Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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Netflix Co-CEO confirms he’s had talks with Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma, for a potential collaboration.
Both these companies could offer a bundled subscription model.
Xbox cloud gaming could be introduced on Netflix.
It has only been a little over a month since Phil Spencer resigned from his role as the Xbox boss, with Asha Sharma not succeeding him. The new Xbox CEO has already brought notable changes in this short tenure, and her next step may be to redefine the Game Pass model.
The biggest change would be Xbox and Netflix joining forces to present a bundled subscription model, boosting sales for both these services.
Why it matters: The prospect of a joint subscription service with both Game Pass and Netflix seems exciting, but it could potentially be a bit expensive.
Xbox Previously Claimed It Was Competing With Everything From Movies TikTok And More
Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters sat for an interview with The Information and talked about his meetings with Asha Sharma. He talked about a potential collaboration between the two companies and “kicked around ideas,” but said that they wouldn’t exclude any possibilities.
You would have to do it in a way that works for the consumer and works for both companies
With Netflix being a streaming service and Xbox also doubling down on cloud gaming, this could be a perfect match. Netflix could offer cloud gaming, which also fits well with the company’s vision to enter the gaming industry.
Peters also discussed the challenge that Microsoft is facing with the Game Pass service, stating:
I think Microsoft’s still trying to figure out how to make the Game Pass bundle work for Microsoft.
It’s no secret that Game Pass users have been dropping significantly, primarily due to the recent price hike. Netflix has also started to lose subscribers for the first time in nearly a decade.
What are your thoughts on a Netflix and Game Pass bundled subscription model? Would you purchase it? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
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Roblox features a fully-fledged out-of-economy that also allows trading.
Adopt Me trading requires understanding pet values, rarities, and negotiations.
Avoiding scams is also vital when trading in a Roblox game like Adopt Me.
Roblox is among the most popular games in the world today, particularly due to its appeal among younger audiences. The game also features premium content available through Robux that unlocks a slew of new items.
In addition to buying premium items, Roblox features trading, and in a game like Adopt Me, trading plays a major role in the overall experience. Here’s how Adopt Me trading actually works.
Why it matters: Trading can often lead to the acquisition of the best items in games like Roblox.
Adopt Me Is Based On Pets With Different Rarities
Understanding Pet Values
Like other economies, pets in Adopt Me function on a demand and supply basis. Rarer pets have higher values, and when the demand for a pet is high, they typically fetch a higher value.
Similarly, special versions like Neon and Mega Neon pets are much more valuable because they are created by fusing pets. Also, pets with Fly or Ride potions have higher values.
This goes without saying, but rarities like Legendary are usually more valuable.
Basics of Trading
Trading is as simple as sending a request to a player. If this request is accepted, up to 18 items can be added to a trade. However, trading Legendary or Ultra-Rare pets requires a trading license acquired by passing a quiz in the Safety Hub.
Players also use “WFL” when initiating a trade. This stands for “Win, Fair, or Lose” and is used by players to judge whether a trade is favorable or not. Usually, “Win” or “Fair” is the best bet, but sometimes a “Lose” is also acceptable when hunting for rare pets.
Negotiating Trades
Roblox Trading Is Slowly Gaining Popularity
Before jumping into the trading market, understanding what’s valuable and what isn’t is extremely important. When negotiating, starting low but realistic is the best bet. Patience is also of the essence when attempting to make the perfect trade.
Elsewhere, one should be able to read player behavior to understand whether someone is willing to commit to a trade or not. Similarly, clear communication can come in handy.
Trading in Adopt Me is generally safe, but it still comes with a small risk. Therefore, avoiding scams and knowing how to spot them ensures a smoother experience overall.
As a general rule, never click on links that appear too good to be true since they are usually phishing attempts. Also, avoid trust traders who promise something in return for an item at a later date.
Finally, trading for money is unacceptable and should be avoided at all costs since it can lead to a ban.
At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
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Progress is quintessential to the live-service game experience.
Breaking down objectives and planning before jumping into matches can drastically improve progress.
Consulting guides or turning to the community for help can also make a huge difference.
Live-service games are some of the most popular in the world today, with the likes of Fortnite consistently showing as the most-played games each year.
