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Metro
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Nintendo Switch 2 outsells Switch 1 launch by over 100% but fails to beat PS5
Only a couple of UK retailers held midnight launches (Credits: David Parry/PA Media Assignments) The Nintendo Switch 2 has already sold over 160,000 consoles in the UK and become Nintendo's fastest selling console ever. Although there's still no official sales figures for the Nintendo Switch 2 everything points towards it being a massive worldwide success, selling more units in its first day than any other console. That'd certainly be an impressive feat, but Nintendo itself has yet to substantiate these claims. Earlier today, though, additional sales data has been shared, and it at least gives an indication of how the Switch 2 has performed here in the UK. Although no exact figures have been given, it's said that the Switch 2 has had the best UK launch of any Nintendo console ever. Although given the company's history in this country, it's difficult to know exactly what that means. The data comes courtesy of market research firm NielsenIQ, which shared its findings with The Game Business, adding that the Switch 2 outperformed the Switch 1 by more than two to one. On top of that, it outperformed the Nintendo 3DS, which was the original record holder for the biggest Nintendo hardware launch in the UK. For the record, the Switch 1 managed 80,000 units in the UK at launch while the 3DS sold 113,000 units. So the implication is that the Switch 2 sold over 160,000 consoles. Expert, exclusive gaming analysis Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. The only Switch 2 figures we have so far are from Currys, which says it sold 30,000 pre-orders at its stores, which they seemed to be very happy with. PlayStation consoles have always been more popular in the UK (Sony) NielseinIQ adds that this only makes the Switch 2 the fourth best-selling console launch in the UK, trailing behind the Xbox Series X/S, the PlayStation 4, and especially the PlayStation 5. Coming out in the middle of lockdown, the PlayStation 5 was a huge deal in the UK, when it launched in 2020, and went on to become the country's best selling console in 2021. As The Game Business points out, the original Switch and the Wii had weaker launches in the UK than the PlayStation 3 and Xbox One. The UK has always been Nintendo's weakest international market, which can be traced all the way back to the original NES from the 1980s. Not only did the UK not receive the console until 1987 – four years after its initial Japanese launch and two years after the US – but it and its games were badly overpriced and little effort was made in converting it for PAL televisions. Nintendo didn't even have a proper UK headquarters at that time and it wasn't until the GameCube that they started taking the region seriously, with the Wii and DS being the first time that Nintendo's success in the UK mirrored that of the rest of the world. The good news for Nintendo is that things have been steadily improving since then and doubling the Switch 1's debut is quite a feat. In the run up to the Switch 2's release, some analysts predicted it would be the biggest console launch ever, although Nintendo is only aiming to sell slightly more than the original Switch managed in its launch period. This more conservative outlook can likely be chalked up to Nintendo opting to play things safe due to all the uncertainty caused by US president Donald Trump's tariffs. Plus, it looks better for them if they easily beat their goals. A lot of people queued up for the Switch 2's midnight launch in the UK (Credits: David Parry/PA Media Assignments) Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. Arrow MORE: Mario Kart World review – the final verdict on the Switch 2's biggest game Arrow MORE: Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review – the dullest Nintendo game ever made Arrow MORE: New Splatoon game coming to Nintendo Switch 2 – plus massive Splatoon 3 update
Glasgow Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Ncuti Gatwa 'emotional' to see Doctor Who Barbie doll
Toy company Mattel is releasing the figure to celebrate its first appearance at MCM London Comic Con, which is being held at Excel London this weekend. The Barbie Fifteenth Doctor Doll features a face sculpted in the likeness of Gatwa and is dressed in a striped shirt, sleek trousers, a long brown jacket and white trainers. Mattel said the design captures the 'bold, expressive energy of the Doctor'. Gatwa said: 'Barbie is iconic, so to see a Barbie iteration of the Doctor was emotional, surreal, incredible, and I can't wipe the smile off my face. Ncuti Gatwa with the Doctor Who Barbie (Isabel Infantes/PA Media Assignments) 'I hope kids out there are able to enjoy the doll and see themselves in it and think 'I can do anything'.' Mattel has also created a model of Doctor Who's companion Ruby Sunday, who is played by Millie Gibson in the current series. The Barbie Ruby Sunday Doll is sculpted in the likeness of Gibson and is dressed in a fur-trimmed jacket, red shirt, plaid skirt, black tights and boots. Mattel said the ensemble reflects Ruby's 'style and spirit' as the Doctor's companion. The Barbie x Doctor Who dolls will be available for pre-sale from Friday on Mattel Creations and Amazon UK. The dolls will also be sold online at Argos, Hamleys, Harrods and Very from late July. Mattel Creations will be at MCM London Comic Con over three days this weekend with immersive brand spaces, designer meet-and-greets, photo opportunities and gaming zones.
