Welcome to Video Video games Weekly on Engadget. Anticipate a brand new story each Monday or Tuesday (or Thursday?), damaged into two elements. The primary is an area for brief essays and ramblings about online game developments and associated matters from me, Jess Conditt, a reporter who’s lined the business for greater than 13 years. The second incorporates the online game tales from the previous week that it is advisable to find out about, together with some headlines from exterior of Engadget.
Please take pleasure in — and I will see you subsequent week.
I’ve been taking part in the Swap 2 alongside since Nintendo’s new console got here out on June 5, and I’m having a wonderful time. Though to be completely clear, a overwhelming majority of my play has been devoted to Mario Kart World, a recreation I’ve been trying ahead to for months and that completely scratches the I’ve been which means to ask my physician about. Mario Kart World is colourful, brilliant and infinitely replayable, and one function that’s getting loads of consideration is its elevated ability ceiling. This installment introduces new mechanics like wall driving and rail grinds, which considerably alter how the sport is performed at its highest ranges, the place shortcuts and strategic pathing are a should. There’s an excessive amount of variability in Mario Kart for it to be a professionally aggressive franchise, however that doesn’t cease individuals from getting , and gamers are already making an attempt to take advantage of essentially the most milliseconds out of the brand new strikes in Mario Kart World. It’s going to take some time, since these mechanics are surprisingly advanced, and I’m excited to see what secrets and techniques the group uncovers within the close to future.
Whereas that’s taking place, I’d like to spotlight one thing on the other aspect of the ability spectrum. Mario Kart World is much much less irritating in moment-to-moment gameplay than Mario Kart 8, and I feel that is one in all its biggest strengths. I don’t have empirical knowledge right here, nevertheless it’s a definite feeling I’ve each time I play: Getting hit with shells, operating over banana peels and bouncing into obstacles is extra forgiving than ever. These moments are much less jarring than they have been in Mario Kart 8 particularly, and it takes noticeably much less time to recuperate and get again into the race after taking a crimson shell to the behind. Both the stun time is shorter, the post-collision acceleration is quicker or there’s some witchy mixture of those elements taking place, however regardless of the trigger, I deeply respect the impact.
Mario Kart World is flow-friendly and accessible, and these delicate tweaks diminish a few of the sequence’ most annoying facets, like resetting after a barrage of explosive bullshit will get hurled into your bumper. The one merchandise in Mario Kart World that seems like a real exhausting cease is the lightning bolt, however at the very least that one impacts each character round you with the identical momentum-jamming pressure.
In the meantime, the tracks in Mario Kart World are so very, very fairly — taking a look at you, Starview Peak and Rainbow Highway — the character roster is stacked with tremendous lovable contemporary faces, bikes are extra steady than earlier video games, and the 24-player Knockout Tour is a enjoyable check of ability. With the potential for 23 gadgets to be aimed toward your again, it is smart that Nintendo would attempt to make restoration extra seamless this time, and I simply needed to say that I discover it and respect it.
Now, to determine this wall driving factor.
The information
Xbox president Sarah Bond introduced that the corporate’s subsequent era of {hardware} will likely be powered by AMD, identical to the Xbox Collection X/S and the approaching handhelds. That’s cool, nevertheless it additionally provides some clues about the way forward for Microsoft’s gaming division, and issues are trying extra decentralized with every new morsel. Xbox seems to be positioning itself as a platform-agnostic software program supplier, leaning into PC and handheld play, and operating an all-inclusive storefront that follows you throughout gadgets. It actually appears like the subsequent Xbox might be extra of a PC that lives underneath your TV, slightly than a devoted, closed-system online game machine. Ouya was simply , it appears.
Did you hear that sonorous, well-articulated sigh of aid? SAG-AFTRA suspended its strike in opposition to 10 main online game studios, following of negotiations over AI use and actor compensation. The union and the studios signed a deal that features wage will increase for greater than 24 % of performers and protections across the deployment of AI and digital replicas.
Possibly that is for one of the best. Bungie has indefinitely delayed Marathon, citing a must overhaul the sport because it presently stands. The delay follows a slew of dangerous information out of Bungie, beginning in July 2024, when the studio , or 17 % of its workforce. In Might 2025, Bungie was within the Marathon alpha and several other former workers accused the studio of . Whether or not Marathon actually requires a revamp or Bungie simply wants a second to breathe, a delay seems like the fitting transfer.
It’ll price $70.
It’s official — is remaking the unique Silent Hill for Konami. The challenge follows Bloober’s extremely profitable reimagining of Silent Hill 2, which landed in October 2024 and garnered oodles of acclaim from critics and gamers alike. There’s no phrase on a launch date for the brand new remake, nevertheless it’s becoming a member of a trio of within the Silent Hill universe: Silent Hill Townfall from Annapurna Interactive and No Code, Silent Hill: Ascension from Unhealthy Robotic and Genvid, and from creator Ryūkishi07.
Senior opinions author Sam Rutherford is a beast for accumulating all of his ideas on the Swap 2 so shortly and with such fabulous perception, and it’d be a disgrace should you didn’t get to soak up all of that scrumptious information for your self. This has been my evaluate of Sam’s evaluate of the Swap 2 — a console that can also be fairly incredible, by the best way.
Summer time Sport Fest by no means ends
formally wrapped up on June 9, however the embargoed tales, interviews and our hands-on impressions from the present simply carry on coming. Since we final spoke, Engadget’s SGF 2025 crew has printed articles about , , , , , and .
Cool video games out now: FBC: Firebreak, Tron: Catalyst, Playdate and the Kris checklist
Each Saturday morning on Engadget, contributing reporter Kris Holt publishes a roundup of fantastic-sounding and freshly accessible indie video games, so you’ll want to verify for that repeatedly. , the Kris checklist options The Alters, Dune: Awakening and Instants, amongst different shout-outs. In associated new-game information, Treatment’s extraction shooter and Bithell Video games’ isometric motion expertise are additionally accessible now. And eventually, Playdate Season Two, which has already supplied a firehose of oddball experiences — all lovingly parsed by way of by Engadget weekend editor Cheyenne Macdonald.
