Nintendo has confirmed a Switch 2 price increase for 2026. In the U.S., the system is moving from $449.99 to $499.99 beginning September 1. Waiting on Switch 2 just got more expensive.

Star Fox on Switch 2 sounds awesome. But after waiting this long for the series to return, I can’t help but wonder if Nintendo is playing it a little too safe by leaning so heavily on Star Fox 64 nostalgia. New editorial from The Input Lag: theinputlag.com/editorial/st...

Star Fox is finally back. Nintendo is bringing the series to Switch 2 with a new game inspired by Star Fox 64, and that feels like the safest possible runway for a franchise that has been grounded for too long. Releases June 25, 2026

The weekend is short, so the game you choose should feel worth it. This week’s Gaming Backlog looks at Pokémon shiny hunting, Maydar prep, Majora’s Mask, and a Star Wars Day pick with KOTOR II. What are you planning to play this weekend?

Another Pokémon Pokopia event is rolling out globally! theinputlag.com/news/sableye...

Shiny Volcanion is now available in Pokémon Home. You’ll need to complete multiple Pokémon Legends ZA Pokédex milestones to unlock it. 🔗 theinputlag.com/news/shiny-v...

Gaming doesn’t disappear when life gets busy, it just looks different. This week was mostly short sessions, small progress, and making the most of limited time… and honestly, it still felt meaningful. If you’re struggling to find time to play, I wrote about what’s been working for me:

There’s a pattern in shiny hunting that players don’t always talk about: The moment you stop chasing the shiny… is often when you find it. This Shiny Badge Quest run in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen is starting to prove that idea in real time. Full story: theinputlag.com/highlights/i...

I wasn’t even trying to shiny hunt. I was grinding money and preparing for future hunts… Then a shiny Pidgey showed up. On one of the most dangerous routes in FireRed. Preparation saved the hunt 👇 theinputlag.com/highlights/p...

Remember Splatoon Raiders? After months of silence, it’s finally back with a release date, new gameplay, and a pretty big shift away from the series’ usual multiplayer focus. This might be Nintendo testing how far Splatoon can stretch beyond Turf War. Full breakdown 👇

First article alert. Ida just shared her first impressions of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, and it already sounds like the kind of game you can just unwind with for hours. Go show her some love: theinputlag.com/hands_on/tom...

A nickname shouldn’t matter this much. But sometimes, it does. We wrote about how “Frito” became something more than just a shiny Pokémon, and how a community gave it meaning.

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are coming to Nintendo Switch. They’re $20 each. They’re not included in Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo is treating classic mainline Pokémon games as premium products — even twenty years later. Would you rather see them included in NSO, or are you fine paying $20?

What’s on your gaming backlog this weekend? For me, it’s Mario Tennis Fever, finally finishing Skyrim, and waiting for Pokémon Pokopia. What are you playing?

Mario Tennis Fever is a strong return for the series. The gameplay is fast and polished, and the new Fever Rackets are a genuine improvement. But a shallow Adventure Mode and a $70 price tag keep it from greatness. I scored it an 8/10. Full review: theinputlag.com/mario-tennis...

Early Pokémon Pokopia previews are surprisingly consistent. It’s not shallow. It’s not lazy. And it’s definitely not just “Animal Crossing with Pokémon.” The more hands-on impressions I read, the clearer the pattern becomes. Are we underestimating this spin-off?

A playable Pokémon Pokopia demo is happening this weekend at EUIC London. 👀 That’s sooner than expected. Quiet confidence move—or just a teaser before Pokémon Day?

🎮 What’s on your gaming backlog this weekend? Weekends are usually the only real chance to sit down and play. With Mario Tennis Fever launching this week, I’ve been revisiting Mario Tennis on N64 Online and Mario Tennis Aces. What are you hoping to play — or finally finish — this weekend?

Was the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase actually that bad… or were expectations just out of sync with what a partner showcase is meant to be? It didn’t have big first-party reveals, but it did say a lot about where third-party support and Switch 2 might be headed. Curious how others felt. 👀

Pokémon Pokopia is a month away, and reactions are clearly split. Some fans are excited for a cozy, life-sim Pokémon game. Others aren’t sold. I get the hesitation — but I can’t wait to play it.

Oblivion is officially confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 — complete with both story expansions and a 2026 release window. The real test won’t be nostalgia — it’ll be execution. 🔗 theinputlag.com/the-elder-sc...

Nintendo’s Partner Showcase wasn’t a full Direct — but it still felt like a statement. Oblivion Remastered, Resident Evil, Monster Hunter Stories 3, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth… that’s real third-party confidence for Switch 2. Full recap 👇 theinputlag.com/nintendo-dir...

Another Partner Showcase tomorrow. 30 minutes, third-party games, Switch and Switch 2. What’s the one announcement that would make this Direct a win for you? theinputlag.com/nintendo-ann...

The Nintendo Switch has officially become Nintendo’s best-selling console ever — surpassing the DS. It’s more than a milestone. It helps explain why Nintendo’s hybrid future now feels locked in, and why the Switch era isn’t ending abruptly. 🔗 theinputlag.com/nintendo-swi...