As many other studios continue to chase Fortnite’s success, fans can expect to spend more time with these games over the coming years. This also brings us to the question of progression, which plays an important role in any live-service game.
Players may not necessarily be able to keep up with everything these types of titles throw at them, making it all the more important to prepare beforehand.
Why it matters: The fun of live-service games often lies in keeping up with the new content and completing the various challenges or objectives that arrive each season.
Fortnite Keeps Evolving With Each Update
Urgency Ruins Progress
Because live-service games often bring a myriad of new objectives with each update, it’s easy to see why some gamers can feel overwhelmed.
Between battle passes, event-based unlocks, new levels, and more, players can find it difficult to balance the tasks presented to them. Similarly, this adds to the FOMO that is typically quite persistent across these titles.
This is why even a little planning can go a long way to improving the experience when dealing with titles that take the GAAS (Games As A Service) approach.
Preparing Beforehand
Before jumping into a game, having a clear overview of an objective or task to fulfill can be a game-changer. This is why a small session with a clear goal can often be more fruitful than a longer one without any planning.
Players typically rely on guides and communities to plan before jumping in. Some also use resources like MitchCactus to make progression simpler. These guides come in handy since it isn’t the grind that always takes up most of a player’s time.
Instead, players can lose time when chasing the worst rewards or splitting focus across too many things.
Small Changes And Big Differences
The COD Grind Keeps Players Returning Long After The Game Is Released
Even changes as small as picking a single goal to focus on make a huge difference when it comes to progression in the live-service genre. As mentioned earlier, it’s also a great idea to plan and approach each match with a clear objective.
This is exactly why games with a clear progression path often attract players and keep them engaged for months or even years. As an example, the Call of Duty Battle Pass support page lays out how page-based rewards and tokens work.
On the other hand, when a game like Battlefield 6 fails to provide satisfactory progression and updates, it can often lose players.
Ultimately, one should know that it’s not always about doing everything. Some rewards are worth prioritizing more than others, and filtering can make a huge difference to overall progress.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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Epic Games has laid off 1000 employees today in a bid to cut $500 million in operating costs.
The company blamed this situation on the downturn in Fortnite engagement that started in 2025.
Laid-off employees are receiving a severance package worth four months of pay.
In today’s industry, no gaming company is free from the threat of layoffs. From gaming giants like Xbox and Ubisoft to smaller developers like Wildlight Entertainment, job cutting has become the most common cost-saving measure in the gaming world.
Despite the current climate, many would think that a major company like Epic, with the juggernaut Fortnite under its belt, wouldn’t be affected enough by industry challenges to cut one thousand jobs. However, that is exactly what has happened.
Why it matters: Fortnite is the biggest money-making machine in the gaming world right now. Therefore, the publisher of the game struggling and laying off developers is not a good sign for the industry.
In a note from Tim Sweeney, Epic Games revealed that it is laying off 1,000 employees from the company today. The publisher blamed this massive job cut on the downturn in Fortnite engagement that started at the beginning of 2025.
According to the announcement, Epic is making significantly less than it is spending to keep the magic of Fortnite alive. Hence, the company has decided to make cuts worth over $500 million in marketing, contracting, and open roles to stay funded.
In addition to common industry-wide issues, Epic is facing specific challenges related to Fortnite. Despite being one of the most successful titles in the world, the publisher says it is having trouble delivering consistent quality every season, and its fight to keep the game on mobile platforms has also come with a cost.
In the note, Epic assured fans that these layoffs aren’t related to AI and that it wants to hire as many humans as possible. However, to deliver exciting new Fortnite content and evolve to Unreal Engine 6, this upheaval is necessary.
Epic says despite Fortnite’s success, the company is making less than it’s spending.
The company will be giving the laid-off employees a severance package that includes four months of pay and possibly more incentives.
Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.
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Competitive players are shifting from headsets to IEM + DAC setups.
Better positional accuracy is driving the trend in FPS games.
Audio clarity is becoming a bigger advantage than raw FPS gains.
Comfort and setup complexity remain key trade-offs.
There is a quiet shift happening in competitive gaming, and most players have not noticed it yet. While everyone obsesses over frame rates and GPU upgrades, serious players are optimizing something far more fundamental. They are changing how they hear the game.
Headsets, once considered essential, are no longer the default at the high end. In their place, a more deliberate approach is emerging. One built around precision, clarity, and control.
Why Competitive Audio Is Finally Evolving
Gaming Setup – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Over the past year, there has been a noticeable shift in how competitive players approach audio. More setups now feature in-ear monitors paired with dedicated DACs or audio interfaces instead of traditional gaming headsets. This is not a marketing trend. It is a performance-driven one.
At the same time, in-game audio engines have matured. Directional sound in modern competitive shooters is more consistent and readable than it used to be. Subtle cues carry more information, and players are beginning to build setups that can actually reproduce those details accurately.
As a result, audio is no longer treated as background immersion. It is being treated as actionable information.
When FPS Stops Mattering, Audio Takes Over
Valorant Minimap (Image Credits – One Esports)
There is a point where better visuals stop giving you a meaningful edge. Moving from 60 to 144 FPS is transformative. Moving from 144 to 240 is noticeable. Beyond that, gains exist, but they are incremental and highly situational.
Audio does not plateau in the same way. A clearer sound profile can fundamentally change how you interpret the game. The direction of footsteps, the depth of a reload, or the difference between near and far gunfire can all influence decision-making before you even see an enemy.
Most gaming headsets are not tuned for this. They are designed to sound exciting, not accurate. Elevated bass and compressed detail can blur the very cues competitive players rely on.
IEMs, especially well-tuned ones, tend to offer tighter frequency control and better separation. When paired with a clean source, they present sound in a way that is easier to interpret under pressure. In competitive play, that is a real advantage.
From Headsets to Precision Audio Chains
IEMs (Image Credits – Techxreviews)
The difference comes down to flexibility. A headset is a closed system. You get a fixed driver, fixed tuning, and built-in amplification. It is simple, but it limits control.
An IEM setup breaks that apart. You can choose a neutral or detail-focused IEM, pair it with a DAC that delivers clean output, and fine-tune your experience around the type of game you play.
There is also a growing hybrid approach. Some players use IEMs purely for game audio and run a separate microphone. Others prefer open-back headphones with dedicated amps to achieve a wider soundstage while maintaining clarity.
This is not about replacing headsets entirely. It is about acknowledging that, for competitive play, they are no longer the optimal tool by default.
Why Gamers Ignored Audio for So Long
Corsair HS80 Wireless Headphones With RGB (Image Credits – Tech4Gamers)
Part of the reason this stayed under the radar is simplicity. Headsets are easy. Plug them in, and you are done. IEM setups require understanding. Fit matters. Source quality matters. Even small changes in equipment can affect the final sound.
There is also a perception barrier. Gaming hardware culture has always leaned toward visual upgrades. RGB lighting, aggressive design, and branding dominate the conversation. Audio has been treated as secondary.
That mindset is starting to shift, but slowly. Most players still underestimate how much information they are missing simply because their audio setup cannot resolve it.
The Trade-Offs Nobody Mentions
Esports World Cup (Image Credits – EWC)
This shift is not perfect. Comfort is the biggest variable. IEMs can feel intrusive for some users, especially during long sessions. Fit is not universal, and finding the right pair takes trial and error.
Then there is the cost of doing it properly. A good IEM paired with a weak source will not perform as intended. The chain matters. If any part is missing, the benefits quickly diminish. And this is not a universal upgrade across all games. In slower or more cinematic titles, the difference is far less impactful. This is a competitive edge, not a general one.
The Next Competitive Edge Is Already Here
IEMs (Image Credits – HifiSoundGear)
Audio is becoming the next frontier in competitive optimization. Not in a flashy way, but in a practical one. As more players experiment with modular setups, expectations will shift. We may see gaming brands move toward more accurate tuning or even adopt hybrid approaches that blend convenience with performance.
For now, this remains an under-discussed advantage. But it is already influencing how serious players build their setups. And once you experience truly clean positional audio, it becomes obvious. This is not just about hearing more. It is about understanding more.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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Dragons can only be mounted for 15 minutes in Crimson Desert and require a 50-minute cooldown afterwards.
