Game news has no chill. Here’s another hit of the biggest gaming news ending August 6, 2023.

• “Nintendo Switch 2” is reportedly more real than ever, and on course for a mid-to-late 2024 launch. VideoGamesChronicle (VGC) reports development kits are with key studios according to sources who also say it will release during the second half of 2024. Eurogamer sources also backed up the hardware launch timing. Two sources also suggested to VGC that it would launch with an LCD screen instead of an OLED to keep costs down.

  • Nintendo had previously already confirmed new hardware would not come out before April 1, 2024 so this is a safe bet regardless. The Nintendo Switch is now over six years old.

• Metroid Prime 4 is still out there…for Switch. (But WHICH Switch, amirite? Jkjkjk. Nintendo’s next console is unconfirmed and has no name.) Nintendo’s latest financial report listed Metroid Prime 4 as a “temporary” name — along with a “TBA” launch date for Nintendo Switch, making it the last AAA known release if it happens. Compare this with the yet-to-be-named Princess Peach game which the Big N lists as a 2024 release date; details we already knew.

  • Opinion: I’m just gonna insert the obvious and say that Nintendo, at worst, better damnwell be producing a “Breath of the Wild” esque launch, where Metroid Prime 4 would hit both generations of consoles at the same time. Given quality of Retro’s Metroid Prime Remaster — along with the return of 60 frames per second Samus — you would think it would be on track to do just that. Whether or not it would be ready for the Switch successor’s launch is another story.

• Baldur’s Gate 3 is off to an incredible start. Over it launch weekend, Steam Charts reported max player concurrents topping 800K players — with over 400K still going as I write this on a Sunday evening. Reviews are still in progress, but most of them are glowing; in part due to its highly detailed RPG systems thanks to the experiance of Larian Studios, but also because of its wide-ranging (and sexy) story lines and arcs.

  • Lead writer of Baldur’s Gate 3, John Corcoran, said on X/Twitter: “Spent the past week or so doing final tests on some companion romance arcs, and… damn, I’m still surprised at just how horny this game is. Bear’s got nothin’ on what’s still to come [melty face emoji]”

• Back to Nintendo… Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom sold over 18MM copies according to its financial support. Nintendo noted and showed this boosted hardware sales of Nintendo Switch, ~14% compared to Q1 of 2023. Nintendo Switch has sold over 129MM total unites — and the latest financial report noted over 116 users (accounts) logged in over the past year. Yowzer. Better start training your pre-order finger for Switch 2/Pro/Whatever-It’s-Called.

• Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is the official new name of the next game in the mega franchise for 2023, which a new teaser shows launches on November 10th, 2023. The full reveal is expected to be revealed on August 17th according to images found in the game by data miner Alaix. Considering how much everyone has been talking about Modern Warfare 3 for a month, I’m starting to think it’s the most genius accidentaly marketing plan ever. (Updated August 7, 2023)

• Resident Evil 2 Remake is the best-selling game in the franchise ever, officially. According to Capcom it reached 12.6MM sold since its 2019 launch, besting Resident Evil VII: Biohazard which has reached 12.4MM.

• Callisto Project developer, Striking Distance Studios, has layed off over 30 people, which was spotted by a X/Twitter user “bogorad222” and confirmed by IGN and Striking as 32 people for “strategic changes that realign the studio’s priorities to better position its current and future projects for success.”

Modern Warfare III - First Reveal Teaser

Overwatch 2: Invasion Stories (Aug. 10th)

Atlas Fallen - Advanced Gameplay Trailer

Metroid Prime 4 Reveal (2017)

Just a little something to intensify the pain of waiting. Remember: Metroid Prime 4 was reportedly in development by Bandai Namco, but never confirmed beyond this teaser. And later reportedly went back to Retro Studios, who recently completed the Metroid Prime Remaster (which was met with stellar reviews).

As always, thanks for checking out the newsletter. Be sure to subscribe/follow if you want to support (and get it in your inbox).

Otherwise, no worries it’s free. I’m just trying to keep up with all this news, too! You can follow me on X/Twitter for all the latest (and, hey, look at that: I also turned on tips on my profile if you ever want to fund my caffeine supply or PC graphics card power bill). http://www.twitter.com/FranMirabella