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Pokémon Home 2.0 adds compatibility with latest Nintendo Switch titles

Pokémon Home 2.0 is available now.

The Pokémon Company is rolling out its major software update for its app on mobile and Nintendo Switch. Version 2.0 is the largest update the service has seen since its launch. It also adds some much-desired compatibility for newer Pokémon titles.

Starting today, Pokémon Home’s cloud service is available for Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, and Pokémon Shining Pearl. This means that Pokémon trainers can now transfer, manage, and store their collection of pocket monsters between these newer games.

In addition, Pokémon Home Version 2.0 introduces Strange Balls. The Pokémon Company states that Pokémon Legends: Arceus takes place “in the distant past of the world of Pokémon.” Due to this, any Pokémon caught in other tentpole titles will appear in Strange Balls. Though, Pokémon caught in Pokémon Legends: Arceus will appear in standard Poké Balls in other games.

Additionally, The Pokémon Company is celebrating the launch of Version 2.0 by offering special Pokémon when linking games.

When linking Pokémon Legends: Arceus with Pokémon Home, players will receive Rowlet, Cyndaquil and Oshawott with maximum effort levels as Mystery Gifts. These are accessible within the app on iOS and Android.

Likewise, players linking Pokémon Brilliant Diamond or Pokémon Shining Pearl into the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon Home will receive Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup with Hidden Abilities.

Finally, Pokémon Home Version 2.0 adds new achievements and stickers. These can be obtained by reaching certain milestones or meeting certain conditions in the mobile device version of Pokémon Home.

Pokémon Home Version 2.0 is available on iO, Android and Switch.

Image credit: The Pokémon Company

Source: 9to5Mac

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Mobile Syrup

Sony releases gamer dictionary so you can brush up on your PlayStation A-Zs

Sony has released a gamer dictionary for PlayStation players, with over 100 video game-related terms.

Dubbed the ‘PlayStation Ultimate list of popular, gaming-related terms,’ Sony gives a run-through of some of the more commonly used phrases across the gaming community.

The kneejerk reaction is to expect a number of early 2000s phrases like “Noob.” However, Sony actually managed to create something more than that. The list features a comprehensive list of phrases that may help someone who feels overwhelmed when discussing games.

“Discover the definitions of some of gaming’s most popular words, terminology and slang phases,” Sony writes in the dictionary. The company continues and actually succeeds in providing useful definitions.

Across the full A-Z list, Sony includes a number of definitions for genre-specific terms. Here, we see details for genres like “ARPGs,” “RPGs,” “CRPGs,” etc. Sony also goes on to provide definitions for terms that many players may think are pretty standard. “Dungeons,” “party,” and skins” are terms many players are probably used to. However, casual gamers or those dipping their toes into specific genres may not have the slightest idea.

The list also includes some terms that are pretty in-depth for players. “Min-max,” “RNG,” “OP,” and “Kiting” are all among those that can really be a headscratcher for those unfamiliar with the terms.

This is a project you’d expect to see come from a group of passionate players within the community. There is some humour here seeing Sony publish this list on the official website. It covers a breadth of terms that are commonly found within gaming but doesn’t necessarily add much in terms of the PlayStation ecosystem or its hardcore player base.

Image credit: Sony

Source: PlayStation Via: Gamespot

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Xbox Series X now in stock online at Walmart through Xbox All Access

Unlike Sony’s PlayStation 5, getting your hands on an Xbox Series X is becoming increasingly more possible as stock slowly becomes more readily available.

In a recent tweet, Walmart Canada says that it now has Microsoft’s Xbox Series X in stock through Microsoft’s Xbox All Access subscription service. The retailer says there’s a limit of one console per household and that the console is only available online.

Though Xbox All Access, the monthly cost is $39.99 for the Series X for 24 months.

The Subscription plan includes Game Pass Ultimate, which costs $16.99 per month and packs in access to all Microsoft first-party titles, EA Play games, Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Live Gold. The Xbox Series X regularly costs $599 in Canada.

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Source: @WalmartCAGaming

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Here are the new games added to Nvidia GeForce Now last week

Nvidia announced eight new titles that arrived on its GeForce Now cloud-streaming platform this past week.

