~Gaming

With anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI reaching fever pitch across the global gaming community, technical data extracted from PlayStation Network backend manifest databases and digital distribution pipelines has revealed the staggering physical footprint of Rockstar Games’ next-generation open-world epic. The base digital installation footprint for GTA VI on the PlayStation 5 is confirmed to require approximately 212 GB of available solid-state storage. While modern blockbuster titles like Call of Duty: Warzone and Ark: Survival Ascended have breached the 150 GB threshold through cumulative seasonal updates, GTA VI represents the first commercial console title to launch with a day-one base footprint exceeding 200 GB prior to subsequent live-service expansions. For millions of console owners preparing for their return to Vice City and the sprawling state of Leonida, this massive installation requirement presents an immediate storage reckoning that fundamentally tests the limits of current console architectures. The immediate operational impact on PlayStation 5 owners varies significantly depending on their hardware revision, turning internal storage management into an unavoidable pre-launch preparation. For launch-model PS5 owners with the original 825 GB SSD—which leaves only roughly 667.2 GB of usable storage space after factoring in the operating system, firmware cache, and system reservation partitions—a 212 GB installation will instantly swallow nearly 32% of the console’s entire available drive space. On the revised PS5 Slim, which expanded the internal drive to a full 1 TB yielding roughly 848 GB of usable space, the game will still occupy approximately a quarter of the SSD. Only owners of the premium 2 TB PlayStation 5 Pro, offering 1.89 TB of usable real estate, will comfortably absorb the title without being forced to uninstall multiple contemporary titles from their active rotation. To understand why the game’s footprint has ballooned to this scale despite Sony’s advanced hardware decompressor, one must examine the sheer density of Rockstar’s technical ambitions. The PlayStation 5 incorporates custom integrated hardware for the Oodle Kraken compression algorithm, which typically reduces modern game packages by 30% to 50% compared to legacy architectures. However, GTA VI’s asset pipeline relies on immense, uncompressed raw data arrays that defy traditional compression ratios. The state of Leonida features uncompromised 4K and 8K photogrammetry texture atlases, high-density volumetric weather systems, and seamless architectural interior-exterior transitions that entirely discard loading corridors. Furthermore, Rockstar’s overhauled physics engine, extensive dynamic ray tracing Bounding Volume Hierarchy (BVH) spatial data structures, and hundreds of hours of uncompressed multi-channel spatial 3D audio—paired with tens of thousands of bespoke motion-capture animation state machines for simulated NPC pedestrian routines—collectively generate a data payload unprecedented in consumer software. The sheer size of GTA VI also carries severe ramifications for physical collectors and optical disc logistics. Standard consumer Ultra HD Blu-ray discs utilized by the PS5 top out at a maximum capacity of 100 GB using triple-layer manufacturing. Mathematically, this confirms that the retail physical edition of Grand Theft Auto VI must ship on at least two Ultra HD Blu-ray discs—a dedicated installation Data Disc and a secondary Play Disc—mirroring the two-disc physical distribution model Rockstar famously utilized for Red Dead Redemption 2 on the PlayStation 4 and Square Enix adopted for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. For players seeking to future-proof their setups without perpetually cycling game installs, upgrading with a compliant M.2 NVMe SSD has shifted from a luxury to an essential prerequisite. Sony mandates PCIe Gen4 x4 drives delivering sequential read speeds of at least 5,500 MB/s paired with dedicated low-profile heatsinks (such as the Samsung 990 Pro, WD Black SN850X, or Crucial T500), ensuring that streaming bandwidth keeps pace with Vice City’s data deluge without inducing texture pop-in or asset streaming stutters. ~Gaming ~GTA6 ~PlayStation ~PS5 ~Hardware

