It’s time to resume your island getaway — and possibly incur more virtual debt. (We see you, Tom Nook.)
Nintendo announced Thursday that its cozy social sim “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” is getting a Switch 2 upgrade. “Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition,” which will offer improved visuals, mouse controls, an in-game megaphone that uses the console’s built-in microphone and multiplayer enhancements, will be released Jan. 15.
In addition to allowing players to experience the game in 4K when playing on their TV, the upgraded edition of “New Horizons” will enable them to utilize the mouse controls on the Joy-Con 2 controller when redecorating their homes, creating custom designs and writing messages on the bulletin board.
The megaphone, which will be available at Nook’s Cranny, can be used to locate fellow villagers by calling out their names. “New Horizons” players also will be able to play online with up to 12 other Switch 2 edition players and use a webcam.
A free update for all “Animal Crossings: New Horizons” players, regardless of console, will also be available Jan. 15. This will include access to a new resort opening on the pier, which will allow players to decorate guest rooms and purchase new items at a souvenir shop. The update will also see the “Animal Crossing” world’s familiar grumpy mole, Resetti, offering a “reset service” to clean up a player’s island.
Other offerings include the option for players to upgrade their home storage to hold up to 9,000 items — including trees, shrubs and flowers — and the ability for Nintendo Switch Online members to design and save up to three islands that they can collaborate on with friends online. New Nintendo-themed goods, including playable classic Nintendo console games, and Lego items also will be available within the game through the update.
Released in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch console, “Animal Crossing: New Horizon” became a balm during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering players a way to connect and be social during quarantine and uncertain times. The fifth main installment of the “Animal Crossing” franchise would go on to become one of the best-selling Switch games ever.
SACRAMENTO — Gun rights organizations filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a new California law that bans certain types of Glock-style semiautomatic firearms.
The law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last week, prohibits the sale of semiautomatic pistols with a “cruciform trigger bar” — a feature that allows gun owners to attach a device, commonly called a switch, that boosts the weapon’s firepower and converts it into a machine gun capable of spraying dozens of bullets in a fraction of a second.
“Newsom and his gang of progressive politicians in California are continuing their crusade against constitutional rights,” John Commerford, executive director of the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. “They are attempting to violate landmark Supreme Court decisions and disarm law-abiding citizens by banning some of the most commonly owned handguns in America.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, alleges the law violates the 2nd Amendment. Plaintiffs include the NRA, Firearms Policy Coalition, and the Second Amendment Foundation, as well as some individuals and smaller businesses.
The legal action alleges that California’s new law essentially bans the sale of certain Glock-brand handguns and others with similar features that allow modification by owners.
“A law that bans the sale of — and correspondingly prevents citizens from acquiring — a weapon in common use violates the Second Amendment,” the lawsuit states. “Semiautomatic handguns with cruciform trigger bars are not different from any other type of semiautomatic handgun in a constitutionally relevant way. The Supreme Court has already held that handguns are in common use and cannot be banned.”
The lawsuit states the only justification for banning a firearm is when the weapon is “dangerous and unusual” and argues that semiautomatic pistols are neither.
“They are also unquestionably in common use for lawful purposes,” the lawsuit states. “In fact, they are among the most popular handguns in the nation.”
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who introduced Assembly Bill 1127, said his bill was intended to help protect communities from gun violence.
“Automatic weapons are exceptionally lethal and capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute; they are illegal in California,” he told the Senate Public Safety Committee in July. “Unfortunately, some semiautomatic firearms feature a dangerous design element allowing them to be converted to automatic weapons through the attachment of an easy-to-use device known as a switch.”
Over the last few years, handguns retrofitted with switches were used in several prominent shootings in California, including the 2022 mass shooting in downtown Sacramento that left six people dead and a dozen injured.
Machine gun conversion switches are illegal in the United States and are mostly manufactured overseas. They also can be built at home using 3D printers. Instructions for installing one on a firearm can be found online and require little to no technical expertise.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported a 570% increase in the number of conversion devices collected by police departments between 2017 and 2021, according to the Associated Press.
The third episode of Coldwater had viewers reaching for their remote controls as they blasted the ‘disturbing’ scenes aired in the ITV prime-time drama
Viewers of Coldwater were left scrambling for their remote controls as they slammed the ‘disturbing’ scenes broadcast during the third episode of the ITV prime-time drama.
Andrew Lincoln plays John in the crime thriller, which airs on ITV1 on Sundays and Mondays and is available to stream in full on ITVX.
The six-part series charts the journey of John and his family as they relocate to the rural Scottish haven of Coldwater following John’s witnessing and response to a violent incident in a London park.
However, John grows increasingly exasperated with his restrictive and tedious life as a middle-aged house husband, his concealed rage threatening everything he cherishes.
Andrew Lincoln plays John in Coldwater(Image: ITV)
Despite longing for a more peaceful future for his family, he faces new challenges when he develops a friendship with neighbouring resident Tommy (Ewen Bremner), a seemingly charming man and devoted husband to local minister Rebecca (Eve Myles), with John becoming caught up in a series of disturbing events whilst falling into Tommy’s snare, reports the Daily Record.
During the third episode which broadcast on Sunday, September 21, audiences watched sinister Tommy (Ewen Bremner) kill pet cat Harlequin.
However, the unsettling scene sparked a wave of criticism on social media.
One viewer commented: “now the cat was a step too far! Absolutely no need to show that.”
A second posted: “I thought we moved past killing animals in shows, viewers hate it and it’s unnecessary. Yes it’s not real but it’s too disturbing, I immediately give up on shows for that so ITV you lost a viewer, only weak writers use animal deaths for a desperate attempt at tension. “
John has got himself caught up in Tommy’s web(Image: ITV)
A third added: “It’s gone too far #Coldwater There’s no humour, or ‘art’ in plain cruelty. I’ve kept with it, but no more.”
And: “Wish they wouldn’t have cruelty to defenceless animals in these dramas.”
Andrew Lincoln has revealed that he turned down the role in Coldwater twice before finally agreeing to take it on.
The Walking Dead actor explained: “I got sent the script and loved it, it made me laugh in all the wrong places, made me squirm with recognition, and constantly surprised me with the unpredictability of the characters, but it made me scared as well.
“I was quite scared about playing a character that was so unpleasant and weak and emasculated, and I wasn’t quite sure tonally where it sat.
“So I said no twice to it and then I had a lovely chat [with writer David Ireland] and couldn’t walk away from it.”
Coldwater continues on ITV1 tomorrow and it’s available to stream on ITVX
Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin says he has “no regrets” over joining LIV Golf.
McKibbin made the switch to Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII LIV team despite securing his PGA Tour card in November.
Alongside Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt, the 22-year-old helped Legion XII win the teams’ title and had a best individual finish of joint-fourth place.
“I’m very glad, I’ve enjoyed it a lot. I’ve learnt a lot and I feel like my game has improved a lot,” McKibbin told BBC Sport NI ahead of the Irish Open at the K Club.
“I’ve no regrets. I love being there, and being able to come and play some events over here is really good as well.”