Nintendo didn’t need another trailer to keep Tomodachi Life top of mind. Dropping the original soundtrack on Nintendo Music is a quiet, nostalgia-driven move — and it’s kind of brilliant. theinputlag.com/nintendo-isn...

I can’t wait to learn more about Peakychu. What could this mysterious Pokémon bring to Pokémon Pokopia?

Preorder bonuses can be a fun part of a game’s launch — when they actually feel special. Amazon’s Pokémon Pokopia preorder bonus doesn’t quite match the game’s cozy charm, especially next to the Pokémon Center’s offerings. Our thoughts 👇 theinputlag.com/amazons-poke...

More Nintendo games should have demos. If a game’s great, let it speak for itself. Agree or disagree?

Revisiting Mario Tennis after a Zelda weekend, and still unsure about Mario Tennis Fever. What’s coming off your gaming backlog this weekend? 🎮 theinputlag.com/whats-on-you...

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream isn’t a must-have for everyone — and that’s okay. It’s not about progression or control. It’s about checking in, watching weird stories unfold, and letting Miis do their thing. That’ll click for some players and completely miss for others.

Miis aren’t just back — they’re back on purpose. Nintendo’s Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Direct felt less like a nostalgia play and more like a confident statement about chaos, self-expression, and letting Miis be weird again. Our full take 👇 theinputlag.com/tomodachi-li...

Nintendo Direct speculation is picking up again — and February keeps coming up for a reason. Nintendo hasn’t confirmed anything, but history and timing help explain why fans are once again watching the calendar. theinputlag.com/why-a-februa...

Virtual Boy is coming to Nintendo Switch Online on Feb. 17 👀 Seven games launch day one, modern features like save states are included, and more titles are planned. What’s your Virtual Boy memory—or is this your first time trying it? theinputlag.com/virtual-boy-...

Kirby Air Riders Update 1.3.0 is live. 🏁 Grand Prix, GameShare, City Trial balance tweaks, and lots of bug fixes. This feels more like a wrap-up than a routine patch. Details: theinputlag.com/kirby-air-ri...

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is getting its own Nintendo Direct 👀 Nintendo confirmed a ~20-minute presentation on January 29, giving us our first real deep dive into the sequel. Feels like a release date might finally be close.

Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream Nintendo Direct Announced For Thursday January 29th, 2026 theinputlag.com/tomodachi-li...

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is getting its own Nintendo Direct on January 29 🎉 Nintendo has confirmed ~20 minutes of new info—release date incoming? 🔗 theinputlag.com/tomodachi-li...

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Ranked Battles Season 6 is on the way 👀 Rewards, Mega Stones, and how to compete—everything you need before it begins 👇 theinputlag.com/pokemon-lege...

Be honest — are you planning to pick up Mario Tennis Fever when it launches? Nintendo’s been strangely quiet about this one… We're curious where the hype actually is 👀

Yoshi might be the real star of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie 🐢💚 A new clip released after today’s Nintendo Direct gives us another adorable (and hilarious) look at him—especially that Chain Chomp moment. Full clip + thoughts here: theinputlag.com/the-super-ma...

The latest Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailer shows off Yoshi, classic power-ups like Fire Flower and Frog Suit, and even a surprise Birdo appearance. What caught your eye the most? 👇

Pokémon Pokopia is doing something wild — you don’t catch Pokémon, you are one. We’ve rounded up every Pokémon confirmed so far, including new variants and the Ditto twist that flips the formula on its head. Who are you hoping makes the final roster?

Pokémon Pokopia feels like it’s doing something quietly different. Instead of Gym Leaders or Champions, its cast appears to be Pokémon-led — with each character possibly filling a key role in the community. We took a closer look at what that might mean 🌱 theinputlag.com/pokemon-poko...

What’s on your gaming backlog this weekend? Zelda turns 40 this year, so I’m finally revisiting The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Switch 2 🌿 What are you playing? theinputlag.com/whats-on-you...

The Legend of Zelda’s live-action movie will stream on Netflix after its theatrical run. The film is still set for May 7, 2027. Feeling confident… or cautiously optimistic? 👀

LEGO Game Boy Review: Nostalgia, Brick by Brick theinputlag.com/lego-game-bo...

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie gets a second Nintendo Direct Sunday, January 25th, 2026! theinputlag.com/super-mario-...

Nintendo just confirmed a Super Mario Galaxy Movie Nintendo Direct for Sunday 🍄 Rosalina and Bowser Jr. are in—who do you think gets revealed next?

Is Pokémon Pokopia the bold reinvention Pokémon’s been waiting for? New ideas, a different direction, and plenty of unknowns. Could Pokopia refresh the series—or risk losing what makes Pokémon Pokémon? What do you think?

Mario Wonder’s Talking Flower: Hit or Miss? 🌼 Charming Nintendo weirdness… or the most annoying sidekick yet? Where do you land? 👇