Technologies

These Are the Switch 2 Launch Games You Should Actually Consider

Cyberpunk 2077 leads the pack but Fast Fusion and Bravely Default also make for interesting gameplay.

The Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t been out long but it’s still somewhat disappointing that not many new games are available yet to use the new hardware. Yes, Donkey Kong Bananza is probably the biggest hit for the Switch successor that everyone should pick up but aside from that and Mario Kart World, there’s not much else to get.

For those who are still looking for something else to play on their Switch 2, here’s a list of some of the more interesting launch games to pick in the meantime.

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

Aside from Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077 is the most impressive launch game for the Switch 2. Not only does the game look great but it runs incredibly well. Even better than the Steam Deck. CD Projekt Red did an incredible job making arguably the best-looking Switch 2 game.

There is, however, a catch: Night City, which is huge for a video game map, is practically empty. This is a significant compromise as the other versions of Cyberpunk feature a living, robust city. Granted, the roaming NPCs didn’t do much to affect your game but they provided that feeling of being in a sprawling city landscape.

Aside from that, Cyberpunk on the Switch 2 has fast loading times, makes use of ray-tracing and has a steady frame rate, and it’s likely there will be subtle improvements over the course of multiple updates. This version also makes use of the touchscreen during hacking and there is some use of the motion controls when playing.

The key thing with Cyberpunk on the Switch 2 is understanding who this is for. As this comes with the Phantom Liberty DLC, this version of the game is solely for those Switch 2 owners who never played the game. They’ll be in for a treat but if you played any version of Cyberpunk, there is little reason to spend money on this game.

Fast Fusion

Fast Fusion is the other launch racing game for the Switch 2, with a look and feel similar to the Wipeout series found on the PlayStation consoles. The futuristic racing game is considerably more affordable than the other launch titles at only $15, but it’s appropriate, as the game doesn’t have much content.

In Fast Fusion, players drive a hover-racer that reaches speeds of 500 mph, although races aren’t just about who can go the fastest. The courses have a unique dynamic where players have to switch their vehicle’s colors from red to blue. If the color matches the boost lanes found throughout the track then the vehicle will hit top speeds while obtaining a bit of boost to use at any time during the race. However, if your vehicle’s color doesn’t match, then it will slow down considerably.

The tracks are futuristic-looking and have different obstacles, such as giant fans and boulders. The tracks’ structures are also dangerous, as vehicles can do a hop that, if done at the wrong time, can lead them to smash right into a building or platform. Players can also spin out other racers by timing their boosts just right.

While the racing is fun, that’s all there is to the game. Winning races earns you money to access new races and vehicles, but that’s about it. There’s no online play, but there is split-screen multiplayer.

In a way, Fast Fusion seems barebones, but then it dawns on you that it’s only $15. This is one of those games to purchase if you feel an urgent need to play an arcade racing game with superfast speeds.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster

One of the few games that’s truly an upgrade for the Switch 2 launch titles is Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster. Square Enix remastered the 2012 3DS game Bravely Default and, while it’s a big improvement, it’s still a remaster, meaning it’s not doing anything particularly huge with the original game.

Bravely Default HD Remaster is a turn-based JRPG that has a unique job system. A character can change from one job to another, bringing the skills they learned to the new job, such as having a monk know black magic or a red mage able to trap monsters like they’re Pokemon. It’s developing those character job combos that make the game so interesting to play, even though its storyline has the typical fantasy plot found in many JRPGs.

Because it’s a remaster, this version of Bravely Default has upgraded visuals from the 2012 Nintendo 3DS game, making it look more modern. There’s also reorchestrated music, voice cutscenes and some quality-of-life improvements over the original, like autosaves and an in-game glossary to understand everything about the game. The Switch 2 also helps in making the game a bit snappier when loading and going in and out of menus. But if you want the original 3DS experience, there is a «Legacy Mode» that takes you back to 2012.