After signing up to the lucrative LIV Golf, McKibbin says he is “fortunate” to be a multi-millionaire at only 22 years of age.
However, while he says the financial aspect of the Saudi-backed golf league is a plus, his motivation when he steps out on the tee is to try and win.
“With how golf is now, there is a lot of money around it. To be part of it and be able to benefit from it is good, but I want to let my golf do the talking and that’s more important,” he said.
“I want to win more. It is life-changing and to be fortunate enough to have that is nice, but hopefully I can get a few more wins.”
McKibbin is eligible to play at the Irish Open as the conflict between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf has yet to be resolved.
That meant he has been able to retain his DP World Tour membership while playing under the LIV banner.
The Holywood golfer says he hopes there is a resolution so he can continue to play at the Irish Open and other tournaments in the coming years.
“I think everyone just wants it to work out and play together,” said McKibbin.
“We’re all hopeful it can happen, so hopefully this isn’t my last one [Irish Open] for a while.
“I’ve still got membership and status here, and I’d love to play whenever I can. It’s good to come back to events like this.
“There’s some big tournaments and national Opens to play. I want to try and win those, so there’s definitely something important for me still here.”
A man was left baffled when a family of plane passengers lied to a flight attendant in order to get him to switch seats with them – but he ended up getting the last laugh
The man was furious at the family that approached him on a plane (stock photo)(Image: Alexander Spatari via Getty Images)
Unless you can shell out the money for an upgrade, travelling by plane is often a draining experience. You can find yourself sitting in a cramped space for hours on end next to a complete stranger, and it’s often luck of the draw whether your seatmate has any bizarre habits that make you want to tear your hair out.
But one man has claimed that sometimes, not even getting upgraded to a fancier class makes you exempt from rude passengers who expect you to accommodate them. In fact, he asserted that on one recent flight he took, a family attempted to lie to a flight attendant so that they could take his seat from him.
In a post on Reddit, the man explained he decided to book business class on a recent flight because he could bag himself a window seat while guaranteeing that the middle seat remained unbooked, meaning he’d have a bit more room.
When he boarded his flight, he took his seat across from an older man sitting in the aisle seat on the other side of him. Moments later, however, the other man’s wife and son came in and asked if he would switch seats with them to allow the family to sit together.
But there was one problem – the wife and child were in economy class, so swapping seats would have meant a downgrade.
Warning: The below Reddit post contains strong language.
The man refused this unfavourable offer, and the family made a counteroffer in which the son would sit in the free middle seat with his dad while the mum went back to economy. It turned out they lied to flight attendants on board the plane to make this deal happen.
In his Reddit post, he wrote: “His wife and son came in, asking me to switch (business for economy) so they could all sit there. Then, [they] told me that if I didn’t switch with the wife, the son would sit in the middle at least. [The dad] reasoned that I didn’t need an empty seat next to me and claimed the stewardess allowed it.
“Turned out, [the flight attendant] said it was possible if the other passenger agreed, to which they replied that I was family, so I would 100% agree.”
The man refused to move and told the flight attendants the truth, and the family were eventually made to go back to the seats they had been assigned.
He added: “I didn’t budge. The son and wife had to stay in the economy, and his father spent almost four hours muttering passive-aggressive comments. Whenever I took off my headphones, he was still going…
“Like what the f**k. But shoutout to the stewardesses (another one had to come, because they refused to go back to their seats) for staying professional.”
Commenters on the post were shocked at the family’s behaviour, especially considering that the dad could have swapped with someone in economy class to ensure his family could sit together, but didn’t want to give up his luxury experience.
One person said: “He didn’t give up his seat for his family, just wanted you to.”
Another added: “It’s wild how some people feel entitled to what others paid extra for. Lying about being your family? That’s next-level manipulative. You had every right to your seat and your space. Props to you for standing your ground, and huge respect to the flight attendants for backing you up.”
A third wrote: “The family 100% booked like this on purpose. Get three business class upgrades for the price of one. They probably saw a ‘travel hack’ on TikTok and then were mad when the scam didn’t work. Good on you for not budging.”
Good Morning Britain viewers said the same thing as Adil Ray returned to the show on Monday
07:15, 18 Aug 2025Updated 07:40, 18 Aug 2025
Good Morning Britain viewers claimed to “switch off” as an ITV presenter returned to the show.
During Monday’s (August 18) episode of the programme, host Kate Garraway was joined by Adil Ray to present the latest news from across the UK and around the world.
They discussed Europe’s leaders flying to Washington to show their support for Ukraine, and whether the courts should start to crack down on shoplifting.
There was also a debate on a possible tax on the wealth of Britain’s top bosses, which has reached a record high.
Kate and Adil were joined in the studio by Sean Fletcher, who presented the rest of the day’s news, while Laura Tobin provided regular weather forecasts live from Kew Gardens.
Kate Garraway and Adil Ray presented Good Morning Britain on Monday (August 18)(Image: ITV)
However, several GMB fans were quickly left distracted by Adil’s return to the show, with many taking to X (formerly Twitter) to share their reactions.
Following Ben Shephard’s departure from the show last year, Adil has been on rotation as a Friday host and usually fronts the ITV programme with either Kate, Laura, or Charlotte Hawkins.
However, the Citizen Khan star hasn’t been seen on screen for several weeks.
After seeing Adil at the helm on Monday, one person wrote on social media: “I’ll pass on that thanks,” with another adding: “Nobody will get a word in with these two presenters. Switches over.”
Adil returned to the show after a number of weeks(Image: ITV)
A third said: “No thanks,” while another similarly shared: “Worst pairing ever. You can do better than this.”
A fifth viewer echoed the sentiment, saying: “Sorry but I will not be watching.”
Meanwhile, other viewers have shared their delight at Adil’s appearance, with one person writing: “Yes! Love Adil! But to be honest all the @GMB presenters are really good.”
Another added: “I like this pairing on GMB. At heart, both exceptional interviewers,” while a third said: “What a great pair today.”
The news comes after Adil revealed a shocking connection to Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan, sharing that they had a “lovely” dinner together 12 years ago.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am
MasterChef viewers had to switch off just minutes into the new series premiering on TV when they realised John Torode and Gregg Wallace were still presenting the show
MasterChef viewers had to switch off just minutes into the new series premiering on TV when they saw John Torode and Gregg Wallace had not been edited out (Image: BBC)
MasterChef viewers had to switch off just minutes into the new series premiering on TV. The BBC culinary staple came under fire recently as presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace were both sacked over different matters, and fans were quick to slam television bosses for not editing them out of the broadcast.
Torode’s contract was not renewed by production company Banijay UK, after he was alleged to have used racist language, whilst his co-star Gregg was fired from the programme after 41 of the 83 complaints against him were upheld by an investigation into his conduct. And despite the scandal, viewers tuned in to the launch of the 21st series but were quick to make their disdain known when the two TV stars appeared on screen as normal.
