The Nintendo Switch 2 is already impressing developers who say they're "extremely happy" with the new console's power, comparing it to a "mid-tier PC"
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Following the recent Nintendo Switch 2 news, fans have been itching to learn how well the new console from Nintendo truly performs – and according to third-party developers, they've got nothing to worry about as the Switch 2 is a handheld powerhouse.
Speaking in a recent interview with Game File, executive Civilization 7 producer Dennis Shirk confirms as much, revealing that working alongside Nintendo to port Firaxis Games' strategy behemoth has been an "easy" experience. "Their [software development kit] is great, the customer support, their developer support, developer relations is great," says the lead, also admitting that Firaxis is "extremely happy" with the Switch 2's horsepower.
"We were able to make this look like a mid-tier PC, because it's got enough power," as Shirk puts it. "They knew they wanted Civ on that platform, because it's such a great showcase for the mouse," he explains, referring to Nintendo. "And it pairs up so well with our existing PC audience, because we have crossplay." The Switch 2 edition of Civilization 7 has been in the works since October and will drop with the new console when it releases on June 5 – it's definitely one of the most exciting upcoming Switch 2 games on the horizon.
It's not the only impressive port underway for Nintendo's upcoming system, either. Other studios, including Hogwarts Legacy developer Avalanche Software, have been working to port their games to the Switch 2 for around a year now. "We originally started with our Switch version," says senior Avalanche producer Jimmie Nelson, describing what devs did to ensure a "higher quality product" would come out of the new Hogwarts Legacy port.
"We got very good results really quickly," he details, "but we felt like we could make a higher quality product if we brought in a lot of the high-res assets [and] raised the resolution, textures, lighting, world streaming."
The Switch 2 port of Hogwarts Legacy will arrive when the console does on June 5, much like Civilization 7. Excited fans can look forward to Switch 2 pre-orders this week worldwide (except for the United States, where they've been delayed).The release of Hogwarts Legacy has been the subject of criticism and debate due to J.K. Rowling's public stance on gender identity, which continues to challenge the inclusivity at the heart of the Harry Potter community. Here is our explainer on the Hogwarts Legacy controversy.
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Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The 10 best shark movies to bite into this summer
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Shark movies are ten-a-penny these days, but there are few fishy flicks that truly do the monster of the ocean justice. With that in mind, it can be difficult to find a hard-hitting shark movie in a sea of sillier finny films. But that's where we come in, with our ranking of the best shark movies to bite into this summer. And what better time to dive into this list than on the 50th anniversary of one of the best shark movies ever, Jaws. Below, we have ranked the 10 best shark movies, from pics inspired by real-life shark attack stories such as Open Water, to movies that use real footage of sharks in all their glory, like The Reef and this year's brand new entry, Dangerous Animals. But be warned, if you're looking for more satirical sharky tales, head on over to our 11 big dumb shark movies list, as the ranking below is as serious as a shark attack. So what are you waiting for? Slip into your wetsuit and take the plunge into our ranking of the best shark movies that celebrate one of the most misunderstood creatures of our time, and transcend horror, thriller, and even animation genres. Just don't kick your feet too much! Year: 1983Director: Joe Alves Although this is one of the weaker entries in the Jaws franchise, Jaws 3-D makes it onto this list just for that memorable glass-breaking scene alone, and the impact it has had on pop culture. I mean, who can forget that cardboard-looking shark floating through the ocean? Dodgy special effects aside, the third Jaws entry is still a decent shark movie. Directed by Jaws' production designer Joe Alves, Jaws 3-D follows a group of marine biologists attempting to capture a young great white shark, but they run into trouble when its angry mother comes looking for revenge. The movie differs from its predecessors in the fact that it steers away from the classic shark attack in the middle of the ocean scenario, and was perhaps ahead of its time in highlighting how theme parks such as SeaWorld may not be such a good idea. Jaws 3-D is available to stream on Peacock in the US and on ITVX in the UK. For more movies about ferocious beasts, see our list of the best monster movies. Year: 2017Director: Johannes Roberts If you needed another reason not to go cage diving with sharks, this is it. Starring The Vampire Diaries' Claire Holt and Disney's Rapunzel herself, Mandy Moore, 47 Meters Down follows two sisters whose vacation to Mexico turns into a trip from hell as they get stuck in a cage at the bottom of shark-infested waters. Not only does 47 Meters Down include some blood-pumping chase scenes and make you feel seriously claustrophobic, but the survival horror film also explores a highly relatable, strained sister dynamic between the two lead characters. 