Below is a full list of all of the titles:

  • Achilles: Legends Untold (New release on Steam)
  • Brigandine The Legend of Runersia (New release on Steam)
  • Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA: Ninja Wars (New release on Steam)
  • Songs of Conquest (New release on Steam and Epic Games Store)
  • Cepheus Protocol Anthology (New release on Steam, May 13)
  • Evil Dead: The Game (New release on Epic Games Store, May 13)
  • Pogostuck: Rage With Your Friends (Steam)
  • Yet Another Zombie Defense HD (Steam)

Nvidia’s cloud gaming service offers three membership options. The first is the free route that will give you standard access to the platform with a one-hour gaming limit per session. Once the hour passes, you can queue again to get another hour of free gaming in, although you may have to wait a while.

Nvidia also offers a paid membership option that gives you priority access to gaming servers without any session length limit. This subscription will cost you $12.99/month or $64.99 for six months.

Lastly, the company’s recently-released RTX 3080 tier provides a low ‘click-to-pixel’ latency of 56ms, and a boost in framerates and overall performance. The subscription is available for $24.99/month or $129.99 for six months.

Learn more about Nvidia GeForce and its subscription options here.

Source: Nvidia

Image credit: Epic Games Store

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Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards hits Switch’s Online Expansion Pack next week

The next title to land on Nintendo’s Switch Online ‘Expansion Pack’ tier is Kirby 64: the Crystal Shards on May 20th.

The game was initially released in 2000 on the Nintendo 64 and is a 2D platformer with 3D graphics. For some reason, the game flew under my radar when it was first released even though I only owned an N64 and purchased nearly every major game for the console.

The next game to land on the Expansion Pack is N64 classic Mario Golf, though its specific release date is still unknown.

Nintendo’s ‘Expansion Pack’ online tier costs $63.99 for a 12-month individual membership (one account) or $99.99 for a 12-month Family Membership (up to eight accounts).

Image credit: Screenshot

Source: @NintendoAmerica

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Bethesda delays Starfield and Redfall to 2023

Bethesda has announced that it’s delaying space RPG Starfield and Arkane’s co-op shooter Redfall into 2023.

Given we haven’t seen anything about these two anticipated titles for several months, this delay doesn’t come as a significant surprise. In a recent tweet, the Microsoft-owned developer says that the teams behind both titles have “incredible ambitions for their games” and that it wants to ensure players “receive the best, most polished version of them.”

Even with the delays, it’s likely that we’ll catch a glimpse of both titles at Microsoft’s E3-like Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase event on June 12th. Starfield was first shown off back in 2018. On the other hand, Arcane’s open-world co-op FPS was shown off in 2021.

Both titles are set to come exclusively to the Xbox Series X/S and PC. Microsoft purchased Bethesda, id software and Arkane for more than $7.5 billion USD (roughly $9.9 billion CAD) back in 2020.

Image credit: Xbox

Source: @Bethesda 

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Xbox suffered from several online outages this weekend

Microsoft’s Xbox online services, including Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass and more, encountered several outages over the past few days.

Connectivity issues started Friday afternoon and continue to affect some users as of Sunday, May 8th. Some players were unable to launch digitally purchased titles or enter cloud gaming sessions. In some cases, even offline play wasn’t working for Xbox console owners, reminding gamers that the modern, always-online gaming world can quickly fall apart.

Though I was unable to play any digital titles on my Xbox on Friday, May 6th in the afternoon, the issue was eventually resolved but returned on Saturday, May 7th.

At 1:30am ET on Sunday, Microsoft posted a tweet confirming that the issues have been resolved, though a quick look at Twitter indicates some Xbox owners are still unable to play titles. It’s likely that Xbox Live will be up for all users shortly.

The Xbox status page currently lists all services as up and running. Have you experienced issues with your Xbox this weekend? Let us know in the comments below. Downdetector also indicates that reports of problems with the Xbox platform have decreased over the past 24 hours.

Source: @XboxSupport 

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N64 Goldeneye multiplayer running on four screens is a childhood dream fulfilled

Before Halo: Combat Evolved on the original Xbox, Goldeneye 007 for the Nintendo 64 was the premier console first-person shooter (FPS).

Though the game is famous for its proximity mine and RCP90-filled multiplayer mode (remember what a good map ‘Library’ was?), it was difficult to get through a split-screen match without accusing your friend or family member of “screen peeking.”

A quick glance at your opponent’s half of the display stacked directly beside your own was often the difference between winning a heated gunfight (I’ll admit that I did this all the time as a kid).