One viewer wrote on X: “I shall tune in to this for 10 or 15 minutes just to see how it has been re-cut to remove its presenters,” before adding just minutes later: “Well I’ve switched it off. The @BBC has made no attempt to remove them from the show.” A second viewer admitted they had done the same, and suggested that the broadcaster should have replaced them with a voiceover instead. It comes after reports Gregg Wallace is trying to ‘earn a living’ after MasterChef exit amid ‘battle every day’.
One viewer suggested the pair should have been replaced by a voiceover(Image: BBC)
They wrote: “We have also switched off Master chef. I can’t bear to watch. Of course they could have edited the presenters out and had some sort of voice over.” A third viewer said: “I’m shocked and stunned that the BBC are putting on master chef after Greg Wallace was sacked are they so hard up for new programmes.”
Despite the scandal, some fans believed that the series would be a ratings winner for the broadcaster, with one viewer saying: “This is gonna end up being one of the most watched series of masterchef ever, isn’t it?” and a second agreed, as they said: “I’ll bet #MasterChef gets it’s highest ever viewing…” and a third also predicted: “Viewing figures are gonna be sky high.”
There was no acknowledgment of the scandal at the beginning of the episode, and things seemed to continue as normal as viewers were introduced to this year’s lineups. The amateur chefs taking to the kitchen this year include marketing manager Shaun, former actress Penelope, kickboxing instructor Gom, marketing co-ordinator Thea, business development manager Gemma, and vocal coach Beth. In the end, it was Penelope, Thea and Gemma who were voted on into the quarter finals, leaving six more hopefuls to try their luck in the kitchen next week.
Upon her elimination, Penelope said: “I’m sad, but I’ve just had a great time. It’s been adventure. I’m going to take on the feedback I have received but I’m not going to change my ways of experimenting because that to me is the joy of cooking.”
Wallace was axed from the series after law firm Lewis Silkin upheld 45 out of 85 complaints against him of inappropriate behaviour. While the 60-year-old has admitted to using inappropriate language at times, he denies the more serious allegations. Meanwhile, co-host Torode did not have his contract renewed with Banijay UK, who make MasterChef, after he was alleged to have used racist language amid an investigation into his former co-star’s behaviour.
He claimed he had no memory of making the comment and denies it ever happened. One user said on X/ Twitter : “The decision to screen MasterChef tonight is unforgivable. There was no need to show this next series on BBC when they could’ve just streamed it on iPlayer and people who wanted to watch it would still have been able to. We will switch BBC off.”
Another fan was convinced: ” #MasterChef will contain some type of message this evening or it would have been pulled.”
The latest series of MasterChef landed on BBC iPlayer this morning before airing on BBC One at 8pm. There had been concern over the future of the already filmed series following both Wallace and Torode’s axe.
However, they both appear in the introduction shots of the first episode. Torode said: “This is the sort of stuff that dreams are made of”, while Wallace told a contestant: “That is a cracker of a job”.
David De Gea made over 400 appearances during his time at Manchester United.
This puts him above some of the club’s biggest legends in the Premier League era.
Here are Man United’s ten most capped players since the start of the Prem…
1. Ryan Giggs – 632 2. Paul Scholes – 499 3. David de Gea – 415 4. Gary Neville – 400 5. Wayne Rooney – 393 6. Roy Keane – 326 7. Michael Carrick – 316 8. Rio Ferdinand – 312 9. Denis Irwin – 296 10. Marcus Rashford – 287
De Gea set for return
Former Manchester United star David De Gea is set for an emotional return to Old Trafford.
The goalkeeper left the club in 2023 after 12 years at the club and is now at Fiorentina.
He will likely be in goal for the Italian side for the pre-season friendly match in Manchester on Saturday.
Rube Awakening
Ruben Amorim will use state-of-the-art technology to find out who isn’t pulling their weight at Manchester United.
Amorim has already banished Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia.
And he could be set to add a few more names to his “bomb squad” thanks to the implementation of the most elite fitness apparatus.
Amorim’s troops will this season wear STATSports’ Apex 2.0 GPS performance tracker vests during training and in matches to keep tabs on their respective outputs.
The trackers will provide “real-time kinematics” to the former Sporting Lisbon boss and his staff with a whopping FIVE MILLION data points over a 90-minute period.
The tracker is said to be 100 PER CENT accurate, meaning anyone deemed to be not pulling their weight will have no leg to stand on.
Jackson could leave
Chelsea star and Manchester United target Nicolas Jackson could be on his way out of West London, according to reports.
The Athletic have claimed that the striker is “increasingly likely” to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
He has seen his competition at the Blues grow with the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
He has been linked with mulitple clubs including Man United, Newcastle and West Ham.
BREAKING: Maguire update
Harry Maguire looks set to stay at Manchester United this summer.
The defender has regularly been linked with an exit from the Red Devils over the last two summers.
The Daily Mail have now claimed that offers from multiple Premier League clubs for him.
It is also added that the likes of Monaco and Marseille are both monitoring the England international.
Maguire is in the final year of his contract at Old Trafford this season.
What is happening elsewhere?
Follow our transfer blog to see all the latest moved that are happening in the transfer window.
Love Island fans were adamant they had worked out Harry Cooksley’s plans as he was once again involved in a drama filled episode of the ITV2 dating series
22:43, 27 Jul 2025Updated 22:56, 27 Jul 2025
Fans have been commenting on Harry’s decision(Image: ITV)
Love Island fans were quick to point out the “game plan” of Harry Cooksley after yet more drama involving the 30 year old. Despite being coupled up with Helena, Harry has continuously shared cheeky and flirtatious chat with other girls in the villa.
And his ways have caused former partner Shakira’s head to be turned despite being in a pair with Conor. And following Friday night’s dramatic antics, fans are certain they know what Harry is up to as a dramatic recoupling took place on tonight’s show.
There were tears for Harry as he spoke to Helena who promised she could not be friends with him in the villa or on the outside. And he was backed by the boys as he sulked. However, the recoupling led fans to have the same thoughts. With just Helena and Shakira left standing waiting to be picked, Harry said he had “disappointed myself” before saying he knows he’s not perfect.
Fans think Harry is playing a good game choosing Shakira(Image: ITV)
He said he had “chose to ignore” the feelings he had for her as he told Shakira he was either leaving the villa alone or with her. He made his decision, with Shakira hugging him and leaving Helena left standing alone, much to the disappointment of other islanders.
After Blu was left to pick Helena, she took his words on board before getting up and quickly walking away from the fire pit. And taking to social media, fans of the show made their feelings known.
One user on Twitter/X said: “Harry knows Shakira is most popular with public his game plan working to a tee.”
And it was shown in other comments by viewers. “IF THERE IS A VOTE IM VOTING HARRY AND SHAKIRA WITH NO SHAME #LoveIsland,” admitted one user. Another added: “Just watch! People will vote for Harry and Shakira,” while a third said: “Yessss Harry beautiful speech, you’re back in the game. Team Harry and Shakira”
On Friday’s edition, he was finally exposed to the villa for his actions that had caused drama between the girls for weeks – leading to a split. He had played Shakira and Helena against each other time and time again, and sat back as Helena and Shakira took the triangle drama out on each other. His exclusive pairing with Helena had left Shakira devastated after feeling isolated in recent weeks.