With a price of $40, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is an easy pickup for anyone in need of a JRPG to play.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

If there is a truly unique game, it’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. Not just because of how much it draws from Japanese folklore but also because it’s an interesting take on the tower defense formula.

In Kunitsu-Gami, players control Soh, who is a warrior defending a maiden with the help of villagers. The gameplay involves placing villagers in certain positions to fend off waves of monsters while, at the same time, Soh has to go around attacking the enemies directly with typical hack-and-slash gameplay. After battles, players do a bit of strategizing by leveling up the villagers and Soh to face the next day’s onslaught of enemies. The fun comes down to having to actually think about what’s going on at all times, instead of sitting back like in a typical tower defense game or just mindlessly button-mashing.

As for graphics, Kunitsu-Gami is not a visual giant, but the game has a charm to it. The cel-shaded look and lighting give it a fantastical look, which works for the game’s folklore roots. As it’s not so graphically intensive, you get plenty of time playing the game before the Switch 2 battery empties, too.

For $40, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a game to pick up for those who want an action game with a change of pace. For those willing to wait, it is likely that publisher Capcom will drop the price by the time the holidays roll around.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening

Let me make this very clear for those unfamiliar with this series: Nobunaga’s Ambition is the driest of strategy games. There are some high-profile samurai games set in feudal Japan, such as Assassin’s Creed: Shadows and the upcoming Ghost of Yotei, but do not get it twisted. This game isn’t about recruiting samurai to take down a warlord; it’s about figuring out the right amount of rice is needed so your people won’t starve.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening is one of the oldest turn-based strategy video game franchises. It originated in Japan in the early ’80s and made its way to the US on the NES. Players step into the role of a daimyo and have to expand their lands while also being diplomatic with other leaders.

There is no «action» in the game. You will have to read a lot and figure out the best strategy to win. It’s a very slow and complex game, which, funnily enough, longtime fans of the franchise will say is more streamlined and dumbed down from previous entries in the series. There aren’t really any «visuals» other than world maps, character portraits and so many menus. Your fingers will get numb from constantly turning pages to read everything.

If you love methodical, turn-based strategy games and are super interested in feudal Japan, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening is likely worth the $60. If that description doesn’t fit you, steer clear.

Technologies

The FDA Just Upgraded an Egg Recall to the Highest Severity Level. Are You Affected?

Over 6 million eggs were caught up in a salmonella-related recall in September. Now, the FDA says there’s a «reasonable probability» of serious illness.

Scan your shelves for cartons from Black Sheep Egg Company. The company voluntarily recalled more than 6 million eggs after the US Food and Drug Administration found environmental samples at one of its processing centers tested positive for salmonella.

Read more: How Long Do Eggs Really Last in the Fridge? An Expert Explains

«Of the samples collected, 40 environmental samples were positive for salmonella including seven different strains of salmonella,» said the initial recall alert from the FDA. «Some of these strains are known to cause human illness.»

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While multiple Black Sheep Egg Company products have been affected by this recall, the FDA identified 12- and 18-count cartons of Black Sheep Egg Company Free Range Large Grade A Brown Eggs as Class 1.

This is the agency’s highest-severity level recall, and it warns against consuming a product that could «cause serious adverse health consequences or death.»

Which products are affected by the recall?

The recall doesn’t affect every Black Sheep Egg Company egg carton, but check the eggs in your fridge.

You should get rid of the following products if they have a Best By date between Aug. 7 and Oct. 31, or a UPC code that reads 860010568507 or 860010568538:

Free Range Grade A Large Brown Eggs, 12-count cartons
Free Range Grade A Large Brown Eggs, 18-count cartons
Free Range Grade AA Large Brown Eggs, loose-packed in boxes
Free Range Grade AA Medium Brown Eggs, loose-packed in boxes
Free Range Grade AA Large Brown Eggs, loose open skid
Free Range Grade AA Medium Brown Eggs, loose open skid
Free Range Grade AA Large White Eggs, loose open skid
Free Range Grade AA Medium White Eggs, loose open skid
Free Range Grade AA Large White Eggs, 12-count cartons
Free Range Grade AA Medium White Eggs, 18-count cartons

Additionally, Black Sheep Egg Company is a supplier for Kenz Henz in Texas. Kenz Henz is also issuing a voluntary recall of the following product if it has a Best By date between Oct. 11 and Oct. 17 and a UPC code of 86949400030:

Grade AA Large Pasture Raised eggs, 12-count cartons

Where did the affected eggs come from?