Viral footage circulating across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and enthusiast reverse-engineering channels has stunned the gaming industry, showcasing Nintendo’s flagship next-generation title, Mario Kart World, booting and running interactively on Apple hardware, including the iPhone 18 Pro and Apple Silicon Macs. The sight of a brand-new, premier Nintendo Switch 2 release running on mobile consumer smartphones has ignited sensationalist claims that universal Switch 2 emulators have arrived within months of the console’s launch. However, a deep architectural analysis of the software powering these demonstrations reveals something far more sophisticated than traditional hardware emulation: developers have achieved direct, near-native execution of Switch 2 game binaries by leveraging a radical translation layer known as nxnative. To understand why Mario Kart World can run on an iPhone when traditional emulators like Yuzu or Ryujinx spent years achieving playable performance on high-end PCs, one must look at the underlying silicon. Unlike desktop x86 architectures that require complex Just-In-Time (JIT) recompilation to emulate console microcode, both the Nintendo Switch 2 (powered by Nvidia’s custom ARM-based T239 processor) and modern Apple devices share the common foundation of the 64-bit ARM architecture (ARM64). Originally created by developer seedds and subsequently adapted into a private next-generation fork by reverse-engineer Will Faust, nxnative does not emulate the Switch 2’s central processing unit. Instead, it operates similarly to Wine or Valve’s Proton on Linux: the game’s compiled ARM64 machine code executes directly and natively on Apple’s high-performance CPU cores, with nxnative acting strictly as a high-level operating system translation bridge between Nintendo’s proprietary Horizon OS (HLS) microkernel syscalls and the Darwin/POSIX interfaces of iOS. The primary engineering triumph demonstrated by Faust lies in translating Nintendo’s proprietary graphics pipeline, known as NVN2, into Apple’s low-level Metal API. The Switch 2 relies on an upgraded, Nvidia-specific NVN2 framework to orchestrate shading, geometric primitives, and hardware-accelerated rendering. Faust’s experimental harness intercepts these NVN2 draw calls and dynamically maps them to corresponding Metal render commands and unified memory buffers. However, shoehorning a console experience engineered for unified high-bandwidth memory into a smartphone presented severe operational hurdles. To prevent iOS’s aggressive Out-Of-Memory (OOM) watchdog daemon from abruptly terminating the application due to excessive RAM allocation, Faust implemented a custom userspace file-backed memory paging manager. This custom swap algorithm throttles active physical memory usage to just under 6.5 GB, allowing the game to stream track geometry and textures without crashing the mobile operating system. Despite the technical marvel of running Mario Kart World on an iPhone screen, enthusiasts hoping for a widespread public release face an insurmountable legal iron curtain. Faust publicly confirmed that he will not distribute the compiled iOS application package (.ipa) or release the source code for his private NVN2 fork, explicitly citing Nintendo’s aggressive global legal campaign against unauthorized circumvention and reverse engineering. Following the multi-million-dollar legal dismantling of Tropic Haze (the creators of Yuzu) and the subsequent forced shutdown of Ryujinx, developers working on next-generation Nintendo platforms operate under extreme caution. While public builds of nxnative continue to mature for legacy Switch 1 titles within open-source communities, this private Switch 2 demonstration serves as a monumental proof-of-concept: the convergence of standardized ARM silicon across mobile devices and home consoles has fundamentally shattered the hardware moat that historically shielded dedicated gaming systems from consumer mobile hardware. ~Gaming ~Nintendo ~Switch2 ~Apple ~Emulation

A firestorm of viral claims has swept through gaming forums, social media channels, and modding discords, alleging that the newly released Nintendo Switch 2 has already succumbed to full system piracy, unconstrained ROM dumping, and functional PC emulation. Viral clips purporting to show players loading game backups directly on retail hardware or running early Switch 2 titles on desktop rigs have racked up millions of views, creating the illusion of a sudden, total security collapse. However, a rigorous technical dissection of the current security landscape reveals a starkly different reality. While significant reverse-engineering breakthroughs have unquestionably occurred—including system firmware extractions and flashcart firmware updates—the claims of seamless native game piracy and playable PC emulators conflate distinct technical milestones, misinterpreting retrocompatible workarounds as native exploits while masking aggressive counter-measures deployed by Nintendo. The core catalyst behind viral videos showing backups running on actual Switch 2 consoles is not a native jailbreak, but the controversial MIG Switch (and its clone, MIG Flash) cartridge. Following a firmware update (v1.2.0), the flashcart manufacturer adapted its hardware logic to exploit the Switch 2’s physical cartridge slot and its backward-compatibility subsystem, allowing the device to load original Nintendo Switch (Switch 1) game ROMs. Crucially, the hardware cannot execute a single native Switch 2 title: next-generation game cards utilize an entirely overhauled cryptographic handshaking protocol, proprietary bus timings, and multi-layered hardware challenge-response routines that current flashcarts cannot emulate. Furthermore, attempting to use these devices has proven catastrophic for users. Nintendo’s security infrastructure tracks unique hardware certificate pairings and optical read timings; within days of the flashcart’s update rollout, a massive automated ban wave swept the ecosystem. Affected consoles are permanently barred from Nintendo Switch Online, the eShop, and firmware updates via error code 2124-4508, bricking the connected features of retail units even when users claim to have run self-dumped backups of their own physical libraries. Equally misunderstood are the widespread reports of successful Switch 2 game dumps. Through the coordinated application of userland memory-overload exploits (such as ns2jb) and specialized memory extraction utilities authored by scene developers like Kurumuz, security researchers have successfully dumped the Switch 2’s operating system firmware and accessed below-KIP binary structures. This data has enabled dataminers to dissect the internal file architecture of early Switch 2 titles, extracting raw assets, texture files, and 3D models—as seen in proof-of-concept skin swaps for Mario Kart World. However, extracting raw container assets is fundamentally different from achieving a decrypted, bootable game ROM. Native Switch 2 retail packages (NCAs) are encrypted using multi-tier key hierarchies locked deep inside Nvidia’s custom silicon Secure World (ARM TrustZone). Because researchers have not compromised the TrustZone kernel or extracted the console’s master root keys, native Switch 2 retail game code remains cryptographically opaque, rendering the creation of playable native ROM dumps an unresolved technical hurdle. The emergence of system firmware dumps has undeniably laid vital groundwork for future PC emulation, but claims of playable Switch 2 desktop emulators running commercial games remain entirely fabricated. Emulation teams and reverse-engineering collectives have begun analyzing the dumped OS binaries to map out the console’s custom hypervisor, proprietary memory management unit (MMU) behavior, and the architectural shifts between the original Tegra X1 and the new custom Nvidia T239-derived SoC. Building a functional emulator requires replicating this complex hardware pipeline from scratch—a multi-year engineering undertaking that remains in its absolute infancy. Independent cybersecurity analysts warn that online repositories, downloadable executables, and Discord channels currently advertising functional Switch 2 emulators or game ROM download packages are overwhelmingly credential-harvesting malware, token stealers, or monetized survey scams exploiting public enthusiasm. For now, the Switch 2’s native defense perimeter remains largely intact, with the battlefield confined to legacy compatibility friction and high-risk cat-and-mouse bans. ~Gaming ~Nintendo ~Switch2 ~Hardware ~Security

The security architecture of the Nintendo Switch 2 has faced its first significant breach just months into its lifecycle, as independent security researchers publicly demonstrated native code execution through an exploit chain dubbed ns2jb. Authored by security researcher Sammy Hajhamid (known online as pepsipu), the exploit targets system firmware version 23.0.1 and has ignited fierce debate across the homebrew and hardware security communities. What distinguishes this vulnerability from historical console hacks is the novel methodology used to uncover it: rather than relying purely on manual decompilation, the research team integrated an automated pipeline driven by AI coding models (specifically OpenAI Codex agents) hooked directly into physical Switch 2 hardware via JetKVM capture devices and automated mechanical reset switches. This AI-augmented fuzzing harness systematically cycled through memory inputs and simulated edge-case crashes around the clock, rapidly isolating subtle boundary calculation flaws that human auditing had overlooked. The attack vector itself exposes a classic engineering compromise in modern console architecture: backward compatibility as an inadvertent Trojan Horse. While Nintendo and Nvidia heavily fortified the Switch 2’s new custom silicon against hardware-level fault injection and cold-boot vulnerabilities, maintaining support for the vast library of original Nintendo Switch software required the inclusion of legacy 32-bit execution layers and translated system service modules. Researchers found their initial opening in SmileBASIC 4, a retrocompatible programming utility available on the Nintendo eShop. By passing specially crafted numerical strings into the application, the exploit triggers a 32-bit integer overflow that cascades into a path-normalization bug inside the operating system’s filesystem sysmodule (fss-srv). This dual-fault chain circumvents userland memory protections and achieves arbitrary code execution, which researchers promptly demonstrated by injecting custom textures and modified character models into real-time gameplay in titles like Mario Kart World. Crucially, however, understanding the strict boundaries of ns2jb is essential to distinguishing technical reality from sensationalized piracy headlines. Security analysts emphasize that ns2jb is strictly a tethered userland exploit, operating within the tightly sandboxed outer perimeter of Nintendo’s Horizon microkernel. Unlike the catastrophic Fusée Gelée bootrom flaw that permanently cracked first-generation Nintendo Switch consoles in 2018 via the Tegra X1’s unpatchable USB recovery stack, ns2jb achieves zero access to kernel-level privileges or the encrypted Secure World (ARM TrustZone). Because the vulnerability resides purely in dynamic RAM, it does not survive a console reboot; restarting the device completely purges the payload, requiring users to repeat the entire execution sequence. Furthermore, without kernel-level control or compromised master encryption keys, the exploit cannot disable Nintendo’s digital signature verification (sigpatches), dump encrypted cartridge media (NCA files), or enable unauthorized game piracy. In response to the disclosure, Nintendo moved aggressively to contain the attack surface, swiftly delisting SmileBASIC 4 from regional digital storefronts to prevent prospective tinkerers from acquiring the entry-point utility. Yet the cat-and-mouse dynamic of console security has already escalated to its next phase: developers within the homebrew scene have confirmed working efforts to port the underlying memory corruption logic to the Switch 2’s built-in WebKit rendering engine. If perfected, a WebKit-based implementation would eliminate the need for specialized legacy software altogether, allowing tethered userland code execution directly via network redirect portals. For Nintendo, the disclosure signals that despite advanced hardware hardening, legacy software bridges will remain an enduring battleground, prompting accelerated preparation of over-the-air firmware patches and enhanced server-side telemetry to neutralize the vector before deeper kernel vulnerabilities can be chained alongside it. ~Gaming ~Nintendo ~Switch2 ~Security ~Homebrew

Valve has implemented a major overhaul to its Steamworks submission and build review process, introducing stricter pre-release requirements aimed at tackling severe backlog delays. Over recent months, an unprecedented surge in submissions—heavily exacerbated by low-effort titles and asset flips—had stretched the typical store page and build approval turnaround from three to five business days to as long as twelve business days, creating unpredictable scheduling bottlenecks for independent and mid-tier studios. At the center of the updated policy is a mandatory five-minute client validation test. Developers must now install their release candidate build directly through the Steam client and actively play it for at least five continuous minutes before the system unlocks the formal Submit for Review button. Valve automated backend tracks this telemetry to ensure basic depot packaging, runtime launch parameters, and executable binaries initialize correctly before human reviewers inspect the build. Alongside the runtime verification, Valve has expanded its pre-release checklist with stricter configuration audits. Developers must now explicitly declare and test common redistributable packages (such as DirectX and Visual C++ runtimes), confirm that Steam Cloud save paths successfully write to remote storage during live play, and verify achievement metadata to eliminate placeholder icons and duplicates. Additionally, store page screenshot guidelines are being enforced more aggressively, requiring studios to categorize promotional concept renders separately from genuine in-game captures. The tighter intake controls represent Valve most assertive administrative adjustment to Steam publishing pipeline in years. While the added verification steps introduce minor operational friction for legitimate creators, the developer community has largely welcomed the initiative, anticipating that filtering out broken and unplayable submissions will restore review queue turnaround times ahead of the competitive holiday release window. ~Gaming ~Steam ~Valve ~PCGaming

Nintendo has officially released the highly anticipated ground-up remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo Switch 2, with international critical reviews landing at an overwhelmingly positive 96 aggregate score on Metacritic and OpenCritic. Arriving alongside top-tier marks from major outlets—including a 10/10 from IGN and Eurogamer's 'Essential' recommendation—the release represents both a major technical showcase for the platform and a benchmark in faithful heritage preservation. Rather than altering the foundational progression into a sprawling open-world format in the vein of Breath of the Wild, Nintendo EPD opted to leave the 1998 blueprint fundamentally intact. The geometry of Hyrule Field, classic dungeon navigation, and puzzle layouts remain faithful to the original Nintendo 64 release. However, the visual presentation has been thoroughly reimagined, introducing modern dynamic global illumination, dense interactive foliage, cinematic depth-of-field, and refined character models that preserve the melancholic, atmospheric tone of the original aesthetic. The audio and quality-of-life updates have drawn particular praise across early coverage. The iconic soundtrack originally composed by Koji Kondo has been re-recorded with a lush orchestral ensemble, featuring dynamic transitions between exploration and combat. Controls have been completely updated for the Switch 2 controller layout, resolving historic navigation friction with modern free-camera controls, dedicated boots and item quick-swap shortcuts, and subtle navigational cues that modernize notorious puzzle bottlenecks like the Water Temple without sacrificing their intricate design. Critical assessments note very few drawbacks, though several reviews pointed out that the omission of Master Quest mirrored content at launch is a missed opportunity, and that longtime veterans who thoroughly mastered the N64 or 3DS versions will find few surprises in the dungeon solutions. Nevertheless, critics largely agree that the remake stands as the definitive way to experience one of the medium's defining masterworks, positioning it as an indispensable system-seller heading into the holiday shopping period. ~Gaming ~Zelda ~Nintendo ~Switch2

Nintendo has posted its financial results for the first half of fiscal year 2026–2027, painting a picture of robust profitability driven by digital software and multimedia IP, even as hardware sales naturally cool following the initial record-breaking launch wave of the Nintendo Switch 2. Operating profit climbed nearly 50% year-on-year to 216.5 billion yen ($1.4 billion), while net profit rose 11% to 220.9 billion yen. Despite total revenue contracting 12.1% to 966 billion yen, higher-margin digital sales and strong licensing returns—anchored by the theatrical success of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie—substantially cushioned bottom-line performance. On the hardware front, Nintendo shipped 6.49 million Switch 2 units during the six-month period, bringing cumulative lifetime sales of the successor console to 26.35 million units worldwide. Second-quarter shipments of 2.67 million units reflected a 41% decrease compared to the console's extraordinary initial launch surge, aligning with typical seasonal patterns following an unprecedented release cycle. Nintendo reaffirmed its full-year hardware target of 16.5 million units, expressing confidence in the platform's trajectory heading into the crucial year-end holiday quarter. Addressing industry concerns surrounding escalating memory component costs and semiconductor supply chain pressures—often dubbed the broader hardware "RAMpocalypse"—Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that the company has secured sufficient component allocations to meet its production targets through the end of the fiscal year. Crucially for consumers, Furukawa stated that Nintendo is not considering additional retail price increases for the Switch 2, following regional adjustments earlier in the year. The company's software strategy remains heavily frontloaded for the holidays. The full-scale remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has launched to near-unanimous critical acclaim, serving as a primary system-seller for prospective buyers. Additionally, Nintendo recently unveiled Pikmin Day and the upcoming release of Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, which introduces enhanced Dandori modes and microphone-enabled companion mechanics. With major 2027 tentpoles already slated—including Metroid Ravenous and a new Monolith Soft RPG—Nintendo appears well-positioned to maintain steady ecosystem engagement. ~Gaming ~Nintendo ~Switch2

The gaming landscape is currently experiencing a dual phenomenon: massive nostalgia through high-profile remakes and a growing tension between traditional modding communities and the rise of generative AI. Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 era is already making waves with the monumental success of *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (2026 Remake)*. The title has surged to the top of Metacritic\s best games of 2026, proving that classic franchises continue to drive significant engagement and high critical acclaim even on next-generation hardware. However, this era of innovation is not without its friction. As developers increasingly experiment with AI-generated content, a controversy has emerged within the modding community. Nexus Mods has recently addressed concerns from users regarding the use of AI-created assets in mods. While the platform has ruled out a total ban on AI-created mods, it is implementing new rules to manage how such content is handled, highlighting the complex intersection of creativity, copyright, and the evolving capabilities of generative AI. As Nintendo prepares for a major month of releases, including the *Pikmin 4* Switch 2 edition, the industry remains caught between the celebration of its legendary past and the technical challenges of its digital and AI-driven future. ~Gaming ~Nintendo

The next generation of Nintendo gaming is rapidly approaching as the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 lineup sees major releases. Fans are bracing for a massive week as Nintendo confirms that Pikmin 4 will receive a dedicated edition for the Switch 2, officially launching on November 12, 2026. To build momentum, a demo is expected to be available for players to experience the enhanced gameplay starting as early as November 5. Adding to the excitement, the highly anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (2026 Remake) is scheduled for release on November 5 for the Nintendo Switch 2. This remake, which has been a subject of intense speculation and development rumors, is poised to be one of the flagship titles for the new hardware, promising modern graphical fidelity while preserving the timeless adventure that defined the 3D era of Nintendo. The gaming community is also watching closely as other titles, such as the Stellar Blade Complete Edition, arrive on the platform. As Nintendo transitions its user base into the next generation of hardware, these major releases are expected to drive hardware adoption and showcase the capabilities of the Switch 2's improved processing power and visual capabilities. With multiple high-profile releases and demos landing in early November, the upcoming month is set to be a pivotal moment for Nintendo enthusiasts and the industry at large. ~Gaming ~Nintendo