However, just a day after moving their relationship on, Harry was hinting to Dejon how he still liked Shakira. He also hinted he wasn’t that into Helena, before appearing to try and pick a fight with her at the Grafties.
The awkward scenes playing out in front of the camera saw Helena end things for good. His comments about “loving” his ex Emma and him flirting with others, not to mention his chats with Shakira, all played on the awards ceremony in the vila. And the footballer also made a comment about having a better experience with Shakira than Helena.
Helena ended up calling Harry “a f*****g joke”. She then told him: “Shakira doesn’t want you, I don’t want you.” With that the other Islanders smirked as Helena appeared to end things.
Love Island 2025 airs every night at 9PM on ITV2 and ITVX.
AN ‘unbelievable’ horse and serial Cheltenham winner has made a shock stable switch from Paul Nicholls to Nicky Henderson.
Ginny’s Destiny, owned by Gordan and Su Hall, was second in the 2024 Turners Novices’ Chase won by Grey Dawning.
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Paul Nicholls had a successful working relationship with Gordon and Su Hall, who have now decided to send some of their horses to Nicky Henderson insteadCredit: PA
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Ginny’s Destiny loved Cheltenham and almost won a Grade 1 Festival chase there – but now he is trained by Nicky Henderson having left Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat baseCredit: Getty
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Gordon and Su Hall have decided to switch some of their horses aroundCredit: Alamy
Prior to that he had won three times in a row at the home of jumps, rocketing up the ratings from 133 to 155.
With more than £150,000 in career earnings, the nine-year-old has more than paid his way for his popular owners.
But the Halls have decided now is the time to move on and have sent him to Henderson instead.
The horse’s updated page on the BHA showed he moved to the Seven Barrows handler earlier this week.
Ginny’s Destiny had been with 14-time champion trainer Nicholls since July 2023, having previously been with Tom Lacey for just shy of three years before that.
Promising bumper winner Act Of Innocence is another of the Hall horses on his way to Henderson.
The five-year-old gelding looks like he could be set for a season novice hurdling after winning at Taunton when last seen in March.
Don’t Tell Su, a 118-rated hurdler and novice chaser has also gone to Henderson.
While £100,000 Old Park Star, who Nicholls bought alongside Tom Malone in June 2023, will now be trained by Henderson too.
Gordon, who runs a construction company, and Su have been labelled the ‘luckiest owners in racing’.
Their first horse together was Truckers Lodge, an eight-time winner who finished second in the 2019 Grand National and won the 2023 London National under Nicholls’ expert care.
Owners Neil and Alfie Smith have moved Scottish Champion Hurdle runner-up Kabral Du Mathan to Dan Skelton from Nicholls.
While the Ditcheat boss has been busy stocking up his squad with some eyecatching purchases, including the hugely promising £260,000 Gold Cast.
Henderson is starting to welcome some of his horses back from their summer break.
He recently posted a photo of Constitution Hill alongside Sir Gino.
Both stars will be on recovery missions in the new season.
Constitution Hill looked nothing like the breathtaking Champion Hurdle winner when falling twice last season.
While Sir Gino was forced to miss Cheltenham after one of his legs suffered a nasty infection.
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Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
Before you settle in for a comfortable long-haul flight, there’s one thing you need to do for added peace of mind.
04:33, 01 Jul 2025Updated 08:49, 01 Jul 2025
If you’re prone to scrolling mindlessly on TikTok or Instagram, keep note of this travel advisory(Image: Getty Images)
According to one travel expert, incorporating this extra step into your pre-flight routine can save you from an unexpected charge when you return home.
Georgia Brivida, of international SIM provider Sim Local, is advising British holidaymakers to switch off the autoplay feature on their phones before boarding their flight. She says neglecting to disable this setting could lead to a hefty charge. According to Brivida, this unassuming setting can drain data and rack up your phone bill – often without you even realising it.
“Autoplay is a feature that automatically plays videos as you scroll through apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube, often without you even tapping play. It’s fine when you’re connected to Wi-Fi at home but when you’re abroad and paying per megabyte, it can quietly burn through your data in no time just from using your phone like you normally would,” says Brivida.
You should always have your mobile devices or tablets set to airplane mode in the cabin(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
If you fail to disable the setting you’re likely to scroll quickly through your socials as you normally would – even streaming a short video to kill idle travel time – draining your data all the while.
Streaming a video on platforms like YouTube or Netflix for just 10 minutes can use up to 100MB of data, according to Sim Local. As well, scrolling through TikTok or Instagram uses around 20MB and listening to music or podcasts on Spotify may use around 15MB.
Web browsing uses slightly less at around 10MB in just 10 minutes. But if you spend 30 minutes scrolling through TikTok while waiting for your taxi when you land, that’s roughly 60MB of data gone and watching just a few YouTube videos en route to your hotel will burn through another 200MB.
Some airline allow passengers to purchase Wi-Fi access in the cabin(Image: Getty Images)
Over several days of your holiday it is all too easy to rack up several gigabytes of data and if without the right roaming plan, you could be looking at a phone bill in the triple digits.
Thankfully, turning off autoplay is very simple and it’s worth doing to save yourself an expensive bill, plus it’ll give you more control over when your data is used.
How to switch it off
To switch it off on iOS (iPhone), simply go to Settings, then Accessibility and tap on ‘Motion’. Find the toggle switch for Auto-Play Video Previews and turn it off
On Android phones, go to Settings then scroll down and select Google, select All Services, then tap ‘Search, Assistant & Voice’ and select ‘Other Settings’. From here click on Autoplay video previews and select ‘never’.
A plane passenger taught an ‘entitled’ man the importance of planning ahead after refusing to swap seats on a flight so he could enjoy the journey next to his girlfriend
He refused to swap plane seats with another passenger (stock)(Image: Getty)
A man has been praised for refusing to swap plane seats so an ‘entitled’ boyfriend could sit next to his partner on a flight. The 29-year-old explained how he was travelling home from a work trip and made sure to pre-book an aisle seat so he could stretch his legs out a little.
However, his peaceful journey was disrupted when another passenger spotted him sitting alone and approached him to ask a ‘favour’. He said on Reddit: “I was flying home from a work trip and had booked an aisle seat because I’m tall and need legroom. As soon as I sit down, a guy comes over and says, ‘Hey bro, can we switch? My girlfriend’s by the window and I’m in the middle back there.’
“I glance at his seat, literally the second-worst spot on the plane. I say, ‘Sorry, I booked this one specifically’. He gets annoyed and says, ‘Dude, I’m just trying to sit next to my girl.'”
He told him he understood why he’d want to swap seats but tried to gently explain he didn’t want to give up his comfort for a stranger.
He added: “He said, ‘You’re sitting alone, man. What do you need the aisle for?’ I replied, ‘Because I paid for it. That’s how seats work’.
“He called me an ‘inconsiderate loner,’ which was cute, considering he tried to guilt-trip me into a downgrade. The flight attendant eventually had to tell him to sit down or be removed.”
Sharing a final message of disgust on social media, he added: “Couples don’t get priority over people who planned ahead. Sorry not sorry.”
While most users praised him for standing his ground, others shared their own stories about ‘entitled’ passengers on planes.
One user said: “This happened on a 12h flight from Korea to Toronto and when the person said no the girlfriend started bawling and eventually someone else nearby traded with her.
“I was so mad they gave into her crocodile tears because now she’s going to do it every damn flight.
“This poor tiny Asian woman was stuck in a middle seat for 12 hours instead of her aisle seat because a pretty young white woman can cry on command.”
Another user added: “In the airplane seat war card game, inconsiderate loners beat inconsiderate losers every time. Especially the ones too cheap to buy an aisle seat.”
A third user said: “This exact thing happened to me! What preceded it was the girl jumping into the window seat in my aisle and laughing cutely at him that she got the good seat first.
“Then she asked if I could trade with him (in the middle seat in another row) so they could sit together.
“I thought, if they really wanted to sit together, she could have given up her window seat to someone for a fair trade.
“I said no. She replied, ‘It doesn’t hurt to ask’. Sure it doesn’t, but don’t expect anyone to take a downgrade to give you an underserved upgrade.”
Nintendo is in many ways a different company now than it was back in 2017 when it released the Switch. For one, it has sold more than 150 million units of its hybrid TV/on-the-go console, making it the defining game device of the last decade.
Nintendo also expanded its universes beyond its game consoles. At long last, “Super Mario Bros.” became a blockbuster animated film, and there are now three Super Nintendo World theme park properties, including one here in Los Angeles at Universal Studios Hollywood.
That makes the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 something of an event, and arguably the most important tech instrument of the year.
The Times’ Features Columnist Todd Martens plays Nintendo Switch 2’s upgraded version of “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” on the console’s handheld mode.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
So, the good news. The pricey Switch 2 is a worthy successor to the original. And unlike the motion-controlled Wii in 2006 or the dual-screen Nintendo DS in 2004, this play-it-somewhat-safe console takes an if-it-ain’t-broke philosophy to gaming, continuing Nintendo’s legacy rather than redefining it. While it’s bigger, stronger, better feeling, higher-res and comes with a couple new tricks, overall it’s primarily a refinement of the original Switch’s ideas.
The first game company to make interactive characters household names — Donkey Kong, Mario, Link, take your pick — Nintendo has become a full-fledged, cross-media storytelling company. And it has done so via a medium that in its most mainstream form is only about four decades old.
The Switch 2, officially released June 5 and selling for $449.99, is the vessel for which Nintendo will reveal its play-focused worlds for likely the next decade. The reception from consumers may be inspiring but brings with it a host of questions.
The Switch itself is far from obsolete, despite being significantly less powerful than Sony‘s PlayStation and Microsoft‘s Xbox consoles, due largely to its hybrid design. And consumers may be forgiven for wondering why — or when — they should upgrade to a machine that looks, feels and plays similar to the one they currently own, especially when Nintendo is unleashing only one new core game for it this month, the dazzling “Mario Kart World.”
The Nintendo Switch 2 with its accessories, a Pro Controller and camera. Each is sold separately.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
Valid, but I believe those who make the leap will be happy in their investment, even if its lineup of exclusive games is relatively barren for now. There are enough improvements to make the Switch 2 feel fresh.
I’m eager, for one, to see how its controllers, the detachable “Joy-Cons,” evolve, as they now have the ability to act as a mouse. This has already come in handy in the strategy game “Civilization VII,” a title I waited for the Switch 2 to play and one that can utilize the more precise maneuvers mouse controls provide. First-person shooters should benefit even more.
And then there are its chat features, which can be enhanced with an optional Nintendo camera ($54.99). While serious gamers who use services such as Discord may not need a console to facilitate chatting with friends, the Switch 2 makes connecting and conversing safe and easy for the gamer who plays primarily solo. One can can only talk with approved friends, and Nintendo will verify accounts and a phone number to do so. Simply touch a button on the Joy-Con, and the chat feature is enabled.
My circle of connections who own a Switch 2 is currently small, so I haven’t experimented with these accoutrements as much as I would have liked, especially the CameraPlay feature that allows users to overlay their own faces on drivers in the game. Other features will no doubt come in handy during “Mario Kart World,” saving my friends and I from conversing via text. And they would have been a godsend during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when every Switch owner was eager to share their “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” creations with their pals.
All of this says nothing about how good the Switch 2 simply feels. The Joy-Cons now connect magnetically rather than having to lock into place, and while it’s perhaps an incremental upgrade, snapping them into the console is one of those tech creations that feels like magic, like the first time one uses a touchscreen. It’s slightly larger, and I find a more robust Switch 2 is easier to handle, my arms less likely to grow tired when playing in bed.
The Nintendo Switch 2 controllers — its “Joy-Cons” — now connect magnetically.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
The screen is 1080p, making just about every old game feel brighter, crisper and less fuzzy, and the Switch 2 has support for 4K TVs. “Super Mario Odyssey” has never looked so clear, and $9.99 upgrades to “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” will have you wanting to revisit — or jump back into — each of those titles, as refreshed resolutions and frame rates have us seeing the worlds anew.
Battery life, however, might be a challenge. In handheld mode I was able to get about two hours of “Mario Kart World” before needing to recharge. The console fared better with independent and smaller games.
But the real reason to buy a new gaming console is for its next-generation games. Nintendo is counting on “Mario Kart World” to be enough initially to entice buyers. It’s a safe bet, when one considers that “Mario Kart 8” is one of the bestselling games of all time, having sold more than 67 million copies. Many an original Switch was likely a “Mario Kart”-focused machine, and though I prefer my plump plumber when he’s exploring the Mushroom Kingdom on foot — running, jumping and power-upping his way to rescue his friends — I am not immune to the charms of “Mario Kart World.”
“Mario Kart 8” was released back in 2014, meaning these cute-but-vicious races are now nostalgia bait for another generation. And “World” marries some Nintendo weirdness — you can now race as a cow — with its penchant for playful world building. I’m smitten, for instance, with the game’s approach to races, which makes driving among the Mushroom Kingdom landscapes as important as it does wacky tracks that encompass everything from Route 66-inspired hokeyness to careening amid giant ice cream palaces.
The Nintendo Switch 2’s detachable controllers — its “Joy-Cons” — can now be used as a mouse.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
There’s now a so-called “free roam” mode, allowing us to simply drive off course and explore the wonders of the Mushroom Kingdom. Though there could probably be a few more hidden mini-games, I find it relaxing and full of little surprises. Instead of zooming by Yoshi’s Cafe, I can now pull up, enjoy some speed-boosting ice cream, admire the animation work and take in the delightfully down-home soundtrack, an orchestral, slightly upbeat and cartoonish approach to classic American big band, jazz and Western stylings. As an insomnia sufferer, I’ve spent a few recent sleepless nights just roaming around “Mario Kart World,” driving through empty castles-turned-racetracks.
