Today, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) announced that Koji Kondo will be honored at the 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas. Kondo has been selected as a Hall of Fame inductee.

Kondo is no stranger to Nintendo fans. After joining the company in 1984, he was responsible for sound programming, music, and sound effects in Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Mario Sunshine, New Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Galaxy, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Super Mario 3D World, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder are just a few of his other works. His current role is Senior Officer of the Entertainment Planning & Development Division.

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Arc System Works and French-Bread today announced Uzuki, Ogre, and Izumi as DLC characters for Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes. All three will be included in Season One. 

Those who purchase the physical limited edition or the Digital Deluxe Edition will obtain the Season One DLC characters for free, alongside 25 bonus character announcers. The limited edition also has special box art featuring Seiichi Yoshihara’s illustration, Memorial Art Book featuring various concept art and web exclusive illustrations, original soundtrack that has in-game music and a Blu-ray disc collection of past series OP animation videos.

Uzuki launches in August 2024. Ogre will follow in February 2025, and Izumi will close things out in August 2025.

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December 14: Publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Saber Interactive have come through with a release date for Expeditions: A MudRunner Game. On Switch and other platforms, it launches on March 5, 2024.

We originally heard about Expeditions: A MudRunner Game back in August. It was initially given a 2024 launch window.

For those that need a refresher on the game, read up on the following overview:

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Today, Knit’n’purl Game Studio announced that it will be bringing Pocket Oasis to Switch. A release is planned for later in 2024.

Pocket Oasis is a cozy gardening sim with a hand-painted art style in which players can grow, decorate, and reap the rewards of their own little balcony garden. More information is available in the following overview:

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Outright Games is returning with another PJ Masks game having today announced PJ Masks Power Heroes: Mighty Alliance. It will be available on most platforms, including Switch, with a release happening on March 15, 2024.

PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night, which is based on the television show, is a new single-player side-scrolling action adventure game with an original storyline. Here’s what’s been shared thus far:

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Today, WhisperGames announced that it will be publishing The Nameless: Slay Dragon on Switch. The game is seeing its initial launch in Q2 2024, but it’ll hit Nintendo’s platform later on.

The Nameless: Slay Dragon, which is developed by Nameless Sword Studio, is a turn-based RPG. Learn more about it in the following overview:

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Meridiem Games is working with Purple Tree on a physical release of Golazo! 2 for Switch, the company has announced. Right now it’ll be heading to Europe in Q1 2024, though importing from other regions is also possible.

The Golazo! 2 Deluxe – Complete Edition will include a special sleeve, a holographic card, and an exclusive code to download alternative covers. Three additional DLCs are included as well. Soccer Cup 2022 is up first, and features the Qatar 22 Tournament. Also packed in is Pixel Cup Soccer featuring a pixel art filter and a top-down perspective. Ultimate League rounds things out with a league featuring the best clubs. Note that it will be available in physical format before the digital version.

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A final release date has just been announced for the Splatoon 3 Side Order DLC. Players will be able to get their hands on it starting February 22, 2024.

Side Order, a brand new single-player campaign, lets players control Agent 8 as they wake up to discover Inkopolis Square has been drained of color and its residents are missing. The goal is to fight off waves of enemies in floor after floor of challenges while climbing the Spire of Order and learning its secrets. A new feature this time around is the color chips to boost abilities.

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3DS and Wii U online play will still be supported for a few more months, but not for Steel Diver: Sub Wars.

In a notice posted on its website, Nintendo explained that the game has already gone offline. That feature has actually been unavailable for a number of months now. Nintendo conducted emergency maintenance starting on September 4, 2023, but hasn’t able to get things back up and running. That means online play is finished for Steel Divers: Sub Wars and the game has been discontinued.

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Two new Nintendo concerts will air online next month, the company announced today. Fans will be able to watch performances for The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon 3 Deep Cut on February 9 and February 10 respectively.

Both were originally planned for Nintendo Live 2024 in Japan. However, the Tokyo event was cancelled last month due to threats. Along with Nintendo Live, the plug was also pulled on the Splatoon Koshien 2023 finals, Splatoon 3 World Championship 2024, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Online Challenge Finals, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe World Championships 2024. Read more about the situation here.

As for the Zelda Orchestra and Splatoon 3 Deep Cut concerts, they will be posted on Nintendo’s YouTube channel. We don’t have an exact time yet for Splatoon, but both should be showing up here.