47 Meters Down is available to stream on Prime Video in the US and on Now in the UK. For more, see our list of the best thriller movies. Year: 2016Director: Jaume Collet-Serra Next up is The Shallows, as it wouldn't be right not to include this high-concept, one-woman (and a seagull) thriller on our best shark movies list. Starring A Simple Favor star Blake Lively, The Shallows follows a surfer who decides to escape her problems, and the recent death of her mother by heading to a secluded beach. But her surf sesh is cut short when she is suddenly attacked by a great white shark, leaving her stranded on a piece of reef far away from the shore. Differing from other shark attack movies such as Soul Surfer, this tense game of cat and mouse looks at how shark attack victims react to a brush with death in the moment, and what they will do to survive. The Shallows is available to stream on Starz in the US and on Netflix in the UK. For more movies led by girls as tough as the coral reef, check out our list of the 100 greatest female characters in movies. Year: 2010Director: Andrew Traucki So, we've looked at how sharks can attack in the water, in a cage, on a surfboard, but are we at least safe on a boat? No, it looks like we're not, as the main characters in The Reef learned this the hard way. While sailing to Indonesia, a group of friends capsize, leaving them stranded in the ocean. Matters only get worse when they attempt to swim to land, attracting the attention of a huge great white shark. The Reef is one of the few true horror movies on this list and will have you hiding behind your blanket. What makes this 2010 flick even scarier is that it's inspired by the true story of Ray Boundy, who survived a shark attack when his boat capsized. Sadly, his friends were not so fortunate. The Reef is available to stream on Philo in the US and on Shudder in the UK. For more, check out our list of the best horror movies. Year: 2021Director: Sally Aitken But sharks aren't all bad, and in real life, shark attacks are actually quite rare. It is no secret that sharks are one of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet, and that's exactly what National Geographic's award-winning documentary Playing With Sharks sets out to prove. Playing with Sharks celebrates underwater filmmaking pioneer and shark researcher Valerie Taylor, whose life's work has become the basis for much of what we know about sharks today. The documentary uses underwater archival footage, interviews, and input from Valerie herself to bring the ocean explorer's work to the screen. Playing With Sharks is available to stream on Disney Plus. For more, check out our list of the best movies on Disney Plus. Year: 1999Director: Renny Harlin When you think of classic shark movies, you first think of Jaws. But a close second is Renny Harlin's action-packed Deep Blue Sea. The 1999 film reintroduced the fear of the oceanic unknown to a whole new generation, without ever taking itself too seriously. The movie is set in a murky underwater facility where a team of scientists set out to conduct research on mako sharks to help fight Alzheimer's disease. But the experiment is cut short when multiple genetically engineered sharks revolt, setting their sights on the scientists themselves. Deep Blue Sea provided some of the most memorable shark scenes in movie history, such as Stellan Skarsgård's hand being bitten off and Samuel L Jackson's becoming a tasty afternoon snack for a great white. Deep Blue Sea is available to stream on Netflix in the UK. For more, read our Deep Blue Sea review. Year: 2003Director: Chris Kentis Now, we hope you weren't planning on sleeping too soundly tonight, as we regret to inform you that No. 4 on our list is also based on a true story. Released in 2003, Open Water follows a couple who get left behind on a scuba diving trip. With no boat, no way home, and energy running out, the duo's fight for survival is made harder when they realize they are treading shark-infested waters. The film is loosely based on Tom and Eileen Lonergan's real-life nightmare on the Great Barrier Reef in 1998. Open water also used real sharks, specifically Caribbean reef sharks, to achieve a greater sense of realism. Open water is available to stream on FuboTV in the US. For more, read our Open Water review. Year: 1978Director: Jeannot Szwarc It's no surprise that yet another Jaws movie has made it onto this list, but we're not covering the big kahuna yet. First comes the 1978 sequel, aptly named Jaws 2, which attempted to replicate the success of the first movie by returning to Amity Island years after the first set of horrific shark attacks. Although Jaws 2 doesn't quite live up to its predecessor (but let's be real, what does?), the sequel continues Police Chief Martin Brody and his family's story. We just cannot believe that the locals of Amity didn't believe Brody when he reported the shark attacks again. Short memory, much? Jaws 2 is available to stream on Peacock in the US and on ITVX in the UK. Year: 2025Director: Sean Byrne The newest movie on this list is so fresh, it's still out in cinemas! But believe us when we tell you that it's worth hitting pause on your summer vacation to go and see Dangerous Animals in theaters, as this is a shark horror movie like no other. Directed by The Devil's Candy's Sean Byrne, Dangerous Animals flips the shark horror genre on its head by swapping the typical gilled villain for a man. The movie follows nomad surfer Zephyr, who gets abducted by a shark-obsessed serial killer and held captive on his boat, where she must quickly work out her escape before it's too late. Dangerous Animals is out in theaters now. For more, read our writer's opinion piece on why Dangerous Animals is the perfect film to watch during the 50th anniversary of Jaws. Year: 1975Director: Steven Spielberg What other movie did you expect to see in the top spot? Steven Spielberg's trailblazing blockbuster hit screens in 1975 and changed audiences' perception of sharks forever. When a giant white shark fatally attacks swimmers just off the coast of Amity Island, it's up to Sheriff Martin Brody, a marine biologist, and a local fisherman to hunt down the creature before it can claim too many victims. The movie gave us such iconic lines as: "You're gonna need a bigger boat," and one of the biggest jump scares in shark movie history (see above). Jaws still remains the best shark movie, and has ingrained itself into pop culture for 50 years now. Jaws is available to stream on Peacock in the US and on Prime Video in the UK. For more, read our Jaws review. For more, check out our list of upcoming movies you have to look forward to.