Then there’s “Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.” This is a $9.99 introduction to what the Switch 2 can do, full of odd little mini games, most of them able to be completed in a minute or two. One shows off the Switch 2’s touch screen, having us use the device as a sort of Twister board for our hands. Others use the Joy-Con as a mouse to swing wildly at a golf ball or dodge falling metallic obstacles. Sometimes they’re not games at all but rather tech demos designed to show off, say, the rumble vibration effects in the controllers.
One simply had me using the Switch 2’s backing stand to try and match the degrees for which it was asking me to place the console. “I’ve never seen such amazing angling!” it told me after completing the task. Why, thank you.
It’s cute. I’ve completed a little more than half of it. It reminds me a bit of mid-’80s PC work “Little Computer People,” as it turns the Switch 2 into a living, theme park-like mall space full of tiny humans. Though I do recommend springing for it if you buy into the Switch 2, it’s ultimately a game-as-tutorial and should have been included with the system, especially since one of its goals is having us better appreciate the tech behind the console.
The most common question I’ve received — understandably so — is if I believe the Switch 2 is “worth it.” While it’s difficult to tell someone to drop close to $500 for a gaming machine and then another $80 for “Mario Kart World” (you’re also probably going to want the $84.99 Pro Controller, as it’s a more ergonomically-friendly way to play via the TV), those with the means and in the market for a new gaming console will likely be pleased. Thankfully, your Switch controllers will work with the Switch 2, saving you some financial upgrade headaches, and with 256 GB of internal storage, you likely won’t need a memory-expanding microSD Express card right away, although you will need a new case due to the console’s bigger size.
The Times’ Features Columnist Todd Martens plays “Nintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tour” in handheld mode.
(Etienne Laurent / For The Times)
Blissfully, upgrading from a prior Switch to the Switch 2 is relatively easy. One logs into their Nintendo account, and places the two consoles next to one another while data is transferred. I brought over a handful of games, which took about half a day. Download speeds varied. “Tears of the Kingdom” was loaded in about 20 minutes, whereas a bigger game such as “Cyberpunk 2077” took about three hours.
Part of buying a new gaming console is the gamble of, betting on new games rolling out over the coming years that will hopefully make the device a worthy investment. Early signs are promising; “Donkey Kong Bananza” is due July 17. I played the game at a Nintendo media event earlier this year and I’m eager to get my hands on it as it embodies Nintendo’s play-as-discovery principles. Our friendly but grumpy banana-crazed ape can essentially power his way through the world, stomping and smashing new pathways to make this a game about exploration as much as it is any challenges.
That’s long been Nintendo’s approach to play and storytelling, and that likely isn’t going to change anytime soon. The Switch became the most popular gaming console of the decade by giving us games that became global phenomena, be it “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” or “Tears of the Kingdom” (I’m most partial to “Super Mario Odyssey”).
And to buy a Switch 2 is to trust the Nintendo design team to continue to deliver. It’s early days, but I feel good about that gamble. After all, I have a cow in a kart waiting for me to get back into a race.
The Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth-fronted series has been hit with complaints just minutes in
08:46, 09 Jun 2025Updated 08:55, 09 Jun 2025
Death Valley faced a storm of criticism as viewers claimed to “switch off” just minutes into the third episode.
The six-part drama, which aired its third episode on Sunday, June 8, features Timothy Spall as John Chapel and Gwyneth Keyworth as DS Janie Mallowan delving into the mysterious demise of a best man, reports the Express.
However, despite attracting viewers’ eyes, it was for all the wrong reasons. Disgruntled fans didn’t hesitate to blast the show on social media, with one irate viewer proclaiming: “What on earth is this s***?” (sic)
“#DeathValley No wonder everyone is talking about it… It’s utter drivel and woke toboot. Refund the BBC if this is the best they can s**t out.” (sic)
Another disgruntled fan expressed their dismay: “Heard it was bad, but jeezo it’s horrendously bad. The lead lady is soooo irritating and the script is chronically unfunny. A new low for BBC Sunday night viewing, absolutely horrendous.”
Death Valley was swamped with complaints(Image: BBC)
Frustration peaked for some, prompting them to turn off their TVs, as one viewer confessed: “Caught up with #DeathValley on BBC1. I love stuff staring Timothy Spall but just had to turn off after a few minutes due to the awful co-star detective played by Gwyneth Keyworth shouting all the time. She must be one of the most annoying TV characters ever.”
Further amplifying the chorus of disapproval, another comment stated: “I’m on the third episode of “Death Valley” – I really gave it a try, but it really doesn’t get on me. I can’t stand the main characters, they are cringe… in general I really like those shows, but this I’ll skip and that Ludwig will return soon.”
One viewer was utterly unimpressed, venting on social media: “#DeathValley on BBC1 is one of the worst programmes I’ve ever sat through!”.
Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth star as John Chapel and DS Janie Mallowan(Image: BBC)
Nonetheless, despite some viewers knocking the series, others have expressed their enjoyment, with a fan sharing: “I know a lot of people seem to enjoy slagging off #DeathValley, and I admit that when I saw the initial trailer, I thought it looked poor.
“However, having binged the series the other day, I can quash my original reticence & say that I loved it. Daft, funny, cosy & Welsh.”
Another viewer chimed in with support: “Enjoying #DeathValley too. It’s Sunday night viewing and I remember ‘By the Sword Divided’ and ‘The Pallisers’ so this is quite fun.”
Despite the mixed reviews, Death Valley drew in nearly three million viewers on its debut(Image: BBC)
In spite of receiving a volley of criticism, Death Valley has shown impressive resilience in viewing figures, as disclosed by the BBC. The show’s inaugural episode, which premiered on 25 May, captivated a substantial audience of 2.9 million on BBC One.
This debut not only becomes the most viewed launch for a new BBC Scripted Comedy in the past five years but also eclipses Ludwig’s premiere last September, which attracted an audience of 2.8 million.
Benedict Corpuz has always been a “day one” type of person when it comes to fueling his video game habit.
Beginning in his high school years, the 45-year-old flight attendant from Kent, Wash., has tried to get his hands on new Nintendo systems on the day of their release, whether it was the Nintendo 64 or its less popular successor, the GameCube. The new Nintendo Switch 2 was no different. He lined up at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Federal Way Best Buy in Washington, was allowed in the store at 9:01 p.m. and was back in his car with the coveted item — which he had preordered — by 9:13 p.m.
“It’s a good feeling to be one of the first,” he said. “I just really enjoy playing the games.”
Demand for the roughly $450 handheld device, which officially launched Thursday, was high as eager shoppers like Corpuz waited in line for hours to acquire the newest iteration of the Switch, which launched eight years ago to robust sales. “Let the games begin!” Nintendo of America posted on social media, showcasing photos of excited customers holding up their Switch 2 devices.
By afternoon in Los Angeles, there were reports of the devices selling out at some retailers, a clear indication of the console’s success. Shortages were reported in a number of international markets. The last time a console release generated so much attention was in 2020, when Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s latest Xbox were released during the same month.