Fans are unhappy with this aspect, as the variety of mounts in the game was one of its biggest selling points.
Pearl Abyss has responded quickly to changes so far, and players have proposed that a new system for Dragon riding should be added.
The developer has nerfed bosses, increased inventory, and improved controls in no time. However, fans have already found another problem in Crimson Desert, and this time it’s related to one of the game’s biggest marketing pulls, the mountable dragon.
Why it matters: Considering how one of the biggest marketing ploys of the open-world title was the variety of ways you could traverse the map, this is a disappointing reality.
According to a post on the Crimson Desert subreddit, players are unhappy with the restricted nature of dragon riding in the game, as it is only available for 15 minutes of real-world time before requiring a 50-minute cooldown period.
The post criticised this decision by Pearl Abyss, calling it absurd for a fantasy single-player title to restrict movement. The comments also called out the unusual mount mechanics in Crimson Desert, as no one can keep bears or wolves permanently.
Players stated that the dragon and other mounts were one of the main marketing strategies for the game, and nerfing them in this manner is a horrible move from Pearl Abyss.
You can only use the dragon twice in 2 hours currently.
Comments further proposed that the developer should change the time-limit on dragons in the next update and include aerial enemies or more realistic ways, like an injury or need for nourishment, to bring down the mount’s usage.
Pearl Abyss has been diligent in updating Crimson Desert so far, even addressing the AI-generated art quickly, so there is hope this could get fixed soon.
Do you think the mounts in Crimson Desert have turned out to be a disappointment? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
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Scientists conclude, using in-depth studies, that post-game depression is a real phenomenon.
It happens when players finish a game and are left in a state of feeling empty.
RPG fans are the most at risk of this, as they spend hours and hours in the story.
Feeling a game and feeling empty is a feeling is common feeling more than many would admit. This is particularly more evident in people who love spending hours in long role-playing games and feeling lost after beating them.
Scientists have explored this phenomenon of feeling empty and call it a ‘post-game depression’. They created a scale for measuring this depression, and the research was published in an international Journal.
Why it matters: The scientists claim that games are now becoming a lot more sophisticated, and for many, completing a long game is more of an emotional challenge that leaves its mark on the players.
Scientists coined the term post-game depression for the empty feeling after beating a game
Scientists from SWPS University conducted deep research and published a paper on this matter, and coined the term post-game depression for the empty state players feel after finishing a lengthy and engaging game.
P-GD is a specific type of grief after loss, reminiscent of parting with a loved one or the end of an important life stage. Our research shows that for many gamers, the virtual world becomes such a significant source of emotion
Two studies were conducted involving 373 players, who were recruited via social media. Study 1 captured 4 aspects related to the phenomenon: game-related ruminations, challenging end of experience, replaying the game, and lack of interest in other media.
RPG players at the biggest risk from this phenomenon
In study 2, the intensity of each 4 of the aspects was measured to see if they indeed cause post-game depression. It was concluded that this condition is a complex phenomenon and is a set of challenging experiences.
It was also derived that RPG fans are the most at risk due to this, while others have a lesser chance. Still, PG-D is now real and is proven scientifically as well.
What are your thoughts on the post-game depression phenomenon? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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Nvidia boss Jensen Huang has stated that he doesn’t like AI slop and understands why fans criticised DLSS 5.
Huang explained that the upscaler is not AI-generated content, but rather an enhancement tool built with AI that the artist will control.
Moreover, as an open system, it can be prompted to produce exactly what developers want.
Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, has insisted that DLSS 5 is not AI-generated content but rather content control Generative AI. The company’s boss has come out once again to defend the new technology, this time saying he understands the critique of the upscaler.
Why it matters: Even with artistic integrity behind the technology, DLSS 5 feels like an AI system’s idea of what image enhancement in gaming looks like.
In a new interview on Lex Friedman’s podcast, Jensen Huang stated that he understands the perspective of gamers regarding DLSS 5, as he doesn’t like AI slop himself and is empathetic towards how fans feel about AI-generated content.
I think their perspective makes sense and I can see where they’re coming from, because I don’t love AI slop myself. That’s not what It is intended to do. DLSS is integrated with the artist, and so it’s, it’s about giving the artist the tool of AI, the tool of generative AI.”