However, the Centre of Computing History has found a way to give every player their own screen in the N64 FPS classic. In a video shared on Twitter (seen above), the organization shared how it got this project up and running for its upcoming 25 years of GoldenEye Dev Talk Evening event. Those attending the event will also be able to test out the experience for themselves.

The Dev Talk event will also feature three of GoldenEye’s developers — Marin Hollis, Dr. David Doak and Brett Jones — discussing the iconic title’s development process, showing off concept art and possibly even showing off the cancelled GoldenEye Remastered for the Xbox 360.

It’s worth pointing out that this OG Xbox System Link-like setup won’t be accessible to the average player. According to the Centre of Computing History, it cost roughly £8,000 (roughly $12,735) to put together.

That said, it’s running the original cartridge version of GoldenEye 007 and not an emulator so, of course, that high cost is worth it.

Image credit: Business Insider 

Source: Computer History Museum Via: IGN

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343 Industries responds to Halo Infinite Season 2’s rough launch

If you’ve been following Halo Infinite for the last few months, you likely won’t be surprised to hear that Season 2 Lone Wolves is not off to a great start.

The second season of the game’s multiplayer mode is plagued with several issues, including the removal of skill jumps/slides, connectivity, overly specific challenges and the strangest of all, a weapon jamming glitch.

Yes, you read that correctly, the latest update to Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode actually causes some weapons to intermittently lock.

Thankfully, it seems 343 Industries is listening to the title’s often not very forgiving fan base. John Junyszek, Halo Infinite senior community manager and Joseph Staten, the game’s head of creative, recently took to Twitter to discuss players’ concerns.

Hopefully, an update is released shortly that restores at least some of the title’s skill jumps but more importantly, fixes the game’s gun jamming issue. As a frequently Halo Infinite player, I can confirm that the jamming glitch is quite common and often appears at the most inopportune times (I actually thought my controller was broken at first). It seems there’s a possibility that the problem could be tied to a new trigger dead zone setting added in the season 2 update.

Though it suffers from a myriad of issues, Season 2 also offers several new game modes, including the return of ‘King of the Hill,’ and the surprisingly great ‘Last Spartan Standing,’ which has convinced me that maybe some variant of a battle royale mode could work in Infinite.

Other updates include new maps ‘Catalyst’ and ‘Breaker’ and a 100-tier battle pass with additional armour and cosmetic unlocks. Microsoft Office’s ‘Clippy’ also makes a surprise appearance.

Image credit: 343 Industires 

Source: @joestaten, @Unyshek, Reddit ‘Mother-chocolate-505’

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A gold-plated Nintendo Wii originally designed for the Queen is for sale

If you’ve ever wanted to own a gold-plated Nintendo Wii initially designed for Queen Elizabeth the II, now is your chance.

No? That’s not something you’ve ever considered? What if I pitch it to you as a physical NFT or an investment in your financial future?

According to Kotaku, Dutch video game collector Consolevariations — who also goes by Don/Donny — is selling 24-karat gold-plated Wii.

The unique console was created back in 2009 by bankrupt video game development studio THQ as a gift for Queen Elizabeth the II. Unfortunately, the gold-plated Wii never made it into the monarch’s hands because Buckingham Palace has a strict policy surrounding gifts (which is surprising if you’ve watched Netflix’s The Crown). A collector then got the Wii from a contact at THQ, who sold the console to Don.

Bidding currently sits at $2,000 USD (roughly $2,568 CAD) but is expected to climb significantly higher. It’s worth noting that Don tried to sell the golden Wii on eBay back in 2021 for $300,000 (about $386,000 CAD). However, the console was removed from the platform because eBay flags listings for items from accounts well outside their usual price range. The current auction is set to close on May 21st.

Gold Wii

If you’re interested in the very baller-looking Wii, it’s important to note that it’s not in mint condition, with the listing stating that it suffers from “scattered” gold chipping.” However, it does include a copy of Big Family Games, a game that I’ve never heard of and is likely an awful Wii Sports clone.

Though it’s unlikely this gold-plated Wii will sell for $300,000 USD, it’ll likely still net a significant amount of cash, especially when a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. sold for $2 million USD (roughly $2.58 million CAD) a few months ago.

Image credit: Consolevariations

Source: Consolevariations Via: Kotaku