“Realistically, it’s going to be sold out for quite a while,” Michael Pachter, a managing director at Wedbush Securities, said of the new Switch. “By January, maybe they’ll get supply and demand in balance.”
The popular device, which introduces several new games including “Mario Kart World,” will provide a boost to the global video game and game services market, which is expected to grow 1% to $201 billion this year, according to estimates from London-based Ampere Analysis. Video games are a massive business in entertainment, with gross revenues far exceeding annual worldwide box office ticket sales for movies, for example.
Console sales alone are projected to hit $16.5 billion this year, up from $13.4 billion in 2024.
Ronald Santa-Cruz, a research manager at Ampere, estimates that Switch 2 will sell 13.6 million units in 2025, and attributes its popularity to a large install base of Switch users ready to upgrade, improved performance and capabilities to support higher fidelity games, and the loyalty of fans to Nintendo’s franchises, which include “Super Mario Bros.” and “The Legend of Zelda.”
The original Switch, which launched in 2017, saw sales soar for Nintendo during the COVID-19 pandemic as people looked for ways to entertain themselves at home. Nintendo said it has sold 152 million units of Nintendo Switch hardware as of March 31.
Before launching the Switch, Nintendo’s future was uncertain. The video game pioneer, based in Kyoto, Japan, had struggled to compete in the intense consoles market against the likes of Sony and Microsoft, said Rob Enderle, principal analyst with advisory services firm Enderle Group. Nintendo’s onetime chief rival, Sega Corp., stopped making and selling consoles in 2001 after a series of failures.
But the Switch heralded a turnaround. Its hybrid design, which allowed for on-the-go playing, broadened its appeal beyond the typical console gamers.
“Back before the Switch, it was really kind of unclear whether Nintendo was going to survive,” Enderle said, adding that the Switch was different enough from the other offerings and portable. “The end result is it allowed them to restore their market opportunity. But without the Switch, I think they would have gone under.”
Nintendo is forecasting that Switch 2 hardware sales will total 15 million units in its fiscal year, with the goal of reaching the sales that the company had with the first Switch in the 10-month period from its launch in March 2017, said Shuntaro Furukawa, president of Nintendo Co. Ltd. in a briefing last month. Furukawa said that the tariff situation in the U.S. and the possibility of a recession did not reduce the company’s forecast.
“Our first goal is to get off to the same start we did with Nintendo Switch, and we are working to strengthen our production capacity so we can respond flexibly to demand,” Furukawa said.
“We appreciate the positive response from our fans,” Nintendo said in a statement, declining to share launch-day sales numbers.
Nintendo said it supplied its retail partners with “a significant amount of products for launch” and encouraged anyone who didn’t get a Switch 2 during preorder to visit their favorite retailers.
“We’ll work hard to replenish our retail partners with a steady stream of product as we make every effort to meet demand,” Nintendo said.
Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser told CBS News on Thursday that the company has been “delighted with the demand we’ve seen thus far” and that preorders sold out in a “very quick period of time.”
While the Switch is off to a strong start, its future pricing remains uncertain as the Trump administration imposes tariffs. Despite the uncertainty, analysts said that they think demand will remain strong for the device.
The Nintendo Switch 2 console has officially been released, as retailers opened their doors at midnight — 9 p.m. here on the West Coast — to welcome early adapters and die-hard fans. It’s the follow-up to Nintendo’s second-bestselling gaming device ever; with sales topping 150 million, the Switch is behind only the handheld Nintendo DS.
Thus, Switch 2 carries expectations.
Though it has a bigger, higher-resolution 1080p screen and more processing power than its predecessor to better run some of today’s most popular games, it’s not a wholesale re-imagining. It looks similar, albeit just a tad larger, and again comes with detachable controllers, which Nintendo dubs “Joy-Con,” only now they are magnetized. Switch owners will feel right at home with the new device.
And judging by lines at retailers yesterday — a social media friend of mine claims to have spent eight hours standing outside a Best Buy to get a Switch 2 on Day One — many have already made the plunge to buy the new console. Nintendo has stated that it expects to sell 15 million new consoles between now and the end of its fiscal year next March.
Yet a new video game console brings with it questions. What is worth playing? Is it easy to upgrade? And will it even be in stock?
Nintendo has stated it believes it has enough consoles to meet demand, but whether there will be shortages after the initial rush remains an unknown. I’m still getting to know my Switch 2, but have spent some time with its showcase game and transferred my data from my prior console, and here are some initial answers to basic queries.
The showcase game for the Nintendo Switch 2 is “Mario Kart World.”
(Nintendo)
There’s only one new marquee game at launch: “Mario Kart World.” How is it?
While it may seem odd to release a new console with only one potential blockbuster title, remember that the most recent game in the series, “Mario Kart 8,” is one of Nintendo’s top-selling games, selling more than 67 million units since its release about a decade ago. Therefore, it’s a pretty safe bet, as it’s a game that works for casual and hardcore players, and has cross-generational appeal. Nintendo has also made “Mario Kart” the centerpiece of its theme park lands, of which there is one here at Universal Studios Hollywood.
And there’s good news: It’s a winner.
While its feel and tone will be instantly familiar, it comes with a couple of new tricks. One of those is a new mode called “Knockout Tour,” in which you’ll need to maintain a certain placement throughout each of the race’s five checkpoints. It’s a fast play style that is constantly upping the tension, which is key for a game in which it’s always possible to go from first to last and vice versa at a moment’s notice. Another new option, and my early favorite, is the “free roam” setting. No racing here, just exploring.
At a preview session earlier this year, some of the most fun I had was when I wasn’t racing and was simply driving my kart off the track to see what hidden surprises awaited me in the world. I came across Toad characters fishing and ramshackle vehicles that encouraged me to follow them. It was play for play’s sake. This morning, I relaxed with coffee while pulling up to a cafe run by Yoshi, and then stumbled across some timed mini-challenges in the world. It adds a surprising sense of depth and presence to Mario’s Mushroom Kingdom.
Short answer: Early impressions are dazzling.
“Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour” is a delightful exploration of the Nintendo Switch 2 featuring a host of mini games.
(Nintendo)
Wait, there’s an add-on game that’s essentially a Switch 2 tutorial? What’s that about?
I was eager to get my hands on “Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour,” a $9.99 title game-as-tutorial in which we control a tiny human avatar who appears to live in a giant Switch 2. Only instead of tech bits, we see a sleek mall-meets-amusement park world full of mini-games designed to showcase various aspects of the Switch 2’s technology — a guessing game centered on frames per second or a dodging challenge that has us using the Joy-Con detachable controllers as mouse-like gadgets. The latter is one of the key differences between the Switch and Switch 2, and will be especially handy in games that require precision.
Some of the other games in “Welcome Tour” are essentially demos. One aims to show off modern television sets with 4K resolution. Another has us adjusting Switch settings to help convey the vibrancy of HDR via animated fireworks. They’re simple, quick ways to get to know new tech, and I had fun with a mini-game that tests out the rumbling of the controllers, challenging us to pinpoint the precise moment the vibrations are at their most intense. They’re good mini-games that won’t last more than a minute or two.