Engadget
6 hours ago
- Engadget
How to buy the Nintendo Switch 2: Latest stock updates at Target, Best Buy, Walmart and more
The Nintendo Switch 2 has been available in the US for more than two weeks — but good luck finding one. While millions of people have been able to snag the $450 console since it officially went up for sale on June 5, online inventory dried up fairly quickly at most stores soon after launch and remains difficult to find today. Target and Best Buy restocked shortly after launch, but those didn't last long, and the latter required in-store pickup. You may also be able to grab a bundle at Costco if you're a member there. Otherwise, it's been slim pickings. As of today, we're not seeing any availability — though you may have different luck in your locality when checking inventory, online or in person. To that latter point, people had a bit more luck on launch week by venturing to a physical retail store. We can't guarantee you'll still be able to snag a Switch 2 the old-fashioned way, but it's worth checking if a local Target, Best Buy, Walmart or GameStop — the four official retailers Nintendo lists on its store page — still has consoles in stock. For now, you can skip Amazon, though: For whatever reason, the biggest online retailer doesn't even have a product page for the Switch 2 (but it does seem to be selling games and accessories). All that said, if you're still on the hunt, we've rounded up all of the latest information we could find on how to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 and where you can pick one up. Walmart began online purchases at midnight ET on June 5. Currently, both the Mario Kart World bundle and the standalone console are "available" via third-party retailers, but listed for much higher than their standard $500 and $450 price tags — with limited quantities available. We wouldn't recommend buying these; instead, wait for the console to be listed at its regular MSRP. Naturally, the world's largest retailer is also selling the console at its brick-and-mortar locations, though the company has noted that quantities are limited and inventory will vary by location. Best Buy started selling the Switch 2 at its retail locations on June 5. It previously said it wouldn't sell the handheld at its online store during launch week, but it made additional consoles available on June 11 around 12PM ET. That restock lasted for the better part of an hour and required in-store pickup, but the device is now sold out again. Target had the Switch 2 in stores on June 5 and restocked its online inventory for at least a couple of hours starting around 3:30AM ET on June 6. It then had another restock on June 12 around 2:30PM ET, but that appears to have died out in less than an hour. It still looks to be fully sold out as we write this, but you should see if there's any stock at the stores closest to you just to be safe. GameStop has advertised in-store availability, though exactly how much stock your local store may have will vary by location. Online, the device has been unavailable for the past week, with the listings for the base console and Mario Kart bundle now pointing to a "Find a Store" page. We saw a $625 bundle that includes Mario Kart World , a microSD Express card and a few other accessories pop up a bit more frequently than the standard SKUs, but it's no longer listed (and it was kind of a raw deal anyway). You may still have some luck at certain membership-based retailers. A Mario Kart World bundle at Costco that includes a 12-month Switch Online subscription has gone in and out of stock since launch day. Sam's Club has had a bundle without the Switch Online sub as well, though it's out of stock now. We also saw the console at BJ's early on June 5, but it's no longer live there. Verizon briefly had the Switch 2 available on launch day, but that's dried up, and only those with Verizon service were able to order. Amazon hasn't had any form of Switch 2 listing on its website, nor has it listed Mario Kart World . The company didn't take pre-orders for the Switch 2 either, so it's unclear if and when it will sell the device. You can, however, find some Switch 2 games. Newegg has listed the Switch 2 on its site for several weeks, but it's given no indication as to when it'll begin sales. It previous showed a couple listings from a third-party seller, but at massively inflated prices. With all of these stores, we've seen the Mario Kart World bundle available in greater quantities online than the base console, which costs $50 less. But given that Mario Kart is the Switch 2's biggest launch game and retails for $80 on its own, that may not be the worst thing. Nintendo, meanwhile, is only offering the Switch 2 via an invite system. This requires you to have been a Switch Online member for at least 12 months and logged at least 50 hours of Switch 1 playtime as of April 2. It can't hurt to sign up if you meet the criteria, but don't expect it to bear fruit immediately — it's taken weeks for many people who registered in April to receive their invite. You can find a list of every Switch 2 retail listing we could find below. Just be aware that this is meant to be a reference, not a rundown of everywhere the device is available right this second. Where to buy Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle: Where to buy Switch 2: Nintendo is selling a number of Switch 2 accessories alongside the console, from its (pricey) Pro Controller to cases to cameras for the new GameChat feature. Most of these became available on June 5. The same goes for games like Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom . Another big Switch 2 release, Donkey Kong Bananza , won't be available until mid-July but is still up for pre-order now. As of this publication, just about all Switch 2 games are broadly available. Stock for the accessories remains a little spottier, but most devices are still available at multiple retailers. Nintendo's official Switch 2 carrying cases have been the main exceptions, so you may need to look to third-party alternatives if you want some protection for your console right away. Mario Kart World ($80) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Donkey Kong Bananza ($70) Nintendo Amazon Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Costco (membership required) Additional Switch 2 games Nintendo Amazon Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Amazon Joy-Con 2 bundle ($95) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Switch 2 Pro Controller ($85) Switch 2 Camera ($55) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera ($60) Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip ($40) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) ($25) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case ($85) Nintendo Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector ($40) Nintendo (invite required) Walmart GameStop Best Buy Target Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set ($120) Nintendo GameCube Controller for Switch 2 ($65) Nintendo (Switch Online required)
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Should You Buy Roblox Stock After Its Surge to $100?
