Good news, sports fans: Nintendo Switch Sports is set to release April 29 exclusively for (you guessed it) Nintendo Switch. The latest installment in the Wii Sports series, it brings a collection of motion-controlled mini-games to a new generation. We’re talking games like tennis, bowling, and chambara (which is basically sword fighting).
The game is already up for preorder, in both physical and digital versions (see it at Amazon). Read on to find out what comes in each version, how much it costs, and where it’s available. And if you're wondering if it's any good, check out our Nintendo Switch Sports review.
Physical copies of Nintendo Switch Sports cost $10 more than digital copies, but they come with a leg strap. The strap has a little Joy-Con pouch so the Switch can detect your leg movements, which are used as controls in the game (see the "leg strap" section below for details, as the leg input is pretty limited at launch).
This is the same leg strap that comes with Ring Fit Adventure, so if you have that game and don’t need a leg strap, you can grab a digital copy of Nintendo Switch Sports and save a bit of cash.
If you already have a leg strap from purchasing Ring Fit Adventure (or you’re just not interested in controlling the game with your leg) you can skip the physical copy and save $10 by buying digital.
Nintendo Switch Sports Trailers
What is Nintendo Switch Sports?
Nintendo Switch Sports is the latest installment of the Wii Sports series. The original 2006 game was incredibly popular in part because it came included with the Wii console. It also used intuitive motion controls, making it a go-to game to play with parents, grandparents, and people who didn’t generally play video games. Check out our Nintendo Switch Sports hands-on preview for more details.
Nintendo Switch Sports carries on the motion-controlled tradition via the Joy-Con controllers. It includes local multiplayer, plus online multiplayer for all of the sports. What sports are we talking, exactly?
Mini-Games Included in Nintendo Switch Sports
Here’s every game included in Nintendo Switch Sports at launch:
Tennis
Bowling
Chambara
Soccer
Badminton
Volleyball
As noted below, golf will be added in a free update planned for fall 2022.
Nintendo Switch Sports Leg Strap Accessory
When the game launches on April 29, only one mini-game will take advantage of the leg strap included in physical copies of the game. You’ll be able to use the leg strap to play “shootout mode” in soccer. However, more leg strap functionality is coming later in the year.
Nintendo Switch Sports Planned Updates
In the game’s announcement, Nintendo offered a look ahead at two updates that will be coming to the game this year. The first update, scheduled for this summer, will allow you to use the leg strap accessory to control regular games of soccer.
A second free update planned for this fall will add a new golf game to Nintendo Switch Sports.
Other Preorder Guides
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter@_chrislreed.
Nintendo Switch Sports preorders are currently available for just £30.59 in the UK when buying from Currys. All you need to do is use code SWITCHSPORTS at checkout to receive the discount and get a free Switch Sports wristband alongside as well. The game will release on April 29, so if you preorder now, you're guaranteed to get in on launch day.
Digital versions of the game are available for £30.99 but the Leg Strap Accessory is sold separately and costs £8.99. But, with this bundle deal, you can both together for less than the RRP of the digital game. Otherwise, you can also get the same bundle deal for just £35 from Amazon as well.
Save on Nintendo Switch Sports Preorders in the UK Right Now
Both of these deals are a good choice in my opinion. The Amazon deal is great for those who have collected some extra Amazon vouchers recently and need something to spend it on.
While the Currys deal is the cheapest you can find the bundle deal in the UK, just use code SWITCHSPORTS at checkout and you'll get the game on release day, April 29.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him@robertliam21on Twitter.
Prior to the infamous invasion of Normandy Beach on June 6, 1944, covert ops agents prepared the French theater of war behind enemy lines, and this is how Sniper Elite 5 sets the backdrop for one Sniper Elite veteran Karl Fairburne’s return to the PC and modern consoles late next month. Sniper Elite 5 reverts to – and improves upon – the series’ roots by placing you back into the third-person perspective and offering the expansive range of stealth options that Sniper Elite fans have come to know and love since the series started way back in 2005. However, it now has a few extra twists, including deeper weapon customization and expansive map layouts that offer plenty of ways to play, improving on (rather than revolutionizing) what fans already enjoyed about Sniper Elite 4.
Naturally, it wouldn’t be a Sniper Elite game without impeccable sniping simulation – this accounts for everything from wind direction to Karl’s heart rate, and I found it astoundingly easy to change the outcome of a battle by taking certain “irritants'' off the board earlier than later. Which is to say, Sniper Elite 5 seems like it leaves plenty of room for experimentation in how you approach its open-world-esque maps, even if your experimentation just comes down to picking somebody out of a tower half-a-mile away, before then darting into the bushes and military-crawling your way through the neighboring encampment.
I spent several hours playing with these systems, and despite how challenging this combat is due to strikingly intelligent AI opponents, I never got bored coming up with a new strategy each time I respawned. Do I want to create a distraction at the main barricade and hide in the tower, later ziplining down to the forest grove once the coast is clear – or do I want to methodically take out the roving transports and then trap them with grenades and other explosives that go off when the enemy AI sends out soldiers to take a look at the wreckage? Not once did I get the sense that I was being railroaded into any particular playstyle. In fact, relying solely on my single-shot Welrod pistol was a viable strategy – if I managed to stay out of sight, which meant relying on Sniper Elite 5’s climbing system to avert enemy eyes.
I never got bored coming up with a new strategy each time I respawned.
Much like the previous Sniper Elite games, there are a variety of guns to play with, and each weapon has a signature feel to it. The series’ famous slow-motion killcam makes a return here, and your killcam shots also apply to pistols and SMGs if you manage to land a killing blow at a creative angle. It’s never a great idea to charge into battle with the limited arsenal Karl is able to carry at one time, and he’s always about two or three well-placed bullets away from death, but there are also a fair number of powerful weapon pickups spread across the map that give each area a special tactical advantage. For example, this tower contains a high-powered rifle that’s extremely useful for taking care of the Nazis guarding the front gates of this chateau, while this shed is filled with explosives. The map that I playtested had three major lanes, culminating at a massive compound within the chateau that spanned floors and tunnels that I may not have even seen in a single playthrough, and it’s this level of openness that gives weight to the number of tactical options that are made available.
Weapon customization is one of the marquee features of Sniper Elite 5, and it’s astounding how many different attachments and add-ons you can play with here. It’s almost to the degree of Battlefield 4’s customization, and that’s a compliment. In addition to weapon customization, you also level up gradually as you complete certain challenges and rack up your kill count, and your level even persists between deaths – but only if you restart the mission after dying. Each time you level up, you can place skill points into perks that unlock certain features, like being able to revive yourself after being gunned down. It’s an awfully nice way to alleviate certain challenges if you’re struggling to get through the map. Speaking of, it also sounds like there will be multiplayer features such as co-op and player invasions, kinda like in Dark Souls, though I did not get a chance to see this feature in action. That said, there’s enough openness to this map to make multiplayer seem like a natural fit at first glance, and it could be fun to keep an extra eye out for an enemy player flanking you or potentially even using your own tactics against you during a mission.
As announced by Bandai Namco, Update 1.04.1 has "fixed a bug with Malenia, Blade of Miquella in which her HP was not healed correctly in the online multiplayer environment". This should mean that in fights where you have summoned co-operative player help, Malenia won't be able to regain her health unless her blows actually connect with a player. That's good news for anyone trying to overcome the game's hardest boss with friends.
There's good news for spell casters, too; the Cerulean Hidden Tear has been fixed. Update 1.04 accidentally slashed the duration of the Tear from 15 seconds down to 7, but thankfully this hotfix restores it back to its original form. Drink this when mixed in the Flask of Wondrous Physick and you'll be able to cast spells without draining FP for the full 15 seconds now.
The update has also "fixed a bug that caused some bosses to die at unintended times", as well as fixing a bug that prevented the final boss from working properly "under certain circumstances." Those circumstances are not mentioned in the post, but they shouldn't be a problem anymore.
In addition, some text issues have also been rectified.
This should put patch 1.04 in a good position, as other than these problems the update was well recieved by the Elden Ring community, especially in regard to its alterations to colossal weapons and Faith abilities. It did nerf Swarm of Flies, though, so anyone who relied on that to defeat Malenia may be slightly disappointed.
Dying Light 2's latest patch, 1.03 includes dozens of changes – including a New Game Plus mode that developer Techland said will "significantly alter" gameplay.
Upon completing Dying Light 2's story (though not all 500+ hours of content) players can restart the game and experience it again with extra changes. Though Techland remained somewhat vague in its notes, the second playthrough will acknowledge that it's not the player's first time by modifying certain content and adding new and exclusive things to do.
The new content, completely unavailable in the first playthrough of Dying Light 2, includes: 30 new inhibitors, new platinum objectives for parkour challenges, updated distribution of the enemies (for example Volatiles and Banshee will now spawn during the night), a new legendary weapon tier, gold encounters, and enemy difficulty that will scale with player level.
Across all save files, Techland has also fixed a number of bugged quests and added a new one called Something Big Has Been Here, which introduces a new variant of mutated infected.
The developer is surprisingly frank about other changes, saying plainly that "enemies with bows are less annoying" now. The bug causing some enemies to become invulnerable to damage has been fixed alongside similar issues, and the patch also updates achievement registration so that everything pops as it should.
Techland said that overall stability has been improved, progression-blocking glitches such as certain NPCs not appearing have been fixed, and issues like the game not acknowledging and thus spawning enemies around the joining player have also been addressed. The rest of the patch notes (available below) cover similar issues such as crash fixes and improved texture optimization.
After finishing it once, the game can be replayed again, only this time with modified game parameters in place to encourage a second playthrough by the implementation of a unique system and experience. The player can now go through the story with revitalized mechanisms. These include new enemy behaviors, more difficult encounters, new objects within the world, namely the newly added inhibitors, and many more changes that will significantly alter the gameplay style and allow the player to develop their character further. All of this is only available in New Game+!
30 new inhibitors
New platinum objectives for parkour challenges
Updated distribution of the enemies (f.e. Volatiles and Banshee spawn during the night, a wider variety of enemy pools in encounters)
A new legendary weapon tier added
Gold encounters added
Enemy difficulty scales with the player level
Co-op Updates
Fixed connection and stability issues in co-op
Fixed connection issues with the players who are further advanced inthe story
Improved game performance in co-op
Co-op story blocks
Fixed an issue that caused blocked progression in a single player game mode after a co-op session
Fixed few remaining death loops in co-op
Fixed an issue with a missing NPC during the Missing People quest in a co-op session
Co-op quality
Improved weapon visualization in online menu and inventory
Improved handling of challenges requirements in co-op
Fixed random bandit respawns while players are still in the bandit camp
Fixed issues with the player being unable to access inventory or map after dying several times in co-op
Fixed blocked story progression with "enemies nearby" notification
Fixed rare issue when a player can't move after a revive
Fixes for far away peer respawn from the host and respawning in geometry
Fixed AI jitter in random cases
Improved various animations in co-op - f.e. crouching, throwing, using the bow, and more
Fixed sound duplication in co-op
Fixed rare cases of unresponsive quest radio dialog in co-op, causing story blocks
Fixed the display of incorrect icons on the map after a co-op party
Fixed “call for help” when the player is being summoned during a gather in co-op
Fixed black screens in certain situations that could cause progression blockers during co-op progression
Fixed unnecessary “skill requirement” text-glitch in the description of a challenge in a co-op session
Updated the time of tutorial windows to 30 seconds during the co-op sessions
Fixed a bug that allows player to have multiple story quests active
Content Update
Mutated Infected - New quest added Something Big Has Been Here, which included special elemental Goon variants
Gameplay Updates
Enemies with bows are less annoying — decreased damage output
Completed achievements are correctly awarded upon completion. This works for the achievements that were obtained before the update as well
Fixed a bug that was causing Howlers and Screamers to become invulnerable to damage
Fixed a possibility to fast travel between map regions after completing various quests
Fixed a random AI bug of Human encounters
Fixed infected invulnerability to arrows
Fixed missing rewards after Bandit encounters
Fixed the Virals patrol movement in GRE facilities
