Nintendo Switch 2 Release Day!

History has been made with the release of Nintendo's 8th console to hit the market, the Nintendo Switch 2. We got an up-close look at the new Switch 2 at the Nintendo Store New York pre-launch party, where there were head-to-head knock-out tournaments of Mario Kart World, a DJ spinning nostalgic dance hits from the 80s and 90s , demo kiosks of launch-day games like Street Fighter 6, Hogwarts Legacy, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, and so much more! 

The Nintendo Switch 2 Has Arrived, and it is officially a new era for hybrid gaming!

It's finally here! After months of anticipation and countless rumors, the Nintendo Switch 2 officially launched today, June 5, 2025, bringing with it a wave of excitement for gamers worldwide. Nintendo's successor to the immensely popular Switch aims to elevate the hybrid console experience with significant upgrades in both hardware and features.

Hogwarts Legacy is now upgraded to meet the video upgrades on the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2's debut game, Mario Kart World, was featured with 48 displays where fans went head to head in a thrilling knock out competition. You can play Knock Out on Mario Kart World as home multiplayer, or online with friends and fellow fans! 

My husband and I battling it out during a fierce game of Mario Kart World. We're the OG!

Here's the fun stuff!

What the Switch 2 Launched With --

The Nintendo Switch 2 launched with a focus on enhancing the core Switch experience while introducing some long-requested features. 

Here's a breakdown of what you can expect:

• Improved Display: The Switch 2 boasts a larger 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 in handheld mode, supporting HDR10 and VRR up to 120Hz. This is a noticeable upgrade from the original Switch and even the OLED model, offering a more vibrant and fluid portable experience.

• Enhanced Performance: Powered by a custom NVIDIA processor, Nintendo claims the Switch 2 delivers "10x the graphics performance" compared to the original. This translates to smoother gameplay, higher resolutions, and more detailed visuals. When docked, the console can output at 4K resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate.
  

• Increased Storage: Out of the box, the Switch 2 comes with a generous 256 GB of internal UFS storage, a significant jump from the original's 32GB or the OLED's 64GB. This means more space for digital games and updates, though it still supports microSD Express cards for further expansion.
  

• Redesigned Joy-Con 2 Controllers: The new Joy-Con 2 controllers are slightly larger and are now held in place magnetically, offering a more secure connection to the console. They also feature an improved "HD rumble 2" for more immersive haptic feedback, and each controller includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, and a new "mouse sensor."
  

• New Social Features: Nintendo has introduced "GameChat," a new feature accessible via a dedicated "C" button on the Joy-Con 2. This requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription and allows players to communicate with friends, share their game screen, and utilize a built-in microphone for chatting.
  

• Backward Compatibility: Crucially, the Switch 2 is backward compatible with original Switch games. Nintendo has also confirmed that the Nintendo Switch Online service carries over, with the added bonus of GameCube games being exclusive to the Switch 2 under the "Expansion Pack" tier. Initial GameCube titles include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur II, and F-Zero GX.
  

• Launch Lineup: While many existing Switch games will benefit from the enhanced hardware, some new titles were specifically launched with the Switch 2, including Mario Kart World, Split Fiction, and a new edition of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Other notable titles available at launch or soon after include Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, and Hogwarts Legacy.
  

• Price: The Nintendo Switch 2 comes in at an introductory price of $449.99 in the US, making it a more premium offering than its predecessor. A bundle with Mario Kart World is available for $499.99.

Since Nintendo Switch 2 was announced, I have heard a lot of positive and negative reviews. From a whole day of playing it, I haven't encountered a single glitch or moment where we were not having fun!

Here's a breakdown from Nintendo of what to expect at launch and beyond! The future is bright for the Nintendo Switch 2; patience is key!

Launching alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 system and Mario Kart World are over 20 titles for Nintendo Switch 2, including games from Nintendo and a strong lineup from Nintendo’s global publishing and development partners. Take a look at some of these exciting titles releasing today:

• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour – Enter a virtual exhibition with Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Through tech demos, minigames and other interactions, players can explore Nintendo Switch 2 inside and out and get to know the new system in ways they may never have known about otherwise.
• Split Fiction – Jump between sci-fi and fantasy worlds in this co-op action adventure, where contrasting writers Mio and Zoe have become trapped in a simulation of their own stories. Split Fiction keeps you on the edge of your couch with weird and unexpected moments as players must coordinate and work together to overcome challenges.
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition – For the first time, Nintendo players can step into the shoes of V — a mercenary determined to become a legendary cyberpunk in Night City. With the powerful processing speed and graphical performance of Nintendo Switch 2, every neon-lit street and firefight feels more immersive, making it the most cyberpunk way to play Cyberpunk 2077. Players can aim with greater control with gyro and mouse controls, and intuitively navigate menus with the Nintendo Switch 2 system’s touch screen. Players can enjoy the full Cyberpunk 2077 experience, featuring the base game and the critically acclaimed Phantom Liberty spy-thriller expansion.
• Fortnite – Whether you want to be the last player standing in Battle Royale, headline your own concert with Fortnite Festival, or want to explore LEGO® Fortnite experiences and much more – the choice is yours. Experience Fortnite like never before on Nintendo Switch 2 with 60 fps, a higher resolution, clothing physics, and higher-quality textures, shadows and water rendering. Plus, relive your best Battle Royale matches with the Replay system.
• Sid Meier’s Civilization® VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition — Steer the course of history on Nintendo Switch 2! Featuring new mouse controls that offer a more intuitive experience, players’ decisions will shape the cultural lineage of their empire. Construct cities and architectural wonders, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the world.
• Street Fighter 6 – Experience the next evolution of Street Fighter in Street Fighter 6 with three distinct game modes, new gameplay features and enhanced visuals. Fight your way to the top with new game modes exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 like Local Wireless One on One and Avatar Matches⁹. Enjoy new party modes utilizing Joy-Con 2 controllers like Gyro Battle and Calorie Contest. Plus, players can check out three new amiibo figures and 22 amiibo cards at launch. Choose from Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition, or the digital version of Street Fighter 6, for Nintendo Switch 2 today.

Check out the full list of games available in stores or on Nintendo eShop right now:

• Arcade Archives 2 RIDGE RACER
• BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
• DELTARUNE
• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Fast Fusion
• Fortnite
• HITMAN World of Assassination - Signature Edition
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Mario Kart World
• Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics:
• F-Zero GX
• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
• SOULCALIBUR II
• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
• NOBUNAGA’S AMBITION: Awakening Complete Edition
• No Man’s Sky – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Sid Meier’s Civilization® VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Sonic X Shadow Generations
• Split Fiction
• Street Fighter 6
• Suikoden I&II HD Remaster for Nintendo Switch 2 Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
• Survival Kids
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
• Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut

 

There are also a wide variety of games set to launch for Nintendo Switch 2 soon, including Donkey Kong Bananza, a new 3D platforming action adventure starring the smashing, bashing, banana-hoarding Donkey Kong (launching July 17); EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26, the latest in the hard-hitting football series (Aug. 14); the explosively outrageous Borderlands 4 (2025); the bewitching roguelike dungeon crawler Hades II (2025); and Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, where Trainers can explore scenic Lumiose City and engage in fierce, real-time Pokémon battles (Oct. 16).

That’s not all – even more titles are launching in the coming months, like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Drag x Drive, Kirby Air Riders, Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World (Aug. 28), FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE, ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion (Sept. 5), Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV (July 24), just to name a few.

 

Anyone eager to try Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2 can attend the Nintendo Switch 2 Demo Events at select Best Buy locations with GameTruck this summer! These demo events will take place on weekends beginning June 7, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. local time. For more information on these events, please visit BestBuy.com.

 

Plus, enter the My Nintendo – Nintendo Switch 2 Party with GameTruck Sweepstakes¹⁰ for a chance to win a 2-hour video game party for up to 15 guests. Until Sept. 8, My Nintendo members can redeem 10 My Nintendo Platinum Points to enter, with up to five entries total. Two lucky winners will be selected. For more information, visit the My Nintendo website.

 

Look out for continuing Nintendo Switch 2 content in the free Nintendo Today! smart device app¹¹ for iOS and Android. Visit this page for more information.

 

Remember that Nintendo Switch 2 features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about other Nintendo Switch 2 features, visit Nintendo.com.

Make sure you check out my YouTube channel for a detailed unboxing and non-techy review! Thank you so much to Nintendo for gifting us the new Nintendo Switch 2!

 

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party 2025 Date Forecast & Tips Tricks To Make Your Night Unforgettable!

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party has not been announced yet for 2025. Disney Parks will make an official announcement during their Halfway to Halloween event where the MNSSHP dates are announced, and spooky merchandise and Halloween-themed treats are sneak peeked as well. Watch the Disney Parks social channels, or check back here during April 30th to May 1st.

©Disney Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Photo

We are now officially halfway to Halloween, but Disney Parks hasn't said BOO about it! What gives? 

In anticipation of our August 2025 trip, I cannot help but plang our vacation, and that includes a piping hot visit to Magic Kingdom during the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. 

Every hot and sweaty trip to Florida in August requires a ticket to Disney's famed Halloween party, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! Any semblance of spooky hints from the Disney Parks social pages is nowhere to be seen. All of my plans could be thwarted as I made the unwise decision to book a trip to Walt Disney World for the second week of August with the hopes and prayers that the MNSSHP will debut August 8, 2025. 

To make an educated guess for the first date of the party and ensure my family and I can attend, I have included MNSSHP from the past below. An analysis of the last three years confirms that the party will always start on the second Friday of August, but could that change this year? Is Disney delaying the party announcement because of a calendar overhaul? The only differences through the years were a November 1 addition in 2023 plus the removal of November 1 in 2024, and the shift from Monday to Tuesday parties in 2023 and 2024, respectively. 