Since its launch on November 11, 2006, for the PlayStation 3, the PlayStation Store has fundamentally transformed the way gamers interact with software, evolving from a nascent digital marketplace into a cornerstone of the global gaming ecosystem. As Sony celebrates the 20th anniversary of this digital distribution service, the platform's journey reflects the broader industry-wide shift from physical media to a seamless, digital-first experience. From its inception on the PlayStation 3, the store introduced players to a world of downloadable content (DLC), demos, and instant access to titles, a concept that was revolutionary at the time. Through successive generations—from the PlayStation Portable (PSP) and PlayStation Vita to the highly successful PlayStation 4 and current PlayStation 5—the service has continuously evolved. Key updates, such as the major redesign in 2008 and recent integrations like Apple Pay and advanced accessibility features, have streamlined the user experience, making content discovery more intuitive for millions of players worldwide. To commemorate this milestone, Sony launched a special '20 Years of PlayStation Store' showcase on November 2, 2026. The celebration featured curated game selections and promotional deals. A standout element of the anniversary was the involvement of developers from across the industry. PlayStation Studios and third-party developers shared personal recommendations of games that had unexpectedly impressed them over the last two decades. Titles such as 'Shadow of the Colossus', 'God of War' (2018), 'Inscryption', and 'Balatro' were highlighted, celebrating the diverse range of experiences that have defined the platform. The PlayStation Store's legacy is not just in its technology, but in its ability to connect creators and players on a global scale. As it enters its third decade, the store remains a vital hub for the PlayStation community, continuing to adapt to new technologies and evolving player preferences in an increasingly digital gaming landscape. ~Gaming ~PlayStation

Google released the Gemini 4 family in October 2026, closing the month with the general availability of Gemini 4 Argon and then announcing Gemini 4 Carbon two weeks later. Gemini 4 Argon is the newest frontier reasoning model from Google, which said it excels at deep work on complex, real-world problems in areas such as coding, finance, legal analysis, cybersecurity and scientific research. Google reported that Argon ranked first on the Vals Index across critical economic sectors, including finance, coding, legal work and tax, and priced the model at 2 dollars per million input tokens and 10 dollars per million output tokens, with cached input tokens at 95 percent off. Google announced Gemini 4 Carbon on October 28 as its strongest model yet, focused on long-horizon engineering and cybersecurity defense. Google reported that Carbon reached the top position on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index version 5.0 with a score of 59, and cited results of 88.2 percent on SEC-bench Pro, 54.8 percent on ExploitGym and 71.0 percent on CWE-bench, describing improvements in generating secure code and patching. Google describes both releases as backed by a multi-layer safety stack that includes jailbreak resistance, agent alignment monitoring and prompt-injection defenses. Carbon is designed for sustained agentic workflows lasting several days, Google said, and will start with pre-release testing through the Fairwind Program before wider access. The fast move from Argon to Carbon shows how quickly Google is advancing frontier AI capabilities. The general availability of Argon to broader developer and enterprise audiences, and the early reported results for Carbon, point to longer agentic coding and security workflows in the near term. Source: [Google](https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/gemini-models/introducing-gemini-4-argon/) ~AI

Nintendo has designated November 1 as “Pikmin Day” and used its new Pikmin Direct to spotlight *Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy*. The Switch 2 edition launches November 12, while a free demo is due November 2. The demo includes the game’s opening area, Sun-Speckled Terrace, plus two Dandori Academy stages. In the new edition, players can use Switch 2’s built-in microphone to give Oatchi voice commands. Dandori Academy adds timed treasure-collecting challenges, with weekend exams offering one attempt after players practise. This is an enhanced edition of *Pikmin 4*, rather than a new mainline sequel. The demo arrives ten days before launch, giving Switch 2 owners a way to try the opening and the new challenge mode ahead of release. Nintendo says all four mainline Pikmin games can be played on both Switch and Switch 2. Nintendo also announced a “Secret Caves” update for *Pikmin Bloom*, planned for this winter; the mobile update is separate from the Switch 2 demo and release. Details and dates are in [Nintendo’s Pikmin Day Direct](https://www.nintendo.com/jp/nintendo-direct/description/20261031_en_US.html); [Game Informer’s report](https://gameinformer.com/2026/10/31/shigeru-miyamoto-proclaims-november-1-is-pikmin-day-pikmin-4-demo-coming-to-switch-2) adds context on the demo content.