Quest Updates
Fixed a bug related to wall-clipping during the Let’s Waltz quest
Fixed a bug of the player getting stuck after using an inhibitor, or opening inventory after obtaining inhibitor in the Markers of Plague quest
Fixed the map display bug in The Only Way Out quest
Fixed the disappearance of Hakon in the Into The Darkness quest after playing in co-op
Fixed Sophie’s inaccessible position in The Raid quest
UI/UX Updates
Added FOV slider on PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X
Improved UI textures optimization
Fixed issues related to switching between keyboard and controller
Fixed inhibitor pop-up message in Markers of Plague quest
Fixed quest display in journal
Fixed tutorial window display
Fixed weapon durability display, quest tracking, and inventory management on ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo second display
Aiden should no longer T-pose in the main menu
Fixed crashes related to launching the game in 5760x1080 resolution
Fixed display of incorrect numbers on Immunity Bar
Minor changes to PC key bindings
Technical Updates
Improved game stability
Several crash sources fixed
Improved the stability of frame rate in various places on the map
Fixed multiple bugs that allowed players to see and fall outside map texture
Fixed occasional texture glitches in various places on the map
Fixed various audio glitches
…and numerous additional bug fixes and quality improvements.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
Starfield’s composer has explained how Starfield’s music reflects what you do in the game, with a flowing signature theme that's inspired by heading out into the stars and then returning home.
Talking as part of the latest Into The Starfield developer diary, composer Inon Zur said “ The way I looked at Starfield is what I call ‘The Sanctified Triplet’. Which is, everything is streaming, right? Everything is changing and everything is returning back.”
Zur used the signature theme of Stafield, heard in the trailer and the dev diary, as an example. “So basically it presents itself, it develops, it goes back. Some sort of circular journey. There's always this drive to go back home. And that’s what feels so complete for us, right? We want to complete the mission. We want to complete our journey. We will find something, we will discover something, we’ll take it with us, and we will go back home with it.”
Within that composition, Zur wanted to create soundscapes that reflected the nature of space. “For example, [we] took the woodwinds and we created a whole woodwind layer that almost represents particles in space, because they don’t play melodies at all,” he explained. “They play sort of like a high frequency sequence. So they almost don’t sound like woodwind, they sound something between organic and synthetic.”
As with the Elder Scrolls and Fallout games, the signature theme of Starfield bleeds into the rest of the game. “I relax a lot once we feel good about the main theme because the rest is going to, it’ll be work in iteration, but it’s going to write itself,” said Mark Lampert, Starfield’s Audio Director.
“I’m kind of salivating thinking about ‘What can I do with that on a sound design side?’” he said. “Not just to weave the main theme into different key points within the game, leveling up, discovering new places, but could we use that as straight up sound design? To take those woodwind tremolos and just slow them way down, let’s reverse them. I’ll take any of that music and turn it into ambience somewhere.”
Lampert noted that the score often perfectly fits a gameplay moment, despite it not always being scripted to a player’s movements. “The music has a funny way of playing the right chord change at the right time, and a lot of that just happens at random,” he said. “You look over the valley at just the right moment and that just happens to be when this one chord change happens, and there are times like that, that feel scripted and they’re not. And I like that each player has that experience for themselves, personally.”
If you’re lucky enough to have snagged a PlayStation 5, you’re not only going to want a great gaming TV to take advantage of the gorgeous graphics, but also a gaming headset to be fully immersed in the console’s impressive audio. A high-quality headset greatly improves your experience by eliminating noisy distractions while also helping you hear the minute in-game sound cues of your competition can’t.
There are loads of gaming headsets compatible with the PS5, so we’ve helped you narrow down your search. Some of our picks were designed with Sony’s spatial Tempest 3D Audio in mind. But, all of our options offer up excellent sound quality, a clear mic, great features, and a comfy fit to make your gaming experience all the better. We’ve even included a few options that can easily double as your everyday headphones. Take a look and see which headset suits you best.
