How do you beat an experience that feels as complete as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? By doing something completely different, like Mario Kart World. For the first time in the series' history, Nintendo's fan-favourite kart racer is going open world, ripping up the franchise's rule book, opening up its gameplay to a chaotic 24 players per race, and introducing Knockout Tour - a nailbiting new elimination mode.-Nintendo-Switch-2-%E2%80%93-Overview-trailer-00-00-32-(1)_HCqcxO1.png?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
While countless Switch 2 hardware leaks painted the picture of a console unusually similar to its predecessor, Nintendo spent much of this week's official Switch 2 Direct trying to prove its next machine was more than just a simple upgrade. Sure, the console can still connect to your TV or live as a handheld, and yes, with the exception of one new button, the device's form factor looks remarkably similar. But, Nintendo said, dig into the capabilities hidden behind that one new button, or in the Joy-Con 2's new mouse functionality, and there was still that spark of creativity that sets the company apart.
There was plenty for us to pore over during yesterday's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, but there is one character in particular that has caught the hearts and minds of everyone who watched: Mario Kart World's cow on scooter.
Judging by reactions online across the world, the cost of the Switch 2 and its software has proven to be controversial. Perhaps Nintendo knew this, considering it didn't include the price in the actual Direct presentation.
Switch 2 editions of both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will include a number of new features, including achievements.
The Last of Us Part 1 made it to PC in somewhat disastrous fashion, though later upgrades did improve the game substantially. Today marks the release of The Last of Us Part 2, and we were interested to see whether porting specialists Nixxes were able to deliver a better experience on launch - and how many legacy issues remain. 
Few still-perfectly-decent games have felt as desperate a disappointment as this one. South of Midnight is gloriously pretty, a game of sumptuous environmental detail and rich attention. It's one of the best sounding games I've played in an age, with a highly unique, artfully implemented original score woven into its sound design. And it's also extremely well acted, a cut above the vast majority of video games in emotional authenticity and heft. But goodness me can it get tiresome to play.
Grand Theft Auto 5 will arrive on PC Game Pass later this month in its new Enhanced edition.
Just over an hour ago at the time of writing, Nintendo kicked off the first of its two Treehouse: Live presentations focusing on the Switch 2.
At yesterday's Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo revealed launch game Mario Kart World. It's an evolution of the series by going open world, but how does that impact its Grand Prix mode?
With the initial reveal of the Switch 2, there was the sense that Nintendo was intent on evolution, not revolution - but yesterday's fleshed out showing showed that the firm is still capable of surprises, both in terms of the hardware feature set and also in the presentation of many of its games.
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The first of Nintendo's two
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