Technologies

We Now Know the Price for Nintendo’s Controversial Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Fans aren’t thrilled that the $450 console doesn’t simply include a free copy of the tutorial game.

We now know a price for the Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which acts as a user tutorial for the various new features of the Nintendo Switch 2. According to IGN, the game will cost $10. A representative for Nintendo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The console’s specs were mostly unveiled during a Nintendo Treehouse event on April 3. That event also featured the announcement of a new game called Switch 2 Welcome Tour, which acts as a user tutorial for the various new features of the Switch 2. It quickly became controversial, with fans posting online that they thought the game should be free and included with the new console.

Per Nintendo, the game will feature «tech demos, minigames, and quizzes» for players to complete. The primary subject matter is the various new features on the Switch 2, like using the controller as a mouse and the upgraded HD Rumble feature. The game shows off some of the design elements of the Joy-Con controllers. For example, the upgraded HD Rumble feature puts the vibration motors «close to where your hands are holding the controllers» to intensify the vibrations. The minigames award medals, which are then used to access new parts of the game until the player has completed everything.

Read more: The 17 Best Nintendo Switch Games Right Now

Nintendo of America’s Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, told IGN that there’s enough content in the Welcome Tour to justify the $10 price.

«I think it’s going to be a great product,» he said. It’s really for people that want more information about the system rather than necessarily a quick intro to everything it does. And for that reason and just the amount of care and work that the team put into it, I think it was decided that, ‘Yeah, this feels like $9.99 is not an exorbitant price. It feels like a good value for what you’re getting out of the product.’ «

Should a tutorial game cost money?

Fans have already been criticizing the gaming giant for the prices of its release titles. Mario Kart World is set to go on sale for $80 around the same time the Switch 2 is launched, making it one of the most expensive games Nintendo has ever released.

The fact that the tutorial game doesn’t come included with the console — as was the case with Astro’s Playroom on the PlayStation 5 — displeased many Nintendo fans, who had something to say about it.

«That’s definitely a…choice? Not sure I understand the idea of making it paid when it should be a built-in app in every system,» Reddit user Rudy69 said.

«The audacity to make a game that helps you learn about the Nintendo Switch 2 and make it PAID,» argued X user CanadianZar. «No one is buying this game. Hell… Astro’s Playroom walks all over this and IT WAS FREE.»

Other people expressed interest in learning about the new controls but don’t want to shell out for the tutorial. Instead, their plan is to wait for gaming YouTubers to post Let’s Play videos about the game and watch it from there.

Read more: I Played the Nintendo Switch 2: Is It Worth It?

Just because people complain doesn’t mean that the game won’t sell well. Per Guide Strats, Breath of the Wild had a huge number of complaints on social media. The game would go on to outsell its own console when it and the original Nintendo Switch launched together in March 2017.

The game is set to launch on June 5, the same day as the Nintendo Switch 2 console. Preorders for the console have been delayed due to the new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, but the launch date is unchanged.

Technologies

Nintendo Switch 2 Blows Past Records to Sell 3.5 Million Consoles in Just 4 Days

Nintendo’s new handheld console has reached the highest global sales of any Nintendo device in the same timeframe.

We knew it was highly anticipated, but Nintendo on Wednesday confirmed that its new Switch 2 handheld game console has sold more than 3.5 million units worldwide within the first four days of release. This makes it the fastest-selling Nintendo device ever, flying past other releases like the original Switch, which by comparison sold 2.74 million units in its first month.

The Nintendo Switch 2 launched at a price of $450 for the standard America version of the console, which has yet to be affected by the latest tariffs.

It features a larger screen, revamped Joy-Con controllers, more advanced processors and backwards compatibility with original Switch games. It currently features updated versions of classics like Breath of the Wild, as well as the exclusive new game Mario Kart World.

Despite massive early-day sales, the Switch 2 still has a long ways to go to catch up to the original Switch, which has sold over 150 million units since its 2017 release date.

If you’ve been looking but haven’t been able to buy one yet, check out CNET’s Switch 2 tracker for where it’s still in stock.

Nintendo America did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

Technologies

This $19 Spigen 2-Port USB-C Charger Is Perfect for Your Nintendo Switch 2, Phone and More

You need never run out of juice on the road again with this 75-watt charger deal.

A great in-car USB-C charger can be worth its weight in gold, especially when you’re between locations. Whether you’re charging your phone for navigation or want to keep your kid’s Nintendo Switch 2 powered during a long road trip, this two-port charger is the answer — and now it’s available for just $19.

This is the lowest price that we’ve seen in a while, albeit a couple of dollars more than the lowest ever. But with a massive 53% off Amazon’s usual price and even more off the price Spigen would sell it for, this USB-C charger deal is still a no-brainer.

This charger slides right into your car’s 12-volt charging port and has more than enough power to charge the latest phones and tablets. There are two ports with a combined 75 watts of power split between them. The top can charge your most power-hungry devices at up to 45 watts while the bottom is limited to 35 watts.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

Aside from your phone, this charger can power your tablet as well as any laptops with USB-C. The bigger, more powerful laptops will charge more slowly than if you were using their AC adapter, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers, right?

To boot, Spigen has given this in-car charger protection technologies that ensure your devices only charge as quickly as they need to, to avoid any potential for battery damage. Finally, the charger is nice and small, so it won’t stick out too far, especially when it isn’t being used.

Why this deal matters

While batteries in our devices have gotten better over the years, they still need to be charged. You can bet that will happen at least once when you aren’t near an AC outlet. This charger gives you the ability to charge on the go, and at this price, it’s an absolute steal.

Technologies

Anker Recalls PowerCore 10000 Power Banks Because of Fire Risks: What to Know

The recall affects more than 1.1 million Powercore units sold in the US.

The electronics maker Anker recalled its PowerCore 10000 power banks with the model number A1263 after receiving 19 reports of fires and explosions.

According to an alert posted Thursday by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, more than 1.1 million of the products sold in the US are affected by the recall. The company plans to replace the charging devices, but customers who have them must submit photo evidence of ownership and also prove that they’ve disposed of the PowerCore devices properly before receiving a replacement. It recommends contacting a local hazardous waste collection center versus disposing of it in the trash or through standard recycling services.

In addition to instructing customers to stop using the chargers immediately, the CPSC says:

To receive a replacement, consumers will be required to submit a photo of their recalled power bank showing the model number, serial number, their name, the date of the photograph, and the word «recalled» written on the power bank in permanent marker. A purchase receipt will be requested but will not be required to participate in the recall. Consumers will also be required to confirm disposal of the power bank in accordance with applicable laws and regulations before receiving a replacement.

The PowerCore, made in China, is one of four current power bank recalls that have been issued by Anker. The others include the 334 MagGo 10K battery, the 321 Power Bank (5K) and the 535 Power Bank (20K).

Airlines have taken note of portable battery hazards. Recently, Southwest Airlines changed its policy on charging devices inside of cary-on bags. Some international airlines have also begun limiting the types of lithium chargers fliers can bring on planes due to risks of overheating.