Western Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Ncuti Gatwa 'emotional' to see Doctor Who Barbie doll
Toy company Mattel is releasing the figure to celebrate its first appearance at MCM London Comic Con, which is being held at Excel London this weekend. The Barbie Fifteenth Doctor Doll features a face sculpted in the likeness of Gatwa and is dressed in a striped shirt, sleek trousers, a long brown jacket and white trainers. Mattel said the design captures the 'bold, expressive energy of the Doctor'. Gatwa said: 'Barbie is iconic, so to see a Barbie iteration of the Doctor was emotional, surreal, incredible, and I can't wipe the smile off my face. Ncuti Gatwa with the Doctor Who Barbie (Isabel Infantes/PA Media Assignments) 'I hope kids out there are able to enjoy the doll and see themselves in it and think 'I can do anything'.' Mattel has also created a model of Doctor Who's companion Ruby Sunday, who is played by Millie Gibson in the current series. The Barbie Ruby Sunday Doll is sculpted in the likeness of Gibson and is dressed in a fur-trimmed jacket, red shirt, plaid skirt, black tights and boots. Mattel said the ensemble reflects Ruby's 'style and spirit' as the Doctor's companion. The Barbie x Doctor Who dolls will be available for pre-sale from Friday on Mattel Creations and Amazon UK. The dolls will also be sold online at Argos, Hamleys, Harrods and Very from late July. Mattel Creations will be at MCM London Comic Con over three days this weekend with immersive brand spaces, designer meet-and-greets, photo opportunities and gaming zones.
Scottish Sun
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Eddie Hall vs Mariusz Pudzianowski undercard FREE – plus who else is fighting on the MMA bill?
FREE FOR ALL Eddie Hall vs Mariusz Pudzianowski undercard FREE – plus who else is fighting on the MMA bill? EDDIE HALL makes his professional MMA debut in Poland TONIGHT. The former World Strongest Man scored two TKOs in his two against one victory over the Neffati Brothers. Advertisement 4 Eddie Hall won his maiden MMA bout against the Neffati Brothers Credit: Kieran Cleeves/PA Media Assignments 4 Eddie Hall lost his in-ring debut in boxing and now faces a massive test Credit: Getty 4 Mariusz Pudzianowski is the World's Strongest Man GOAT and has also fought 26 times in his MMA career Credit: Getty Hall, 37, steps back into MMA in a super-heavyweight clash against Mariusz Pudzianowski. Pudzianowski was named World Strongest Man five times in his career - more than anyone else - and made the Hall of Fame. He has fought 26 times in a decent MMA career, with 17 wins and 12 KOs, although he is 11 years older than Hall. The pair will be the penultimate fight on the KSW 105 card, with Adrian Bartonsinski vs Andrzej Grzebyk headlining the card. Advertisement READ MORE HALL vs PUZDIANOWSKI ED'S UP Eddie Hall reveals incredible body transformation after losing 77 lbs SunSport can reveal the rest of the undercard, and how to watch the clash for FREE. Full card Adrian Bartonsinski vs Andrzej Grzebyk Eddie Hall vs Mariusz Pudzianowski Artur Szpilka vs Errol Zimmerman Igor Michaliszyn vs Artur Szczepaniak Laura Grzyb vs Gabriela Hristea Szymon Bajor vs Augusto Sakai Marcin Krakowiak vs Adam Niedzwiedz Michal Turynski vs Denis Gorniak 4 When is Eddie Hall vs Mariusz Pudzianowski? Hall and Pudzianowski fight on Saturday, April 26. Their fight is the co-main event of KSW 105. The bout is expected to get underway at 9.45pm BST, with ring walks at approximately 9.30pm BST. Those times are subject to change. Prelims will begin at 5pm BST. How to watch Eddie Hall vs Mariusz Pudzianowski and is there a live stream?