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Dates from 2022, 2023, and 2024

2022 MNSSHP:

• August: 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 30 

• September: 2, 5, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30 

• October: 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31 

2023 MNSSHP:

• August: 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29 

• September: 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29 

• October: 1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29, 31

• November 1 

2024 MNSSHP:

• August: 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 

• September: 2, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29 

• October: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31 

Fast forward, the tickets are announced, and went on sale. What now?

After you buy tickets, now you have a countdown for a spookily spectacular night! 

Do you need some tips to make your experience at the Party enjoyable? I have been to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party four times with just my family of four, and then once with a party of 18, so you are in good hands!

Tip #1

Choose your costume.

It's hot during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Well, it's pretty hot in Florida most of the time, but for some meteorological reason, it is extra wet and sticky during the party, so choose your costume wisely. You can be anything you want, but you just have to adhere to the dress code. For more info, check out the official website for more info.

We have dressed up in the past, but on our last trip we just wore Halloween shirts. I think it is too hot to go full Halloween costume. However, some fans go full throttle, and I love that for them. This year we are thinking of Disney bounding as our favorite Phineas and Ferb characters. Stay tuned!

Tip #2

Gather your supplies!

MNSSHP has free trick or treating! I suggest you bring an extra bag or two so you can trick or treat in style. I would also recommend getting a few extra supplies for the little ones to help make the night festive. I like to get glow stick bracelets, light up necklaces, Mickey Mouse bubble blowers, off brand Mickey Mouse Halloween ears, and other fun things that give the parades extra oomph! You can find a lot of these offerings at the Dollar Tree too! 

Tip #3

Arrive to Magic Kingdom early. 

The party usually starts at 7:30, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy Magic Kingdom before the party officially begins. With your ticket, you can enter Magic Kingdom at 4:00 PM. In recent years, parties at Magic Kingdom have been pretty packed, so entering the park creates a huge line. The line does not move fast, I know this from experience. Even if you have a Park Hopper for the the day of the party, you're still going to miss out on walking through the separate entrance. Entering in with the Party crowd is a small price to pay for getting to enjoy the park for a full 3.5 hours. Plus, you'll be entering with at least half of the crew you will be with the whole night, so get to know your peers while you wait! 

I would recommend that you arrive to Magic Kingdom at 3:3 PM, and get cozy in a spot. This year we will not have Park Hoppers, so I plan to divide and conquer. My husband or I will wait in line, so our kids don't have to deal with the heat. I don't want to put them through extra stress. If you could split up so someone stays with the little ones, then work that out with your group. 

Spring into Fun! Tamagotchi Event at American Dream This Weekend

Source: Tamagotchi/Bandai

A day at the expansive American Dream Mall will sort your weekend plans, especially if you and your family are fans of Tamagotchi! 

Attendees will be able to have a photo moment with Mametchi in a Tamagotchi-inspired photo moment!

Beloved 90s nostalgia icon Tamagotchi is celebrating spring with its fans this weekend at the American Dream Mall. The Spring-themed celebration will bring fans together all weekend long with a slew of interactive and family-friendly activities, including a scavenger hunt, a themed portrait studio, an express yourself station, cotton candy treats, and a shop selling everything Tamagotchi. Save for the shopping, this event is totally free, so bring the whole family.

The event will be held on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 from 12 PM to 5 PM. 

Here's the official invitation to make a plan!

Get ready for awesome! The Tamagotchi Spring Celebration is bringing a bunch of immersive experiences, like...

• Scavenger Hunt Adventure – Guests will follow a custom scavenger hunt map around the mall, collecting stickers and surprises along the way—bringing the Tamagotchi experience to life!

• Themed Portrait Studio – Fans can step into a Spring Tamagotchi-inspired photo station and snap a picture with fan favorite character Mametchi for a special keepsake.

• Cotton Candy – A sweet treat with a Tamagotchi twist! Guests can enjoy cotton candy shaped like your favorite Tamagotchi characters.

• Express Yourself Station – A vibrant stop for self-expression, where visitors can get Tamagotchi nail art, face painting and temporary tattoos.

• Tamagotchi Market – A dedicated space selling must-have Tamagotchi items, while also directing guests to the Bandai store at American Dream for even more Tamagotchi finds.

Let me know if you will be joining us and more Tamagotchi fans in the comments! 

American Dream Mall is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. To learn more about their events, check out their events page!

About Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc.
Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc. is a leader in developing engaging, quality toys that capture children's and collector's imaginative spirit and provide endless "Fun For All into the Future." Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America is the manufacturer and master toy licensee of some of the most popular brands in collectibles, children's toys and entertainment today, including Gundam, Tamagotchi®, Dragon Ball®, Vital Hero, Anime Heroes®, Tamashii Nations®, Bandai Hobby and MegaHouse. BNTCA is proud to be the official distributor in the US for Mr. Hobby, nanoblock® and official Studio Ghibli merchandise. For more information, visit bandai.com.

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