 Image via [Eurogamer](https://www.eurogamer.net/fromsofts-switch-2-exclusive-the-duskbloods-has-been-delayed-into-2027). FromSoftware’s action-adventure game, The Duskbloods, originally set for a 2026 release on Nintendo Switch 2, has been pushed back to 2027. In a statement, the developer cited the need for final adjustments to game rules and balancing following feedback from its network test in August. Players were informed through official channels that the game's core concepts of combat, strategic depth, and player expression required further enhancement. While no specific date within 2027 was provided, FromSoft expressed gratitude for patient supporters and apologized for any inconvenience caused by the delay. Sources: [Eurogamer](https://www.eurogamer.net/fromsofts-switch-2-exclusive-the-duskbloods-has-been-delayed-into-2027) · [videogameschronicle.com](https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fromsoftwares-switch-2-exclusive-the-duskbloods-has-been-delayed-to-2027/) · [polygon.com](https://www.polygon.com/the-duskbloods-release-date-nintendo-switch-2) · [IGN](https://www.ign.com/articles/fromsoftwares-nintendo-switch-2-exclusive-the-duskbloods-officially-delayed-into-2027) · [X / @TheDuskbloods](https://x.com/TheDuskbloods/status/2115805894336536741) · [X / @eurogamer](https://x.com/eurogamer/status/2115809626084315295)

Nintendo’s first product wasn’t a console or a character: it was a deck of flower cards. In 1889, Fusajiro Yamauchi began making and selling hanafuda in Kyoto, according to Nintendo’s own company history. The deck’s structure is the clever part. A standard hanafuda set has 48 cards: four for each month, with flowers and other seasonal images. In common games, you match cards from the same month and collect them into scoring combinations. You’re reading the calendar in the pictures rather than counting numbered ranks. Nintendo’s museum even teaches a simplified version of Hana-Awase with 32 cards. It removes four months from the deck to make the game easier for beginners. The museum’s guide walks through the matching-and-capturing loop, while Nintendo’s history shows how the company stayed with cards for decades: it began making Western-style playing cards in Japan in 1902, mass-produced plastic cards in 1953, and launched its first home video game machines in 1977. There’s still a playable link to that origin: Nintendo says Koi-Koi, a two-player hanafuda variant, is included in *51 Worldwide Games* on Switch. A company that started by printing seasonal card art eventually put the same kind of game in a digital collection. Sources: [Nintendo company history](https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/en/history/index.html) · [Nintendo Museum: Try Playing Hanafuda](https://museum.nintendo.com/en/guide/hanafuda/index.html) · [Nintendo: Revisit its roots with Hanafuda](https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/News/2021/August/Revisit-Nintendo-s-roots-with-Hanafuda-2019412.html) ~gaming

 Artwork: Konami’s official 35th-anniversary campaign for the code. The famous ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A sequence did not begin as a planned marketing Easter egg. It first appeared in the 1986 Famicom game *Gradius*, where it powers the ship up to nearly its strongest equipment, Konami confirms. Its creator, Kazuhisa Hashimoto, explained the more practical origin in a 2003 developer interview. While working on the console port, he found the arcade game difficult and couldn’t beat it himself, so he added the code for his own use. He made it easy to remember because he expected to be the one entering it. That is why the code’s original reward was specific to *Gradius*: nearly the ship’s best power-up set, not extra lives. What began as one programmer’s handy shortcut went out with the game and eventually became a recognizable Konami signature. Read [Hashimoto’s interview with teammate Shigeharu Umezaki](https://glitterberri.com/developer-interviews/konami-the-nintendo-era/) and [Konami’s account of the code’s first appearance](https://www.konami.com/games/corporate/en/news/release/20260904/). ~gaming