Nintendo has updated some of its Switch profile icons to match its newer character designs. The consolereceived a major firmware update today, bringing it up to version 20.0.0. While this update is mainly focused on adding new features and changing some others in preparation for the release ofSwitch 2in June, it also includes a number of smaller tweaks. As noted byOatmealDomeon X, one of these tweaks includes the changing of a number of Switch profile icons to update their appearance....

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has warned that a “significant number” of players in Japan will miss out on Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders, after 2.2 million applied for its My Nintendo pre-order lottery. Pre-orders forNintendo‘s next system have been slowly opening around the world, with the UK and Europe opening pre-orders at the start of April. On Thursday, Japanese players who applied to the My Nintendo lottery for a chance to pre-order the console will find out if they have been chosen....

Nvidia has passed Apple as the world’s most valuable company. The technology giant leapfroggedAppleas its market value reached $3.53 trillion. The companies have traded the crown back and forth this week, withNvidiafalling back to $3.47 trillion as Apple closed trading at $3.52 trillion. Nvidia’s surging market value is being attributed to Nvidia’s status as a leading provider for computing parts required in the development of AI. “More companies are now embracing artificial intelligence in their everyday tasks and demand remains strong for Nvidia chips,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell speaking toReuters....

Obsidian Entertainment design director Josh Sawyer has said a combination of more development time and better planning can help the RPG specialist shed its reputation for releasing “buggy games”. Sawyer was responding to a commenter on his personalTumblraccount, who suggested the studio’s more recent releases, including Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, were more polished than its older games. Asked whether this was due to the studio refining its QA process over the years, or simply a result of it having “more time and money”, Sawyer argued that bugs were a natural by-product of creating complex non-linear games like Fallout: New Vegas, which he directed, although he said that steps can be taken to mitigate them....

Payday 3 is seemingly targeting a September release date. That’s according to highlyreliable leakerAggiornamenti Lumia, a dataminer who regularly reports on listings added to theXboxand Windows stores before they’re made public, such as product release dates. “PAYDAY 3 | Release Date: May 23, 2025,” they tweeted on Tuesday. PAYDAY 3 | Release Date: September 21, 2023pic.twitter.com/qGi6DU93U8 — Aggiornamenti Lumia (@ALumia_Italia)July 30, 2025 It’s possible Payday 3’s release date will be confirmed over the coming weeks as part ofSummer Game Fest, perhaps during itslive kick-off show on Thursday....

Planet of Lana will be released for PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch on April 16, publisher Thunderful Games has announced. Developed by Wishfully Studios, the puzzle platformer was first released forPCandXboxconsoles last May. It was well received, earning the game a score of 80 across all platforms on review aggregation site Metacritic. “Get ready to explore a breathtaking world alongside your loyal companion Mui as you navigate stunning landscapes, solve intricate puzzles and overcome mysterious dangers,” saysThunderful....

PlayStation has moved to clarify PlayStation 5’s plans for backwards compatibility with PS4 games. In a presentation on Wednesday,PS5architectMark CernysaidSony expected almost all of the top 100 PS4 games to be playable on PS5at launch. In an updated statement published on Friday,Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Hideaki Nishino said the company wouldtest compatibility with “thousands” more PS4 gamesbefore PS5’s launch. The platform holder believes that the “overwhelming majority” ofPS4games will be playable on PS5, Nishino claimed, but he did not provide a timescale for doing so....

A top PlayStation executive has predicted that technological advancements in gaming will see the focus “shift from graphics or visuals to immersive narratives” over the coming decade. Sonyused its corporate strategy meeting on Thursday topresent its “Creative Entertainment Vision,”which it describes as its long-term vision for where it “wants to be in 10 years, with an eye towards future technological advances”. In aninterviewpublished to coincide with today’s event, Asad Qizilbash, the head ofPlayStationProductions and head of product at PlayStation Studios, was asked to provide his predictions for where gaming’s headed....

The latest episode of VGC: The Video Game Podcast is now available for listening. This week, Jordan, Andy and Pete chat aboutMicrosoft‘s Indiana Jones backpedal, Andy’s trip to Japan and more. Plus, our thoughts onNintendo‘s Museum and what we’d like to see from it. If you love this podcast, you may get more bonus podcasts from VGC on Patreon. You can find out more atPatreon.com/VideoGamesChronicle VGC: A Video Games Podcast episodes are available weekly, hosted by VGC’s Jordan Middler, Chris Scullion and Andy Robinson, and broadcaster Pete Donaldson, featuring regular special guests from across the games industry....

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Gym Order are a first for the series because you can actually do the gyms in any order. While previous games would occasionally let you skip a gym, or do one of two gyms in a random order, from the start of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the gym order is entirely up to you. After you start attending the Academy, you’re given the option of three separate paths; taking on the gyms inVictory Road, finding the Herba Mystica and defeating Titan Pokemon inPath of Legends, and defeating Team Star inStarfall Street....

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet IV Training is easier than ever. IV training has been part of thePokemonseries for generations now, and it’s an essential part of the competitive element of the game. With the inclusion of5 and 6-star raids, IV training is also essential if you’re looking to take down the ultra-powerful Pokemon necessary to acquireHerba Mystica, the key to finding Shiny Pokemon. So read on to find out everything you need to know about IV training and how to use Bottle Caps....

Pokémon Snap will be added to Switch Online’s Nintendo 64 library next week, Nintendo has announced. PokémonSnap originally released for N64 in 1999 before being made available to Wii owners as a Virtual Console title in 2007. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Guides: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet walkthrough, tips, and Pokemon locations|Roaring Moon location|Iron Valiant location|Shiny sandwich recipes|Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Legendaries|Pokemon type chart It sees players travelling to Pokémon Island, where they meet Professor Oak and embark on a safari to take the best possible photographs of over 60 different creatures....

Mega Dragonite will star in Pokémon TCG Mega Dream Ex, the first Trading Card Game set to release after Pokémon Legends Z-A. PokémonTCG Mega Dream Ex will serve as this year’s high-class pack. High-class packs typically include a special version of Pokémon, such as shiny Pokémon, or are themed to a specific group of Pokémon. Previous high-class sets include Terastal Fest, which became Prismatic Evolutions in the west, and Shiny Treasure Ex, which became Paldean Fates....