TL;DR – These are our picks for the Best PS5 Headsets:
You’ve finally gotten your hands on a PS5, and now you’re going to want a great headset to pair with it. The Sony Pulse 3D takes advantage of the console's next-gen positional audio. Your games will sound not only crisp and clear, but you’ll also be able to tell where sounds are coming from, making it easier for you to place where your enemies are in a game and take ‘em out. Even without the Tempest 3D Audio, these cans still sound great.
There’s a lot more we love about the Sony Pulse 3D including its lightweight and comfortable design. You’ll be happy wearing this headset for hours. Plus, the round, heavily padded earcups house 40mm neodymium drivers, several controls, and dual noise-canceling mics–all of which work decently well for such a low-cost headset. There is limited battery life, and Bluetooth support would’ve been a nice add-on. But even with these faults, the Pulse 3D and PS5 are a match made in sonic heaven.
2. Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX
Best PS5 Headset for Multiplayer
If you’re looking for a headset that’ll bring you and your team a W, look no further than the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX. This headset takes the already solid Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 and amps it up further. This version still totes Turtle Beach’s SuperHuman Hearing tech to enhance critical sound cues in games, giving you a leg-up on the competition. There’s also a convenient flip-to-mute mic that folds up almost completely flush with the frame. You’ll come across sounding crisp and clear for easy communication with your teammates. However, this latest version is compatible with several surround sound modes for deeper immersion into the action, including Dolby Atmos, Sony 3D Audio, and Windows Sonic.
Turtle Beach has really stepped it up with the 600 Gen 2 MAX in connectivity and battery life. This headset may be officially licensed for Xbox, but with the flip of a switch, it’ll be ready to take on your PS5. That’s thanks to the lag-free 2.4GHz wireless dongle. And after you’re connected, you’ll be good to game for even the longest marathons with the 48+ hour battery life. A fast charging feature is also included, so 15 minutes of charge gives you over eight hours of listening time. Just be aware that this headset feels a bit awkward at first, like it's on backwards. You should get used to it though.
A more budget-friendly option offered by SteelSeries is the Arctis Prime. Though it might lack all the bells and whistles, you get a great-sounding set of cans that even audiophiles can appreciate. It’s a solidly-constructed, lightweight headset that sits comfortably on your head for hours. And, you don’t have to worry about the battery life, as it connects via a 3.5mm jack that you can easily plug into your gamepad or virtually any device.
This back to basics headset offers incredible sound thanks to its high-resolution drivers. You’ll find that these drivers offer a bigger yet more precise sound. When you’re gaming with friends, there is a retractable ClearCast mic that sounds good and does a decent job at filtering ambient noise to make sure you’re a part of the winning team. What this simple headset may lack in features is more than made up for in its performance and price.
4. SteelSeries Arctis 7+
Best Wireless PS5 Headset
Are you interested in a versatile pair of cans that sound great and can be used with just about any device? Welcome to the SteelSeries Arctis 7+. It works with several gaming consoles, as it’s packed full of wireless connectivity thanks to a USB-C wireless transmitter that includes a USB-A adapter for lossless 2.4 GHz audio. If you're looking for a wired connection, a 3.5mm jack is also included. You’ll have no problem connecting it to your PS5, PC, or Nintendo Switch. And, being an Arctis headset and all means you’re in for a solid build, impressive-sounding, comfortable for hours pair of cans–and with a 30-hour battery life–these will last through even your longest gaming sessions.
The SteelSeries Arctis 7+ comes packing full Tempest 3D Audio compatibility. So, when using it with your PS5, you’re in for some deep audio immersion that’ll transport you into your games. There’s also a bidirectional, retractable noise-canceling mic to keep communication lines clear between you and your teammates. The mic moves around a bit during heated moments in a game and sounds a bit fuzzy at higher frequencies, though. Overall, this is one of the best headsets to use in conjunction with your PS5, but it does come with a steeper price tag than some of our other picks.
The PS5 comes toting Tempest 3D Audio, and there are very few headsets that are full adopters of this immersive sound, but one is the Razer Barracuda X. With this headset, you’re not only getting support for Sony's new audio but also THX Spatial Audio for a 7.1 surround sound experience. There is a paid app to activate the THX Spatial Audio feature, but it's a one-time fee for a lifetime of impressive audio. Once you get listening on your PS5 or PC, you'll be able to detect enemies coming from different directions, giving you a big advantage over your opponents.