However, DLSS 5 is not trying to generate AI slop, as it’s a 3D guided upscaler in which the geometry upscaled by the tech is determined by the artists themselves and then embedded in every frame.
According to Huang, DLSS 5 is conditioned by the artistry of the artists, with its core purpose being to enhance every single frame while not changing anything. Furthermore, the Nvidia boss revealed that the system is open, and developers could prompt DLSS 5 in the future to achieve highly specific looks.
The tech will be in complete control of the artist, according to Jensen Huang.
Artists could show the upscaler an example, and it would generate a similar frame while staying consistent with the artist’s style. Therefore, Jensen Huang has claimed that DLSS 5 will be integrated with the artist instead of being a generative AI tool Nvidia applies in post-processing.
Do you think Nvidia’s overlay for the upscaler is a necessary evolution? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
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Windows 11 is getting a major overhaul, fixing a lot of long-overdue complaints.
The RAM usage is promised to be getting better, with much improved responsiveness.
The system will prioritize foreground apps while restricting background usage.
Windows is notorious for not being easy to run. It is undoubtedly the weakest link of PCs, which is leading many people to shift to Linux. However, Microsoft is now working to improve optimization to help the system run more efficiently.
According to a new report, Windows 11 is set to become a lot more optimized, and it will feature reduced RAM usage and improved responsiveness. So, now even configurations with lower memory capacities should run fine.
Why it matters: This was a much-needed change, considering the massive complaints about the high background usage and bad memory management on the platform, but it’s yet to be seen how it’ll perform in real life.
Windows 11 is set to become a lot more efficient with better RAM management
Windows Insider Blog confirms multiple big changes coming to Windows 11 soon. The updated OS will now prioritize what you’re using in the foreground and reduce the memory utilization of everything running in the background.
So, say you have multiple apps open, Windows will give performance priority to the one currently in front of you for increased responsiveness, while others will be restricted. This is going to be a very welcome change.
This is great news, considering the high memory prices
Moreover, performance under heavy load is also getting an upgrade. This is good news for people who have baseline RAM configurations like 8GB or 16GB, considering how the prices have now skyrocketed.
So, overall, the update is looking robust and is promising to fix a lot of things wrong with the platform, but let’s wait and see how it actually performs. Additionally, we could see Windows 12 later this year as well.
What are your thoughts on Windows 11 featuring reduced RAM usage and better performance? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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Nintendo is cutting Switch 2 production by 30% in the U.S due to weak holiday sales.
They’re making 2 million fewer units than they planned to.
The same momentum is continuing through till April meanwhile a price hike is also around the corner.
Nintendo has been facing plenty of problems ever since the Switch 2 handheld was launched. From tariffs to increased hardware prices due to the AI boom, Nintendo has persevered through it all, up until now.
Poor economic conditions led to a slow holiday period for the gaming giant, which is why they’ve now cut Switch 2 production by 2 million units this quarter in the U.S.
Why it matters: Switch 2 became the fastest-selling console when it launched, but it has lost its momentum due to uncontrolled reasons.
As reported by Bloomberg, Nintendo planned on producing 6 million Switch 2 units at the start, but the output has now been reduced to 4 million units. This amounts to a 30% reduction in production, and the same momentum will continue through April.
In the holiday period of 2025, Nintendo experienced a slow season. For comparison, the Switch 2 sold 35% less than its predecessor during the first holiday period after launch. Overall, console sales in general were down last year, likely due to the poor macroeconomic conditions
This means that Switch 2 will have comparatively fewer sales in the U.S. than in 2025. To make matters worse, a potential price increase for the handheld is also around the corner as the memory situation keeps on getting worse.
Right now, the Switch 2 starts from $450 for the handheld only, and a price hike will put it at $500, the same price range as when the Xbox Series X and PS5 were released. While those consoles are now sold at a higher price version, a digital PS5 is still sold at $500.
As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.
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Nintendo is set to offer a new version of the Switch 2 for the European market.
This version of the console will offer easier repairability, mainly due to its battery being more easily accessible.
Nintendo’s decision comes after the European Union approved Regulation 2023/1542.