According to the FDA, the salmonella samples were found in Black Sheep Egg Company’s Arkansas processing center.

While Black Sheep Egg Company cooperated with the FDA and voluntarily recalled the potentially contaminated eggs, it had already shipped products to other companies within Arkansas and Missouri. These eggs may have been repackaged and further distributed to other states, so this recall could expand over time.

What should I do if I find the affected eggs in my fridge?

If you find a recalled Black Sheep Egg Company or Kenz Henz product in your refrigerator, discard it immediately. If you’ve eaten any eggs, monitor yourself for signs of illness.

«Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated with salmonella, and the symptoms usually last four to seven days,» the FDA statement said. «Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.»

If you believe you’ve developed symptoms of a salmonella infection, contact a healthcare provider immediately.

If you find affected eggs in your home, carefully sanitize any countertops, surfaces or containers the eggs have touched. Wash utensils and cooking implements with hot soapy water, then wash your hands afterward.

Technologies

Samsung TVs Now Can Provide Weather Forecast, Find a Pizza Place

The company is adding a Perplexity AI app to all of its new TVs and even older ones.

You’re sprawled on the couch, watching the latest stream of your favorite show. Why not plan your next vacation while you’re at it? That’s the thought behind Samsung’s latest AI innovation, the Perplexity TV app. It’s a standalone AI agent available on all 2025 Samsung TVs and, later this year, on 2023 and 2024 TVs with the latest OS upgrade.

Earlier this month, at the Berlin consumer-electronics show IFA 2025, the company introduced Samsung Vision AI, which allowed TV viewers to access more information about the shows and actors they were watching. Viewers can also use the Vision AI Companion in other ways, such as receiving recommendations for shows and movies. The Perplexity TV app builds on Vision AI’s skillset.

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Samsung integrated AI across a wide range of its products, including smartphones, appliances, earbuds, tablets and TVs, as part of the company’s vision to «leap forward as an AI-driven company that makes the best use of AI, works with AI, and grows with AI,» executive Roh Tae-Moon said at the 2025 Tech Forum in Silicon Valley last week.

‘Curiosity can strike at any time’

Samsung partnered with Perplexity, a self-proclaimed «free AI-powered answer engine.» Samsung says its Perplexity TV app can provide the weather forecast, find you the closest pizza shop or tell you the date of the Kentucky Derby.

Ryan Foutty, Perplexity’s vice president of business, said creating an AI app for TVs makes sense because «curiosity can strike at any time» and that consumers should be able to access information from AI regardless of the AI-driven interfaces they are using.

Use the apps tab on your Samsung TV to access the Perplexity TV App, or hit the AI button on your remote to access Samsung’s Vision AI Companion. You can also ask the AI questions by speaking into the built-in microphone on the remote and TV, or using the on-screen keyboard.

CNET expert isn’t yet sold

CNET’s David Katzmaier saw Samsung’s AI-enhanced TVs earlier this year at CES 2025, and isn’t quite convinced that this is a vital addition.

«At first blush, a built-in AI agent doesn’t seem to me like a good reason to choose one TV over another,» Katzmaier said. «To make it worthwhile, Samsung needs to prove that it’s better than, say, Perplexity on your phone.»

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Oct. 22, #394

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle No. 394 for Wednesday, Oct. 22.

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

How much do you like basketball? If it’s your game, today’s Connections: Sports Edition is for you. If you’re struggling but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Big Apple hoops.

Green group hint: Hoops winners.

Blue group hint: Shoes.

Purple group hint: Look at the logo.