The design of the Razer Barracuda X is very toned down and minimalistic, especially by Razer standards. It doesn’t scream “gamer” when you rock them, so you’ll be able to get away with using these as an everyday pair of headphones after you remove the detachable microphone. And, it connects simply via a USB-C dongle, making it the perfect headset to wear with your PS5, but it’ll work great with a Nintendo Switch or Android phone as well.
If you want a headset that truly has it all in one compact package, look no further than the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2. Now, this headset comes packing both a USB wireless transmitter and Bluetooth, it can connect just about any device for easy listening. And, this pair of cans performs great, boasting 20-hours of battery life. Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing helps you pick up on subtle sound cues essential to keeping you afloat in the game.
Though this headset appears to be a bit bulky, the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 is surprisingly comfortable. Its ProSpecs feature makes it easy for glasses wearers to enjoy this headset without the usual headache others can cause. Plus, the earcups seemingly conform to your ears with cooling gel-infused memory foam earpads, so you’ll be able to wear these for a long while before your ears start to get hot. And, those earcups also house tons of controls like volume for game/chat mix, a customizable “mode” button, power, and a pairing button.
Do you find yourself to be a bit of a sound snob, and your average headset just isn’t going to cut it? Enter the Audeze Penrose. The sound on this headset is made for audiophiles, but anyone can appreciate it. It features a massive pair of 100mm planar magnetic drivers that help you hear everything from footsteps to gunfire and helicopters all perfectly clear. And, this headset supports any spatial audio system, as long as it doesn’t require any manual processing, so you can just plug in play. This sound doesn’t come cheap, however, so be prepared to shell out around $300 for this pair of cans.
Aside from the killer sound quality of the Audeze Penrose, you’re also getting a headset packed with features. There is multi-platform connectivity, so you can use it with your PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and phone. Plus, with multiple connectivity options, it’s easy to switch between the devices. Add in the great-sounding mic, and you’re ready to get gaming. It’s important to note that the initial fit of this headset may not be very comfortable, but once you break them in, you’ll be in for audiophile-level sound you don’t often find in gaming headsets.
The Astro A50 may be a bit pricey and complicated to set up, but it’s worth the initial headache for the great sound and features this headset comes packing. With the Astro A50, you’re getting improved drivers that make the sound come through crisp and clear, whether you're gaming or streaming your favorite album. And, the support of Dolby Atmos means a more immersive playing experience. Plus, with Game: Voice Balance, you’ll be able to control how you sound to your teammates or over discord easily as you play.
If you’re in search of a pair of cans that you can wear all day, the Astro A50 has you covered where comfort is concerned, too. There’s even a 15+ hour battery life to boot. And, this versatile headset will work not only with the PS5 but also the latest Xbox, after you purchase an additional charging base designed to use in conjunction with the system.
9. Master & Dynamic MG20
Best Premium PS5 Gaming Headset
If you’re on the search for a gaming headset that’s the epitome of quality and functionality, Master & Dynamic's latest MG20 is a premium pair of cans that may just end up being your next splurge. This headset comes packing an impressive sound stage thanks to the 50mm drivers that will instantly immerse you in your favorite games with their rich, deep audio quality. It even comes loaded with 7.1 surround sound support. Unfortunately, it does not come packing ANC though.
To get listening on the Master & Dynamic MG20 is fairly easy, there is a low latency dongle that plugs directly into the PS5, allowing you to use the headset wirelessly. A wired connection is also an option. Plus, with Bluetooth connectivity that supports aptX codec, you can connect to PCs or do some gaming on the go. On top of that, there’s the simple, classic design with an onboard microphone and a detachable boom mic, so you can get away with using these as your everyday headphones. And, it’ll last all day since it boasts a 22-hour battery life.
Michelle Rae Uy is a freelance tech and travel writer, part-time production editor, and a full-time traveler from Los Angeles, California. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles, London and the rest of the world. Follow her on Instagram@straywithRae.
