Pokémon & Nintendo — new reveals, game updates, Nintendo Direct news, Switch content, Pokémon announcements

Nintendo's ongoing patent lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair has hit another roadblock — the company was denied a touchscreen-specific patent related to monster-capture and throwing mechanics. The legal battle continues, but this is the second significant setback for Nintendo's claims. (Eurogamer, Kotaku)

In genuinely surprising news, using the Switch 2's GameChat feature while playing Pragmata actually boosts the game's performance. Capcom's port is already solid, but this unexpected synergy between the social feature and the game's rendering pipeline is turning heads. (Nintendo Life)

Nintendo is officially heading back to Gamescom 2026 in Cologne this summer after a massive on-floor presence last year. No word yet on what they're bringing, but with the Switch 2 still in its launch window, expectations are sky-high. (Nintendo Life)

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is just days away from launching as a Switch 2 exclusive, and Nintendo Life's poll is live gauging launch-day purchase intent. The previews have been glowing so far. (Nintendo Life)

UK boxed charts this week: Tomodachi Life claims the #1 spot, while Indiana Jones and the Great Circular Crusade makes its Switch 2 debut strong. (Nintendo Life)

The Adventures of Elliot got a glowing hands-on — reviewers say the classic top-down Zelda formula is in safe hands with this one. If you've been craving that A Link to the Past magic, keep this on your radar. (Nintendo Life)

Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi has given his stamp of approval to an AI-generated Final Fantasy VI video, calling it "amazing." In an era of deep AI skepticism, this is a genuinely surprising endorsement from a legendary designer. (Nintendo Life)

Marvel Cosmic Invasion from Dotemu and Tribute Games dropped a surprise DLC today adding two new fighters, with another wave incoming. The beat-'em-up keeps on giving. (Nintendo Life)

Namco has caught Suika Game fever with an upcoming puzzle game featuring its own twist on the fruit-merging formula. The Suika effect on the industry continues. (Nintendo Life)

No Gravity Games is back with the Pixel Chaos Giveaway starting May 19th — 6 free Switch games handed out daily. Freebies are never a bad thing. (Nintendo Life)

Rumor mill: The Switch may be getting a big sales push in India soon, potentially challenging the PS2's all-time hardware record. A fresh launch in the region could be imminent. (Nintendo Life)

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Call of Duty — Warzone/Black Ops updates, new seasons, weapons, competitive

Call of Duty's anti-cheat system pulled off a hilarious own — a cheater in Black Ops 7 had their guns literally stripped away mid-match on a live stream. Ricochet continues to prove that the best punishment is public embarrassment. (GameSpot)

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Indie Games — notable releases, hidden gems, devlogs, Steam Next Fest picks

Coffee Talk Tokyo is a warm, bittersweet third entry in the cozy barista visual novel series, and reviewers say it's another enjoyable blend of late-night conversations and caffeine-fueled storytelling. Now available on Switch eShop. (Nintendo Life)

Zero Parades: For Dead Spies is earning praise as a smart, atmospheric espionage game that leans into tension over action — "the game that came in from the cold," as one review puts it. Worth a look if you prefer your spy fiction cerebral. (Destructoid)

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Steam & PC — top charts, big sales, Steam Deck compatibility, major PC releases

A blunt warning from the trenches: the developer of VKD3D-Proton, the critical software layer for running Direct3D 12 games on Linux, says Forza Horizon 6 is "extremely broken" on the platform. If you're a Steam Deck or Linux gamer, you might want to hold off on this one. (PC Gamer)

Ex-Valve writer Chet Faliszek has made it crystal clear he has zero interest in writing Half-Life 3, saying he wouldn't touch it "with a 10-foot pole" and that the existing lore "terrifies" him. Let the man rest, internet. (Rock Paper Shotgun)

AI's impact on PC hardware is hitting hard: nearly two-thirds of PC owners now have no plans to upgrade, as AI-driven supply disruptions drive up RAM and component prices. Tech enthusiasts are ironically the ones suffering most. (Destructoid)

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Gaming Roundup — other notable news, trailers, industry moves

Those GTA 6 preorder rumors from Best Buy's affiliate program? Total false alarm. May 18th came and went with nothing. We're all still waiting. (GameSpot, IGN)

Subnautica 2 has ignited its first major community debate after its huge early access launch: should you be able to kill the fish? Currently you can't, and the community is split. The dev team is listening. (IGN)

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 director Jeff Fowler shared a behind-the-scenes look at Metal Sonic as filming officially wraps. The Blue Blur's cinematic universe keeps rolling. (IGN)

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is here and it's basically brick-by-brick Arkham — early reviews say it's a triumphant return for the LEGO formula and one of the best LEGO games in years. (Destructoid)

Games Workshop confirmed ready-painted terrain for Warhammer 40,000's 11th Edition ("Armageddon"), but explicitly ruled out ready-painted miniatures. A small but significant step for the hobby. (IGN)