. Nice to see the Native Linux support again too, and working to perfection on my Kubuntu 25.04 desktop from the Steam release.

If you loved the original, you’ll appreciate this one for some more great puzzles and new mechanics that acts as a near-perfect follow-up. If you’ve not played the original, it’s still an easy recommendation because it’s just a wonderful physics-based puzzler to add to your collection.

One point that did become a slight nuisance is the line colour for when you’re dragging the little goo balls, the contrast between the line and some backgrounds is not great to see exactly what it will connect with. A small accessibility issue but about my only problem with the game.

The Steam release arrives with:



Three new extremely difficult challenge levels.
Over 30 Extra Fabulous Achievements.
Acclaimed audio – with nearly 2 hours of music performed by over 50 musicians from the World of Goo community.
A Brand New Options Menu – Never before included in a 2DBOY or Tomorrow Corporation game!
Bug fixes and general improvements.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.



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Can Abra be shiny in Pokémon Go?

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Can Abra be shiny in Pokémon Go?


Abra, the psi Pokémon from Kanto, can be found in the wild in Pokémon Go. Yes, Abra can be shiny in Pokémon Go!

If you already have a shiny Abra (or its evolutions), you may have participated in Abra Community Day in April 2020. The first few evolutions have only a slight difference when shiny, but Alakazam and its Mega form get more prominent pink accents, which rule.

What is the shiny rate for Abra in Pokémon Go?

As per old research by the now-defunct website The Silph Road (via Wayback Machine), the shiny rate for Pokémon on a regular day is approximately one in 500. Abra is not a confirmed Pokémon that gets a “permaboost” (meaning that it’s a rare spawn and thus gets a boosted shiny rate).

What can I do to attract more shiny Pokémon?

Not much, unfortunately. It appears to be random chance. Shiny Pokémon catch rates are set by developer Niantic, and they are typically only boosted during special events like Community Days or Safari Zones, or in Legendary Raids. There are no consumable items that boost shiny Pokémon rates.

Where can I find a list of available shiny Pokémon?



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Donkey Kong Bananza Handheld Performance Might Make You Go Ape

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Donkey Kong Bananza Handheld Performance Might Make You Go Ape


Summary

Donkey Kong Bananza will hit max Resolution of Nintendo Switch 2 at launch this June.

The game will run at 1080p 60fps with HDR in handheld mode for smooth gameplay.

Switch 2 launch may face scarcity, GameStop will have very limited stock, Mario Kart World is pricier.

One of the games revealed during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct will be Donkey Kong Bananza, which will be the maximum resolution the console can reach when it launches this June.

Nintendo shared this information in the latest issues of its digital Nintendo Magazine 2025 Special Issue (Ivia WCCFTech), which revealed the platformer’s technical capabilities.

Related

10 Upcoming Switch 2 Games That Justify Pre-Ordering

Nintendo fans have much to be excited about with the Switch 2 on the horizon. Here are some of the games that justify pre-orders.

Donkey Kong Bananza Handheld Performance Revealed

Donkey Kong's new design in Donkey Kong Bananza

Per Nintendo, Donkey Kong Bananza will run up to 1080p resolution, 60 frames-per-second (fps) with HDR (High Dynamic Range) in Handheld mode. This should mean a buttery-smooth experience for the game assuming it can maintain that 60fps throughout the game even if there are loads of happening on screen.

Given how it’s infrequent for launch titles to tap the maximum capabilities of a console, there is a chance that future games can perform better, though 1080p at a consistent 60fps for a handheld? Yeah, that’s freakin’ good already.

The latest Donkey Kong game was revealed earlier this month, with the official description by Nintendo reads: “Get ready for Donkey Kong Bananza, a brand-new 3D platforming action adventure – available exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Crash, bash, and climb through nearly everything in DK’s path and tear off chunks of terrain to swing around and throw in groundbreaking exploration. The more that is demolished with powerful punches, the more areas open up to discover. Break on through this adventure full of mayhem, surprises and bananas when Donkey Kong Bananza crashes onto Nintendo Switch 2 July 17.”

Related

Peripheral Maker Will Make Sure You Can Stream On The Go Using The Switch 2

It will output at a lower resolution than the docked camera attachment.

While Donkey Kong Bananza won’t be available until almost two weeks after the Switch 2’s release, the scarcity of the console at launch might mean that even once the latest Donkey Kong game is released, there’s a very huge chance that you still won’t be able to buy pre-order a Switch 2 or get one at retail stores.

Mega-retailer GameStop is said to have a very limited number of stocks available at launch, which means people will be fighting tooth and nail to get one.

While Donkey Kong Bananza will be priced at the industry-standard $69.99, Mario Kart World will be a lot more expensive. If you’re looking for an arcade racer available at launch that won’t put a hole in your pocket, check out this one we spotted that you can buy for a cool $15.

Related

Nintendo Switch 2 Expected To Be The Biggest Console Launch Of All Time

Big news for Nintendo’s wallet, but will you actually be able to get one?

donkey-kong-bananza-tag-page-cover-art.jpg

Donkey Kong Bananza

Released

July 17, 2025

ESRB

Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Number of Players

Single-player

Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date

July 17, 2025



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