Metro
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Peppa Pig's baby gender reveal couldn't be more silly if it tried
Why should we make such a huge and very public deal of announcing the gender of a baby? (Picture: ITV) Peppa Pig and her cartoon parents are staging a real-life gender reveal for their new piglet? Wake up and smell the bacon people! Yes, that's right, on Friday night, the family will descend on Battersea Power Station in London to announce whether they are having a boy or a girl (spoiler: It's a girl). The idea of this shindig has me snorting like silly Daddy Pig. First up, the whole gender reveal concept is hogwash, in my opinion, and something that should be made as extinct as George Pig's beloved 'dine-saws'. To be fair, I've never been to a gender reveal party, but I've seen the parade of videos on TikTok: The cutesy cupcakes, the towering balloon arches, the dogs reluctantly sporting huge, coloured bows or with their fur dyed… Then there's the poor friends and family already face being summoned to See The Baby, marshalled into attending baby showers, baptisms and birthday parties, then maybe nativities, school plays, sports days and so on… is this what the future will hold for Miss Rabbit, Grandpa Pig and Madam Gazelle, too? The event is going to be held at Battersea Power Station (Picture: Ian West/PA Media Assignments) That said, I accept that tastes differ and of course, being pregnant is a special and exciting time, and expectant parents want to share the joy with their near and dear. So I understand why some people choose to celebrate their impending arrival in this way – if said arrival is an actual, real human being. But a fictional pig? Give me a break! As a parent, I've of course watched Peppa Pig (Picture: Debbie Stowe) My own sons passed quickly through their Peppa Pig phase, but I've sat through my fair share of episodes. I've always considered it among the less bad content that parents of young children are subjected to. I like the fun and silliness of Peppa and her pals– and I've always encouraged my boys to jump in muddy puddles. Then there's the close family bonds depicted, the characters' ability to not take themselves too seriously, and Peppa's curiosity about the world. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page When news of Mummy Pig's third pregnancy emerged – revealed live on Good Morning Britain in February, no less – I'll admit it seemed like a good opportunity for a down-to-earth, empathetic show to deal with the topic of expanding families in an age-appropriate way. But having Mummy and Daddy Pig do their porcine gender reveal at London's Battersea Power Station on Friday night, lighting up its iconic chimneys in pink and blue, feels like one ham-fisted gimmick too far. This fuss and fanfare – taking over a highly visible and significant public landmark for something that is essentially a family matter – is ludicrous. I appreciate that there are worse things going on in the world to worry about and maybe I shouldn't be getting my tail in a twist over a cartoon. But I, for one, won't be taking my kids to watch four pigs celebrate in a cloud of pink smoke/slicing into a pink cake/releasing pink balloons (choose your gender reveal stereotype) in the name of a £1 billion cartoon franchise. Oh, Peppa. As you like to say: 'You're doing it all wrong!' Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. Arrow MORE: Peppa Pig's real-life baby gender reveal has people questioning their sanity Arrow MORE: Map shows likely Red Arrows flypast route on VE Day 2025 Arrow MORE: Eni Aluko apologises to Ian Wright for suggesting he is 'blocking' female pundits in women's football
