Technologies

Beat Price Increases With Woot’s Can’t-Miss Nintendo Switch OLED and Mario Kart 8 Bundle Offer

Nintendo is raising prices among tariff concerns, but this bargain scores you a console at less than $300 — that’s over $100 off the new price.

Many gamers are upgrading to the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, but at $450 — or $500 for the Mario Kart World bundle — it’s an expensive investment. Normally, we’d expect older models to drop in price with a new console hitting shelves, but Nintendo has announced that it’s raising original Switch prices due to market conditions.

Those increases include the Nintendo Switch OLED model rising to $400 from $350. But you can still find rare deals if you shop around, and we’ve spotted an incredible offer from Woot that drops the console/handheld hybrid down to just $289. That’s a $111 discount on the newer price and, better yet, it includes a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as well as a 12-month subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. That’s the equivalent of $79 in free add-ons. Couple that with the price cut, and that’s nearly $200 in savings.

The catch? This is an international model, which may mean packaging and other materials may vary from the standard US model, but functionally it is the same device, offering the same games and support. The Nintendo Switch OLED also differs from the original Switch console. It has a sleek white design and a larger 7-inch OLED display that enhances any game played on the move. The OLED model also doubles the standard storage from 32GB to 64GB, has an improved adjustable kickstand and adds an Ethernet port to the dock. A lot of the differences are indistinguishable from the 2017 launch console, but if you’re not fussed about the Switch 2, then this is a great way to access some of the best games of the last decade at a price that avoids price increases due to tariffs.

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One of those fabulous games is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It’s no surprise that the colorful racing game comfortably sits as the best-selling title for the console at more than 68 million sales. And you’ll get it included with your purchase, making this an exceptional offer.

GAMING HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK

Logitech G535 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset (Black):

$99 (save $31)
Logitech G Pro X Wired 7.1 Gaming Headset (2nd Generation):

$70 (save $60)
HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Gaming Headset:

$143 (save $58)
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset (Black):

$180 (save $20)
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless Headset:

$145 (save $36)

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why these deals matter

Nintendo fans know all too well that the Japanese game maker rarely discounts its hardware or games, and with prices rising, this is likely the last time we’ll see a Nintendo Switch deal this good for some time. That’s why sales like this one from Woot shouldn’t be overlooked.

Technologies

The Fourth Episode of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Out

Verum Messenger has released the fourth episode of its AI mini-series SHADOWS, created using Verum AI. The new episode, titled “No Borders,” continues the story of a team trying to stay out of the OMEGA corporation’s sight.

Following the events of the previous episodes, the team moves between cities and countries while OMEGA continues its search. The new episode puts particular emphasis on Verum Messenger’s capabilities that allow users to conceal their location.

“No Borders” is another chapter in a story about privacy, freedom of communication, and technologies that erase borders between people.

The VERUM AI mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 4 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube