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New handhelds like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, Ally X, and Lenovo Legion Go line now outperform the Steam Deck in benchmark tests and frame rates, though the gap is often small. Despite a price hike from $450 to $500 in September 2026, the Steam Deck remains cheaper than these rivals, while the Nintendo Switch 2 also stands out as a pricier but capable alternative with DLSS and HDR support.
Shapefarm, a studio founded by former Hazelight developers, has released its debut couch co-op title Orbitals, drawing heavily on retro anime aesthetics reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop, Evangelion and Sailor Moon. The game follows two young space colonists, Maki and Omura, as they navigate a stranded colony threatened by radiation storms and reliant on respawn machines called IMs to survive.
The White House released a set of browser-based arcade games with names like 'Build the Wall' and 'Rio Run' that closely mimic well-known titles such as Tetris, Snake and Flappy Bird, using immigration-themed imagery including depictions of migrants as 'aliens' fleeing toward the U.S. border. Tetris Company confirmed it had no role in creating the game modeled on its puzzle mechanics and said it is reviewing the situation, while other referenced companies including Sega, Nintendo, Xbox and Flappy Bird's creators have not commented.
Nintendo has confirmed a pair of streaming events next week: a 30-minute special on September 8 marking The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary, followed by a standard 45-minute Nintendo Direct on September 9. Both start at 10AM ET. The Zelda stream is expected to focus heavily on the previously announced Ocarina of Time remake, while the general Direct will likely cover upcoming releases like Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort.
Nintendo will host two Direct presentations on consecutive days next week: one dedicated to Zelda content, likely covering the leaked 40th anniversary Switch 2 hardware, the Ocarina of Time remake, and the upcoming live-action film, followed by a standard Direct focused on Switch 2 titles launching this winter. The second broadcast will be followed by a Nintendo Treehouse livestream showing gameplay footage.
Aurzen has launched the ZIP Pro, a follow-up to its tri-fold ZIP projector, adding native 1080p resolution at 60Hz, 200 ANSI lumens of brightness, and a larger 38Wh battery. The device weighs 586g and folds down to roughly the size of a large power bank, while adding a touchscreen, dual Bluetooth headphone support, and Nintendo Switch projection.
ANBERNIC revealed its RG DS Plus handheld in a YouTube video, showing dual 4.3-inch screens, a free-stop hinge, and a capacitive stylus that stores in an integrated slot like the original Nintendo DS. The device runs Linux rather than Android and will ship with a new custom DS emulator called NNDDSS, which supports screen swapping, touch input, save states, microphone use, and over 70 shader options.
Nintendo released Version 4.0.0 for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, adding an eight-player split-screen mode exclusive to the Switch 2, up from the previous four-player cap. The update also brings CameraPlay support for USB webcams during multiplayer, compatibility with higher-resolution TVs, and faster loading times on the newer console.
An open-source project uses autonomous Claude 5.1 agent swarms to research, model, and validate browser-based 3D reconstructions of real-world locations, starting with San Francisco's Union Square. The system generates buildings, storefronts, traffic, and pedestrians from open data like OpenStreetMap and public imagery, packaged as runnable Three.js applications rather than relying on a game engine or proprietary 3D tiles.
Acer introduced a new Aspire laptop featuring a stereoscopic display that converts standard 2D content into 3D without requiring special glasses, paired with a 4K resolution screen. The device draws comparisons to the Nintendo 3DS for its autostereoscopic viewing technology, but reports suggest the 3D screen isn't the laptop's only notable feature.
Nintendo has released a free update for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tailored to Switch 2 hardware, enabling local split-screen play for up to eight people using original or Switch 2 controllers. The update also brings CameraPlay support for seeing friends via camera during races, shorter loading times, and improved visuals in docked mode.
Nintendo released a free update for Mario Kart 8 on Switch 2 that enables local split-screen racing for up to eight players, alongside higher resolutions, faster loading, a slight speed boost, and CameraPlay support. The 12-year-old title has sold roughly 80 million copies and is using the Switch 2's extra power to push far beyond the series' usual four-player split-screen limit.