Yet it’s a game designed to teach players about the new fancy game console they just bought, and therefore should come bundled with it. I wonder if I’ll revisit it after my initial week with it.
Short answer: “Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour” is cute but should be free.
The Nintendo Switch 2 looks and feels familiar to the Switch.
(Nintendo)
How complicated is it to transfer data from my original Switch?
If you’re purchasing a Switch 2 and playing via cartridges rather than downloadable games, you can jump right in. But I’d recommend downloading the system update and transferring your saved game data and as many games as you’d like from your prior Switch. The Switch 2 is largely backward compatible, meaning the vast majority of older titles will work on it (Nintendo is maintaining a list).
While I opted not to download every game from my previous Switch, wanting to save space on the 256 GB internal storage of the new console, I was pleased to see that the more than 50 games I had on my older device were all ready to go. Better yet, this was all relatively simple to accomplish and extremely user intuitive. A QR code will have you log into your Nintendo account, and as long as your older Switch and Switch 2 are in the same room, everything should transfer within a couple hours, depending on how many games you want to port over.
Short answer: Don’t stress.
“Donkey Kong Bananza” is due next month for the Nintendo Switch 2.
(Nintendo)
Eek, the price! Will it increase?
Early headlines regarding the Switch 2 focused on the price. It’s high.
The base system sells for $449.99 and “Mario Kart World” carries a hefty $80 tag, the highest price Nintendo has given a game, and an atypical price for an industry that has long valued non-special editions of games at around $59.99. And just hours after announcing a price and pre-sale date, Nintendo pulled back its pre-order plan, stating that there was uncertainty due “the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions.” President Trump’s trade war remains an evolving situation, but the Japanese tech giant ultimately decided not to increase the price of the system. That being said, Nintendo did up the cost of some of the accessories for the Switch 2.
In recent interviews, Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser said the company would continue to monitor the situation. For now, the price is set, but things seem to always be in flux in our current political climate. Nintendo’s gaming competitor Microsoft recently raised the prices on its Xbox consoles.
Short answer: It remains unknown, but if you’re in the market for a Switch 2, it may be advisable to buy when you can.
A purchaser of the Nintendo Switch 2 at a Target in Chicago.
(Kiichiro Sato / Associated Press)
So, should I buy it?
This is, of course, the No. 1 question I receive, and I’m being honest when I say it’s difficult to answer. I’ve had a Switch 2 in my home for only half a day, at the time of writing, and while I attended a preview event earlier this year, I still haven’t been able to put it through its paces. Additionally, it’s always difficult to tell someone to drop $500 — $600 or more, if you’re buying some games and a recommended Pro Controller — on a video game console, which is, of course, a luxury item.
That being said, I am a big proponent of the importance of play, and Nintendo tends to get this right. The company’s video game mantra since its Nintendo Entertainment System days has been to show gaming and play as a medium full of possibilities, using world-building, competition and puzzles to enchant. I believe some new additions to “Mario Kart World,” for instance, such as the free roam mode, accomplish this goal. You likely already know if you’re a fan of the worlds Nintendo creates, whether they involve Mario and his brother Luigi or are franchises such as “Zelda” and “Animal Crossing.” And Nintendo isn’t going to abandon its core franchises — a new “Donkey Kong” title arrives in July — and there are some abilities, such as using the detachable controllers as mice, that should add some fun twists to future gameplay.
Short answer: If you have the means, my early impression is that Switch 2 is a worthy successor. That being said, if you’re not a fan of “Mario Kart” or Nintendo’s main franchises, I think you’re safe to wait until there are more games to your liking, as the Switch has a robust catalog and Nintendo is going to continue to support it for the near future.
The BBC presenters were slammed for talking over the official Eurovision hosts, Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer.
23:08, 15 May 2025Updated 23:08, 15 May 2025
Eurovision fans have hit out at the UK’s commentators for talking over acts during the semi-finals(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/BBC Studios)
While Eurovision fans were thrilled by the latest batch of offerings at the semi-finals on Thursday night (May 15), they were less than impressed by the ongoing commentary made by BBC presenters Rylan Clark and Scott Mills.
While 16 countries battled it out in Switzerland, for one of just 10 spots in Saturday’s Grand Final, viewers took to social media to accuse Rylan and Scott of “talking over everything” and making it harder to enjoy the show. One person watching the song contest at home took to the internet to hit out at the presenters, fuming: “If the BBC One commentators would just shut up now and again, Eurovision would be much more enjoyable instead of talking over top of everyone.”
Eurovision fans have hit out at the UK’s commentators for talking over acts during the semi-finals(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Another chimed in, adding: “Jesus Christ. Scott and Rylan wait for the bloody song to finish before you start the insane chatter.” While the cheeky duo are known for their light-hearted banter, not everyone was in the mood for their running jokes tonight.
One X user pleaded: “I beg commentators to let us watch the show and stop talking OVER EVERYTHING (and yes I’m looking at you Marty, Rylan and Scott).” A fourth aimed their protest directly at the BBC figures, exclaiming: “C’mon Rylan and Scott, let us hear what they are saying!”
“Why are Rylan and Scott talking over the presenters?” another fan asked bluntly, in reference to the UK broadcasting team speaking over the official Eurovision hosts Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer.
However, some viewers defended them, saying they prefer to hear Rylan and Scott’s thoughts on the performances over those of the official hosts. “In stitches at Scott Mills and Rylan tonight,” one fan tweeted. “Brilliant commentators and PLEASE keep talking over the hosts.”
Rylan and Scott were also accused of talking over the official Eurovision hosts(Image: Getty Images)
Earlier in the night, viewers also weighed in on Hazel Brugger’s fashion choices, making fun of her glittery sequined dress which they compared to early 2000s CDs and a fish from the cover of a children’s book.
Tonight’s performance kicked off with Australian singer Go-Jo performing his eccentric song Milkshake Man. This was followed by catchy tunes from Ireland, Latvia, and Armenia.
Viewers seemed especially obsessed with Lithuania’s performance, which involved a wind machine and flying debris on stage. The ten countries that made it through to Saturday’s final have been announced, and they include Armenia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta.
Unfortunately this means that Australia, Czechia, Georgia, Ireland, Montenegro, and Serbia will be sent home without a trophy. Several Eurovision fans correctly predicted three of the losing nations ahead of tonight’s performances.
Internet sleuths guessed that Georgia would be eliminated because their song was less powerful than the pieces composed by other countries. One also said that the singer representing Ireland sounded too “nervous”, which would cost her points.
Country-pop trio Remember Monday are representing the UK this year, and took to the stage for the first time tonight with their theatrical entry What the Hell Just Happened? The song captures the chaos of the morning after a night that has gone off the rails. They are already guaranteed a spot in Saturday’s Grand Final as part of the ‘big five’, which includes Italy, Spain, France, and Germany.
The Eurovision Grand Final will take place on Saturday, May 17 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
