GoKawiil
Tech News
Microsoft has continued using AA battery-powered wireless controllers for standard Xbox editions since the Xbox 360, even as competitors like Sony and Nintendo moved to internal rechargeable batteries. Sony's PlayStation 3 introduced a built-in rechargeable battery, and Nintendo switched the Wii U to rechargeable power in 2012, but Xbox controllers have retained the two-AA-cell design throughout.
A developer using the handle Rairii has gotten classic Mac OS, including versions 7.6 and 9.2.2, to boot on the Nintendo Wii's desktop, after beginning the project on June 22, 2025. The work involved porting OpenBIOS to emulate the Open Firmware environment required by the classic Mac OS 'Trampoline' bootloader, building on Rairii's earlier experience porting Windows NT to PowerPC Mac hardware with similar ArtX-designed chipsets.
Woot, Amazon's discount site, is selling the Nintendo Switch 2 bundle for $459 for new customers using code SAVETOBER, or $479 for existing customers, down from $519. The bundle includes the console, dock, Joy-Cons and a digital code for a free game choice among Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza or Pokémon Pokopia. The coupon is set to expire November 1 at 11:59 pm ET, though the sale price itself runs for four days.
FromSoftware has delayed The Duskbloods, its multiplayer game exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2, from its planned 2026 release to sometime in 2027. The studio said an August network test showed strong interest in the game's combat, strategic depth and player expression, prompting it to take extra time to refine rules and balancing.
EasySMX, a lesser-known accessory maker, has released the S10 Lite, a budget Switch 2 controller priced at around $40 versus the roughly $70 typical for rivals and $90 for Nintendo's own Pro Controller. The reviewer found tactile buttons, Hall effect sticks, motion controls and strong haptics, but criticized a semi-transparent, magnetically attached faceplate as wonky and cheap-feeling, along with marketing language around customization options deemed misleading.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Nintendo Switch 2 is set to release on November 5th, and retailers Amazon and Walmart are currently offering the physical edition for $10 off its $59.99 list price. Once the game launches, the physical version is expected to rise to $69.99, while the digital edition will remain at $59.99.
ANBERNIC has released the RG 55G1, a sub-$150 Android handheld resembling the Nintendo Switch Lite, alongside the RG DS Plus, a dual-screen device modeled after the Nintendo DS Lite and DSi. A reviewer who tested both for several weeks recommends the RG 55G1 for most buyers, citing its build quality, plastic back, glass front, and control layout, despite noting it's heavier than the Switch Lite at 339 grams.
The Pokémon Company confirmed that Pokémon Unite, the team-based battle game launched in 2021 for mobile and Nintendo Switch, will end service on March 23, 2027. A farewell in-game event begins November 12, 2026, letting players trade coins for past Holowear and Unite licenses. Purchases of Aeos gems and new UNITE Club memberships stop on October 27, though existing gems and memberships remain usable until shutdown.
The Pokémon Company and developer TiMi Studios announced that the mobile and Switch MOBA Pokémon Unite will end service on March 23, 2027 at 00:00 UTC. Gem sales and new Unite Club memberships ended today, with a farewell update planned for November 12 and a new Library feature letting players view past items after shutdown, though that data can't transfer between devices.
Nintendo announced its next Indie World showcase will stream on October 28 at 10AM ET, running about 15 minutes. The presentation will highlight upcoming indie games for Switch and Switch 2, arriving shortly before Nintendo's remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches.
The Azahar emulator team announced it will no longer support any Anbernic hardware, including the upcoming RG DDS handheld, after Anbernic promoted the device using an unauthorized, piracy-focused fork called 'Azahar Plus.' Azahar says it will not investigate or fix bugs tied to Anbernic devices and advises buyers to seek alternatives with guaranteed support.
Samsung's P9 MicroSD Express cards are on sale at Amazon and B&H Photo, with the 256GB version priced at $47.99 and the 512GB version at $99. Both prices remain above the cards' original launch prices, which the piece attributes to an ongoing memory shortage.