Great news has arrived for console users: Nintendo is preparing a new version of the Switch 2 system for the European market without raising prices.
What this Nintendo Switch 2 will feature is a removable battery, or rather, a battery that can be replaced by the user, which will extend the console’s lifespan. This design improvement will also apply to the Joy-Con controllers.
The controllers will also be redesigned so that users can quickly and easily replace their batteries.
Why it matters: Nintendo has yet to refresh the Switch 2, so this new model will mark the first hardware refresh from the company.
This decision is driven not by Nintendo’s own interests, but by its obligations to the European Union regulator. The Asian news website Nikkei claimed that Nintendo was already developing this redesign for its console.
This redesign will undoubtedly benefit users, not only by improving the console and controllers’ future repairability as the battery degrades, but also by potentially allowing for multiple batteries, resulting in a more enjoyable portable experience.
This Nintendo Switch 2 with a removable battery will be available after the European Union approves Regulation 2023/1542 on batteries. This regulation demands that portable devices with batteries be “easily removable and replaceable by the end user.”
The compliance deadline is February 18, 2027. As a result, Nintendo has less than a year to clear out its current system inventory and replace it with the new Switch 2 model before the deadline.
It’s worth noting that the European Union pushed Apple to abandon the Lightning connector in favor of the USB-C port. As a result, Apple not only began implementing this standard connectivity in Europe but also eventually made USB-C the new standard connector for all products, replacing the proprietary connector.
As a result, if Nintendo does not want its console banned across the European Union, it must likewise comply with the regulations. European rules and legislation require that the battery be detachable and changeable by the user with commercially accessible tools, rather than depending on specialized workshop techniques or artificial barriers to replacement.
In other words, the rule promotes a repairable design, but not necessarily a return to the ultra-classic “exposed battery” configuration found in some older handheld devices.
The current design of the Nintendo Switch 2 does not make battery replacement easy for users. To view this, simply visit iFixit’s professional tutorial. According to their battery replacement tutorial, you must remove numerous screws, heat the side stickers, and peel out several layers before reaching the battery module.
Furthermore, iFixit described the battery as being tightly cemented in place and rated the device 3 out of 10 for repairability, which is lower than the original Switch by their current criteria.
The story will change dramatically with the new Nintendo Switch 2. To replace the battery without destroying half of the console, the company must do a substantial hardware overhaul. This design upgrade would be regional; Nintendo would not introduce the new Switch 2 design in other markets.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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Sony has now removed nearly 700 games from the PlayStation Store due to low-quality concerns.
90 of those games were from a single publisher, Nostra Games.
Another publisher, CGI Lab, also suffered the same fate.
Sony has now removed around 700 games from the PlayStation Store due to quality concerns. Most of these titles faced controversy for including Generative AI content and weren’t up to the quality the store offers.
The most surprising revelation is that, among the removed games, around 70 titles came from a single publisher.
Why it matters: This purge clearly shows that Sony cares about the quality of the releases on its platform.
Nostra Games, the Cyprus-based company, saw the biggest impact with nearly 90 of its games being removed from the PlayStation Store. This amounts to nearly 700 games if you count all regional versions.
On Discord, a spokesperson from the publisher shared the following message:
Unfortunately, PlayStation Store has removed our games, and we’re unable to provide an exact reason because it wasn’t shared with us either…
That said, Nostra Games still plans on releasing games on other platforms like Nintendo, Xbox, and Steam. Most of their catalogue consists of simulation games that leverage Generative AI.
Aside from Nostra Games, CGI Lab also took a hit, although the severity was less for them.
Just last month, Sony removed another 1,200 games from the PlayStation Store due to the exact same reason. That resulted in indie developer ThiGames’ catalog to be wiped from the platform.
Sony Also Appears To Be Testing Dynamic Pricing For Games
Similarly, a couple of years ago, Midnight Works also had its entire listings cleared from the platform, too. It appears that Sony is swiftly purging the PlayStation Store, likely more now due to the increase in AI-slop, which we can potentially even see more titles being removed from the storefront in the near future.
The exact reason for their removal isn’t known, but it’s currently widely speculated to be due to concerns about their quality; we will update the article with any new information if necessary.
