Two prominent executives for Microsoft had positive things to say about Switch following its proper reveal late last week.
First, Xbox boss Phil Spencer praised Super Mario Odyssey as well as Zelda: Breath of the Wild. He also seems to be intrigued by the possibilities that a hybrid system brings.
Spencer wrote on Twitter:
@matheus03870169 Mario looked new/fresh. Zelda should be great. Hybrid console, will be fun to see what new game ideas come from that.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) January 13, 2017
Xbox platform head Mike Ybarra Mike Ybarra also weighed in on Switch on Twitter. Here’s what he had to say:
Fun and exciting @Nintendo announcement. Great time to be a gamer. Congrats @NintendoAmerica and WW teams. #gaming #excited.
— Mike Ybarra 💻🕹 (@XboxQwik) January 13, 2017
Toby: The Secret Mine launches this week in North America and Europe. To download the game, 413 MB of free space is required. Toby: The Secret Mine arrives on the Wii U eShop this Thursday.
Lanze Games has taken to Kickstarter in hopes of funding its new project Pixel Princess Blitz. If the project is funded, it’ll head to Switch and other consoles after the PC version is completed.
Pixel Princess Blitz is “a roguelike sandbox action RPG that aims to provide a deeper gameplay by generating and simulating a harsh, authentic fantasy world filled with adventures.” Here’s a rundown of features:
– Overworld Survival – Turn-based, exploration survival on a large hex grid map without hand-holding.
– Real-time Action – A huge motion palette including melee and ranged attacks, spells, dodging, blocking, deflecting and special moves.
– Huge Arsenal – A minimum of 4 weapons types, different armors, accessories and items that can be upgraded, repaired and enchanted.
– Dynamic story – Each move and interaction with factions and characters has a huge impact on your multi-ended journey. – Gain respect and affection of NPCs that inhabit the dynamic world.
You can learn more about Pixel Princess Blitz on the official Kickstarter page here. It’ll need to reach just over $80,000 in order to gain funding. The project has currently generated about $36,000 with 23 days to go.
Update: Welp, the dream is dead. The Wall Street journalist reporter Takashi Mochizuki has now clarified that Koizumi merely acknowledged that the Joy-Cons look like a puppy, not that it was intentional. A direct quote probably would have helped in this situation!
Original: After Nintendo revealed Switch last year, some fans noticed that the the system takes on the appearance of a puppy. It’s particularly evident when the Joy-Cons are connected to the Charging Grip.
Amazingly, this was actually intentional. The Wall Street Journal mentioned to Nintendo’s Yoshiaki Koizumi that the Joy-Cons look like a dog, who responded by saying that he knew. Koizumi added that’s what his team was thinking when making Switch.
Monolith Soft updated its website with a few pieces of concept art from Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Get a look at the images below.
All recordings have been uploaded for Nintendo Switch Experience 2017. This includes the hour-long performance from Nintendo Special Big Band. Watch all of the recordings below.
This week’s Wii U/3DS-specific UK software sales are as follows:
Wii U
1. Minecraft: Wii U Edition – Nintendo
2. New Super Mario Bros. U + Luigi U – Nintendo
3. Mario Kart 8 – Nintendo
4. Super Mario 3D World – Nintendo
5. Just Dance 2017 – Ubisoft
6. Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Warner Bros. Interactive
7. Star Fox Zero – Nintendo
8. Paper Mario: Color Splash – Nintendo
9. Mario Party 10 – Nintendo
10. Pokken Tournament – Nintendo
3DS
1. Pokemon Sun – Nintendo
2. Pokemon Moon – Nintendo
3. Super Mario Maker for 3DS – Nintendo
4. Mario Kart 7 – Nintendo
5. New Super Mario Bros. 2 – Nintendo
6. Tomodachi Life – Nintendo
7. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D – Nintendo
8. Monster Hunter Generations – Capcom
9. Yo-Kai Watch – Nintendo
10. Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Nintendo
Source: Chart-Track
This week’s European Nintendo Downloads are as follows:
Wii U Download
Toby: The Secret Mine – €9.99 / £6.99 / CHF 9.99
3DS Retail
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (available January 20th) – €39.99 / £34.99 / CHF 51.90
3DS Download
Gourmet Dream – €5.99 / £4.79 / CHF 6.20
New Nintendo 3DS Download
COLOR CUBES – €1.49 / £1.39 / CHF 2.10
3DS Demo
Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World
3DS Themes
Hello Kitty with My Melody – €0.99 / £0.89 / CHF 1.40
Hello Kitty is reading – €0.99 / £0.89 / CHF 1.40
Chinese New Year’s Eve – €0.99 / £0.89 / CHF 1.40
Snoopy Happy Dance! – €1.99 / £1.79 / CHF 2.80
Snoopy and Friends – €1.99 / £1.79 / CHF 2.80
Jurassic Cubs on the Magic Path – €1.49 / £1.39 / CHF 2.10
Nichus in the Wood – €0.99 / £0.89 / CHF 1.40
Jurassic Cubs 3 Pack NEW – €2.49 / £2.29 / CHF 3.50
Geronimo Stilton – €1.99 / £1.79 / CHF 2.80