Roblox has doubled over the last few months, with a new experience driving strong engagement. The platform is growing much faster than those of leading game makers. The stock looks expensive, but Roblox could sustain double-digit revenue growth for several years. 10 stocks we like better than Roblox › Roblox (NYSE: RBLX) is one of the surprise breakout stocks of 2025. This top gaming stock has nearly doubled since the beginning of April and recently was sitting close to a 52-week high. The company has posted more than 20% quarterly revenue growth on a year-over-year basis for seven consecutive quarters. It seems well positioned to keep the momentum going based on the popularity of a new game, Grow a Garden, that is trending on the platform right now. Roblox is the best video game stock to hold for the long term. While its run this year has lifted the valuation to expensive-looking multiples of sales and free cash flow, the company's growth prospects make the stock a compelling buy. Roblox has been growing revenue much faster than the big video game companies like Nintendo, Electronic Arts, and Take-Two Interactive. Roblox also has a much different business model than these companies, which explains why it's growing faster. What makes Roblox such a powerful platform for growth is its user-created content strategy. This is a lower-risk strategy than that of big game publishers like Take-Two, which take on the risk of spending millions of dollars to make a game. Roblox pays earnings (developer exchange fees) to the creators with the most engaging content. This makes up around a quarter of the company's revenue. This isn't an expense as much as an investment in content production, similar to how Netflix spends billions on content every year and attracts a large audience. Over the last four quarters, Roblox spent $1 billion in developer exchange fees while generating $3.8 billion in revenue. More content attracts more users. Roblox's daily active users grew 26% year over year to 97.8 million in the first quarter. What's interesting is that the platform is starting to attract older kids. In the first quarter, 62% of daily active users were older than 13, and this percentage has been trending higher in recent years. This broadens Roblox's addressable market and increases its growth opportunity. The success of Grow a Garden, which currently has more than 2 million players spending time with the game every day, shows why Roblox could be a compelling growth stock to hold for the long term. Its large pool of content creators can release an engaging new experience like this at any time that attracts more players and drives upside to revenue. Management is targeting more than 20% compound annual growth in revenue through at least 2027. It believes it can capture 10% of the $180 billion annually spent on video games over the long term. One trend supporting favorable long-term prospects is the video game industry's historical growth with technological advancement. For example, Roblox could benefit from innovation in virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and continued improvement in graphics technology. The biggest risk for the stock in 2025 is its high valuation. The stock currently trades at a high price-to-sales ratio of 17.5. Even taking into account its growing free cash flow, the stock trades at a valuation of 76 times trailing free cash flow. At these high multiples, investors should be prepared for a pullback, especially after hitting a milestone $100 share price, which could serve as an excuse for traders on Wall Street to take profits. Any dip in the share price in the near term is a buying opportunity for long-term investors. Roblox still has other growth catalysts on the horizon, such as digital ads. It just announced a partnership with Alphabet's Google Ads to launch video ad formats on the platform, which bolsters Roblox's opportunity in the $700 billion digital ad market. Roblox brings together two powerful growth drivers on a single platform -- growing demand for interactive entertainment and social media. Many players like Roblox because they get to socially connect with others while engaging in fun experiences. This dynamic could carry the company a long way. Before you buy stock in Roblox, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Roblox wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $664,089!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $881,731!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 994% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Netflix, Roblox, and Take-Two Interactive Software. The Motley Fool recommends Electronic Arts and Nintendo. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy Roblox Stock After Its Surge to $100? was originally published by The Motley Fool
