Technologies

Nintendo, You Lost Me: The Switch 2 Isn’t Worth the Upgrade for Cozy Gamers

Commentary: The original Switch rekindled my love of gaming, but Nintendo has done little to entice me to upgrade — at least for now.

I’ve been looking forward to the Nintendo Switch 2 ever since it was announced, but after Wednesday’s launch event I’m not convinced I’ll ever upgrade to the new console. That’s because I have the distinct feeling that unlike its predecessor, this isn’t a console designed for cozy gamers like me.

Gaming means many different things to different people, and for a long time, I’d resigned myself to the idea that it just wasn’t for me. That wasn’t because I’d never enjoyed playing games, but the simulation, puzzle and strategy games I liked playing as a child and teenager didn’t seem to be a priority to publishers or console makers as the focus shifted toward increasingly demanding AAA games. Once my brother traded in our family PS2 for an Xbox, I considered my gaming days over.

Even though there’s long been a thriving indie game scene that I’ve occasionally dipped my toe into, I’ve never enjoyed sitting in front of a PC to game. Instead, it was the launch of the original Nintendo Switch that brought me back into gaming in a big way. Here was a console that didn’t take itself too seriously, with endless opportunities for casual, cozy gamers like me to indulge in less intense, less power-hungry titles, either with friends on our TVs or on a long-haul flight (when there’s nothing better than losing myself in a game where I pretend to be a bear running a bed-and-breakfast).

I was one of many who poured hours into Animal Crossing, but there’s a whole world of cozy games available on the Switch, with publishers releasing new titles all the time, and they’re wildly popular. One of the most recent launches, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, which came out in February, sold half a million copies in its first 30 days alone.

The serious side of the Switch 2

When the Switch 2 was announced, I was ready to see my favorite console level up, but based on Wednesday’s announcements, I see very little to get excited about for cozy gamers like myself. In fact, I think Nintendo risks alienating us with this upgrade.

I was hoping that at least one of the games announced at launch would be something to excite existing Animal Crossing fans, but no such luck. It seems to me that with a focus on more-demanding and serious titles, including The Duskbloods exclusive, the Switch is shaking off its fun and family-friendly identity to better compete with the likes of the Xbox and the PlayStation.

The Switch 2 even looks more serious. The formerly brightly hued Joy-Con controllers are now black, with a nod to their red and blue predecessors only via a ring of color around the joysticks. It reminds me more of a Steam Deck than a Nintendo console.

That said, it is still early days for the Switch 2, and just because cozy gamers aren’t being prioritized at launch doesn’t mean there won’t be future enticements to look forward to. The newly introduced mouse functionality on the Switch 2 could open up more possibilities down the line for strategy and simulation games, many of which can fall within the cozy game genre.

I’ll be keeping my eye out for future releases that are more up my street, in the hope that the Switch 2 is eventually worth the upgrade. In the meantime, you can find me curled up in bed feeding my livestock and romancing every villager in turn in Stardew Valley on my original Switch.

Technologies

The Most Exciting Video Game Rumors and Leaks Ahead of 2026

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, Dec. 17

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 17.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Nod (off)
Answer: DOZE

5A clue: Naval submarine in W.W. II
Answer: UBOAT

7A clue: Tricky thing to do on a busy highway
Answer: MERGE

8A clue: Heat-resistant glassware for cooking
Answer: PYREX

9A clue: Put into groups
Answer: SORT

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Break up with
Answer: DUMP

2D clue: Falls in line, so to speak
Answer: OBEYS

3D clue: Legendary vigilante who cuts a «Z» with his sword
Answer: ZORRO

4D clue: Rarin’ to go
Answer: EAGER

6D clue: Common reminder for an upcoming appointment
Answer: TEXT

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Technologies

You Can Watch an Exclusive Avatar: Fire and Ash Scene on TikTok Right Now

Disney and TikTok partner on an immersive content hub for James Cameron’s latest movie about the alien Na’vi.

If you’re not quite ready to head to the theater to watch Avatar: Fire and Ash, an exclusive scene preview might sell you on the visual spectacle. As part of a new collaboration with the social media giant, Disney is posting snippets of its new movie to its TikTok account.

This scene isn’t part of any trailer and won’t be posted to other social media accounts, making TikTok the only place you can view it — unless you buy a movie ticket. A first look at the new movie’s scenes isn’t the only Avatar-related bonus on the social media platform right now, either. TikTok has partnered with the house of mouse to bring an entire «immersive content hub» to the app.

A special section of TikTok includes quizzes and educational videos that explore the alien world of Pandora shown off in the movies. On TikTok, you can take a personality quiz to find out what Na’vi clan you most closely align with and unlock a special profile picture border to use on your account.

Science and fiction blend together with a series of videos from real doctors who explain the basis for some of Avatar’s world-building. If you want to learn about exoplanets or how realistic the anatomy of the movie’s alien animals is, these videos will feed your brain while still providing entertainment value.

Perhaps the most enticing part of Disney’s latest social media collaboration is the opportunity for fans to win prizes and trips. TikTok creators who make edits with the #TikTokAvatarContest hashtag are entered into a competition to win Avatar merchandise. The biggest winners will be able to take a trip to visual effects studio Wētā Workshop in New Zealand or visit Avatar director James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment Studio in Los Angeles.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is the third installment in director Cameron’s cinematic passion project. While the first Avatar movie was released in 2009, Cameron didn’t release another entry in the franchise until 2022. In total, there is a five-movie arc planned for the indigo alien Na’vi on the moon of Pandora.

The Avatar movies are known for pushing the boundaries of CGI visual effects in cinema. They are also historically big winners at the box office: the original Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all time, earning $2.9 billion across its theatrical releases. Its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, is the third-highest-grossing film of all time, trailing Avengers: Endgame. You can stream those movies on Disney Plus.

It remains to be seen whether Avatar: Fire and Ash will financially live up to its predecessors. The film currently has mixed reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.