Nintendo has confirmed a Switch 2 price increase for 2026. In the U.S., the system is moving from $449.99 to $499.99 beginning September 1. Waiting on Switch 2 just got more expensive.
The Input Lag
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The Input Lag is an independent, Nintendo-focused site where our authors cover news, reviews, rankings, and editorials.
Star Fox on Switch 2 sounds awesome. But after waiting this long for the series to return, I can’t help but wonder if Nintendo is playing it a little too safe by leaning so heavily on Star Fox 64 nostalgia. New editorial from The Input Lag: theinputlag.com/editorial/st...
Star Fox Switch 2 Looks Great, But Is It Too Safe?
Star Fox returns on Switch 2 with updated visuals and new features, but can this Star Fox 64 remake prove it is more than nostalgia?
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Star Fox is finally back. Nintendo is bringing the series to Switch 2 with a new game inspired by Star Fox 64, and that feels like the safest possible runway for a franchise that has been grounded for too long. Releases June 25, 2026
Star Fox Switch 2 Announced With Star Fox 64-Inspired Comeback
Nintendo has announced Star Fox for Switch 2, a new Star Fox 64-inspired return launching June 25, 2026, with new controls and expanded lore.
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The weekend is short, so the game you choose should feel worth it. This week’s Gaming Backlog looks at Pokémon shiny hunting, Maydar prep, Majora’s Mask, and a Star Wars Day pick with KOTOR II. What are you planning to play this weekend?
Shiny Volcanion is now available in Pokémon Home. You’ll need to complete multiple Pokémon Legends ZA Pokédex milestones to unlock it. 🔗 theinputlag.com/news/shiny-v...
Shiny Volcanion Pokémon Home Reward Now Available
Shiny Volcanion is live in Pokémon Home. Here’s how to unlock it by completing Pokémon Legends ZA Pokédex milestones.
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Gaming doesn’t disappear when life gets busy, it just looks different. This week was mostly short sessions, small progress, and making the most of limited time… and honestly, it still felt meaningful. If you’re struggling to find time to play, I wrote about what’s been working for me:
How to Keep Gaming When You Don’t Have Much Time
Struggling to find time to game? Here are 5 simple tips to help you keep gaming when life gets busy, even if you only have 20–30 minutes.
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There’s a pattern in shiny hunting that players don’t always talk about: The moment you stop chasing the shiny… is often when you find it. This Shiny Badge Quest run in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen is starting to prove that idea in real time. Full story: theinputlag.com/highlights/i...
Shiny Meowth FireRed & LeafGreen – Found Without Hunting
I found a shiny Meowth in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen when I wasn’t even hunting. Here’s how this Shiny Badge Quest run keeps beating the odds.
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I wasn’t even trying to shiny hunt. I was grinding money and preparing for future hunts… Then a shiny Pidgey showed up. On one of the most dangerous routes in FireRed. Preparation saved the hunt 👇 theinputlag.com/highlights/p...
Shiny Badge Quest FireRed: A Perfect Shiny Pidgey
Follow my Shiny Badge Quest in FireRed as preparation pays off with a clutch shiny Pidgey encounter on a dangerous Route 7 hunt.
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Remember Splatoon Raiders? After months of silence, it’s finally back with a release date, new gameplay, and a pretty big shift away from the series’ usual multiplayer focus. This might be Nintendo testing how far Splatoon can stretch beyond Turf War. Full breakdown 👇
Splatoon Raiders Release Date, Price, and Gameplay Revealed
Splatoon Raiders gets a release date, price, and new gameplay details. Here’s what to expect from Nintendo’s different take on Splatoon.
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First article alert. Ida just shared her first impressions of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, and it already sounds like the kind of game you can just unwind with for hours. Go show her some love: theinputlag.com/hands_on/tom...
Tomodachi Life Living the Dream First Impressions
Tomodachi Life Living the Dream first impressions: a relaxing, chaotic life sim with deep Mii customization.
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A nickname shouldn’t matter this much. But sometimes, it does. We wrote about how “Frito” became something more than just a shiny Pokémon, and how a community gave it meaning.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen are coming to Nintendo Switch. They’re $20 each. They’re not included in Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo is treating classic mainline Pokémon games as premium products — even twenty years later. Would you rather see them included in NSO, or are you fine paying $20?
What’s on your gaming backlog this weekend? For me, it’s Mario Tennis Fever, finally finishing Skyrim, and waiting for Pokémon Pokopia. What are you playing?
Mario Tennis Fever is a strong return for the series. The gameplay is fast and polished, and the new Fever Rackets are a genuine improvement. But a shallow Adventure Mode and a $70 price tag keep it from greatness. I scored it an 8/10. Full review: theinputlag.com/mario-tennis...
Mario Tennis Fever Review – Great Tennis, But Is It Worth $70?
Mario Tennis Fever delivers great tennis, but a shallow Adventure Mode raises questions about its $70 price. Our 8/10 review.
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Early Pokémon Pokopia previews are surprisingly consistent. It’s not shallow. It’s not lazy. And it’s definitely not just “Animal Crossing with Pokémon.” The more hands-on impressions I read, the clearer the pattern becomes. Are we underestimating this spin-off?
A playable Pokémon Pokopia demo is happening this weekend at EUIC London. 👀 That’s sooner than expected. Quiet confidence move—or just a teaser before Pokémon Day?
🎮 What’s on your gaming backlog this weekend? Weekends are usually the only real chance to sit down and play. With Mario Tennis Fever launching this week, I’ve been revisiting Mario Tennis on N64 Online and Mario Tennis Aces. What are you hoping to play — or finally finish — this weekend?
Was the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase actually that bad… or were expectations just out of sync with what a partner showcase is meant to be? It didn’t have big first-party reveals, but it did say a lot about where third-party support and Switch 2 might be headed. Curious how others felt. 👀
Pokémon Pokopia is a month away, and reactions are clearly split. Some fans are excited for a cozy, life-sim Pokémon game. Others aren’t sold. I get the hesitation — but I can’t wait to play it.
Oblivion is officially confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 — complete with both story expansions and a 2026 release window. The real test won’t be nostalgia — it’ll be execution. 🔗 theinputlag.com/the-elder-sc...
Oblivion Remastered Coming to Switch 2
Oblivion Remastered comes to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, bringing Bethesda’s classic RPG and included story expansions.
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Nintendo’s Partner Showcase wasn’t a full Direct — but it still felt like a statement. Oblivion Remastered, Resident Evil, Monster Hunter Stories 3, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth… that’s real third-party confidence for Switch 2. Full recap 👇 theinputlag.com/nintendo-dir...
Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Recap for Switch 2
A Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase recap covering every game announced and what it means for third-party support on Switch 2.
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Another Partner Showcase tomorrow. 30 minutes, third-party games, Switch and Switch 2. What’s the one announcement that would make this Direct a win for you? theinputlag.com/nintendo-ann...
Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Announced for Tomorrow
Nintendo has announced a new Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase airing tomorrow, featuring third-party games for Switch and Switch 2.
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The Nintendo Switch has officially become Nintendo’s best-selling console ever — surpassing the DS. It’s more than a milestone. It helps explain why Nintendo’s hybrid future now feels locked in, and why the Switch era isn’t ending abruptly. 🔗 theinputlag.com/nintendo-swi...
Nintendo Switch Becomes Nintendo’s Best-Selling Console
Nintendo Switch becomes Nintendo’s best-selling console. We explain why it matters for players and what it means for Nintendo’s future.
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Nintendo didn’t need another trailer to keep Tomodachi Life top of mind. Dropping the original soundtrack on Nintendo Music is a quiet, nostalgia-driven move — and it’s kind of brilliant. theinputlag.com/nintendo-isn...
Tomodachi Life Soundtrack Hits Nintendo Music as Nintendo Keeps the Hype Alive
Nintendo quietly released the Tomodachi Life soundtrack on Nintendo Music, using nostalgia to keep Living the Dream top of mind ahead of launch.
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I can’t wait to learn more about Peakychu. What could this mysterious Pokémon bring to Pokémon Pokopia?
Preorder bonuses can be a fun part of a game’s launch — when they actually feel special. Amazon’s Pokémon Pokopia preorder bonus doesn’t quite match the game’s cozy charm, especially next to the Pokémon Center’s offerings. Our thoughts 👇 theinputlag.com/amazons-poke...
Pokémon Pokopia Preorder Bonus Feels Like a Missed Opportunity
Pokémon Pokopia’s preorder bonus feels generic compared to the Pokémon Center’s more creative physical extras.
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More Nintendo games should have demos. If a game’s great, let it speak for itself. Agree or disagree?
Revisiting Mario Tennis after a Zelda weekend, and still unsure about Mario Tennis Fever. What’s coming off your gaming backlog this weekend? 🎮 theinputlag.com/whats-on-you...
Gaming Backlog This Weekend: Mario Tennis, Zelda, and What to Play Next
Revisiting Mario Tennis, reflecting on Zelda, and deciding if Mario Tennis Fever is worth it—what’s coming off the gaming backlog this weekend?
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Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream isn’t a must-have for everyone — and that’s okay. It’s not about progression or control. It’s about checking in, watching weird stories unfold, and letting Miis do their thing. That’ll click for some players and completely miss for others.