Tag Archives: Nintendo Switch 2

Game News

Duskbloods Test is Back — Three SGT Sessions Remaining After Server Meltdown

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After the server disaster that killed its opening session, The Duskbloods network test is back on track — and Singapore fans still have three sessions left to get their first hands-on with FromSoftware’s Switch 2 debut, including one that kicks off in just a couple of hours.

Session 1 Went Down, But FromSoftware Moved Fast

As we covered when the test collapsed on Friday night, Session 1 (21 August, 6pm–10pm SGT) ended after barely two hours. Players who’d been sitting at the login screen since the session opened met a single repeating message: “Failed to log in to The Duskbloods game server. Select ‘OK’ to attempt to log in again.” FromSoftware eventually pulled the plug, posted an apology, and promised to fix things before the next slot.

Session 2 (22 August, 10am–2pm SGT) ran as scheduled, and by all accounts the servers held. That put the total at one cancelled and one completed — with three sessions still to come.

The Duskbloods Network Test Ver. title card
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

The Emergency Broadcast: Kitao Walks You Through the Game

On top of fixing the servers, FromSoftware went a step further. At 8pm JST on Saturday (7pm SGT), producer Yasuhiro Kitao appeared live on Famitsu Tube for an unplanned 45-minute broadcast to explain what players should actually expect from the test. Alongside Famitsu writers who had played the media preview build, Kitao walked through the tutorial, broke down the core game rules, and introduced the playable Bloodsworn characters — giving anyone who missed Session 1 (or who simply hadn’t followed the game closely) a proper introduction to what The Duskbloods is.

FromSoftware also published an official digital instruction manual at the same time, available in multiple languages on the network test campaign website. The manual covers the six playable Bloodsworn and their weapons, how to earn Virtue points during a match, the Kin partner system, and how the different match phases unfold. If you were selected for the test but walked away from the first session confused, it is worth reading before you jump in.

A Duskbloods Bloodsworn character stands before a moonlit gothic castle
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo
The Duskbloods – Official Network Test Announcement Trailer — via GameSpot on YouTube

Three Sessions Left — Singapore Times

If you are one of the selected testers and you missed Session 1, here is what is left. All times are SGT (UTC+8):

  • Tonight — Sunday 23 August, 2:00am – 6:00am SGT (Session 3 — the next one up)
  • Sunday 23 August, 6:00pm – 10:00pm SGT
  • Monday 24 August, 10:00am – 2:00pm SGT

The 2am session is the awkward one, no question — but the Sunday evening and Monday afternoon windows are perfectly civilised if you want to try FromSoftware’s game at a reasonable hour. Set an alarm for whichever slot works.

Three Duskbloods Bloodsworn characters face off under a crimson moon
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

What to Expect in the Test

The Duskbloods is a PvPvE multiplayer action game — up to eight players drop into a match, hunt creatures to earn Virtue points and grow stronger, and eventually start hunting each other as the match progresses through its phases. It is a Switch 2 exclusive, developed by FromSoftware and published jointly with Nintendo, targeting 60fps on the hardware. The download is 3.9GB. Combat is soulslike but the tutorial content and the Kin partner mechanic — a companion tied to your Bloodsworn’s progression — make it more accessible than the studio’s usual output, which makes the test a reasonable entry point even if you found Elden Ring’s opening hours rough going.

Check the official network test page for the latest session status before each slot, and see all game news on GameTrader.

Game News, Singapore Gaming Scene

Duskbloods Network Test Cancelled After Server Meltdown

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Singapore Switch 2 owners who signed up for The Duskbloods closed network test hit a wall on August 21: FromSoftware’s first session buckled under server failures before a single player could actually get into a match. If you had one of those early-morning SGT slots blocked out, you were not alone — no one got in.

Two Hours of “Failed to Log In” — and Then Silence

The first closed network test session opened on August 21 as scheduled, but within minutes players worldwide — including Singapore participants who had secured spots via the Nintendo Switch Online invitation — were met with a wall of identical errors: “Failed to log in to The Duskbloods game server.” Two hours passed. Nobody got past the main menu. FromSoftware eventually pulled the plug entirely.

The Duskbloods — Bloodsworn character in a green cape battles enemies outside a gothic church
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

As we covered when the network test schedule was announced, the sessions were meant to run across multiple time slots through August 23. That plan is now in limbo until FromSoftware gives a revised timetable.

FromSoftware’s Apology — No New Dates Yet

The studio responded quickly via @fromsoftware_pr on X with an official statement:

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to those who were waiting for the first The Duskbloods network test due to game server issues. We regret to inform you that today’s session is now closed. We will continue to work on improving the servers and will announce future schedules at a later date.”

No revised dates have been given. Singapore players should watch @fromsoftware_pr and the Nintendo official pages for updates. This is not the first FromSoftware network test to stumble — the Elden Ring: Nightreign beta also had server turbulence — so the studio has some experience diagnosing these issues before a game ships.

The Duskbloods – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube
The Duskbloods — gothic cityscape with a clock tower and blood-red sky
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

What Press Previews Revealed About the Game Itself

One silver lining from the chaos: press participants who had early hands-on access before the public test published their first impressions, and they paint a somewhat different picture from the game’s marketing. Where The Duskbloods was pitched as an eight-player PvPvE brawl, preview coverage suggests the actual feel is closer to a co-operative gothic exploration game where combat with other Bloodsworn is tactically optional rather than the main event. Players seem to circle each other warily, form uneasy truces against environmental threats, and only turn on each other when the moment is right — which is great news for Singapore players who were worried the experience would be pure chaotic PvP.

The Duskbloods — two Bloodsworn fight a large frog-like monster boss on stone stairs
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

For Switch 2 owners in Singapore, the priority now is patience. Follow the official channels, check out our Game News section for updates, and keep your Switch 2 charged — when FromSoftware fixes the servers, the rescheduled session could come with short notice.

News

Nintendo Teases Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver Are Next for Switch 2

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Nintendo knows how to make a fandom go feral. Hours before the Pokopia World Championships showcase on 21 August 2026, the official Pokémon social channels pushed out a block of artwork drawn directly from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver — the beloved 2009 Johto remakes — with nothing but a Poké Ball emoji as a caption. No announcement. No trailer. Just Ho-Oh, Lugia, and a thousand questions.

Official Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver promotional artwork featuring Ho-Oh and Lugia
Official HeartGold & SoulSilver art — the same image Nintendo just surfaced. Image © Nintendo / The Pokémon Company

Why This Feels Like More Than Nostalgia Bait

Nintendo has used this playbook before. A carefully timed social post featuring specific legacy art — just before a major live Pokémon event — is how the company warms up an audience for something real. Earlier this year a similar tease preceded the Hoenn-era rumours that have been swirling around Switch 2’s Pokémon roadmap since spring. Now Johto is in frame, and the timing is not accidental.

To be clear: nothing has been confirmed. The post is a tease, not an announcement. But HeartGold and SoulSilver have long topped fan polls for the most-wanted Pokémon remasters on modern hardware, and both titles have been unavailable on any current platform since the Nintendo DS era. The demand is there. The question is whether Nintendo is finally ready to act on it.

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver game cartridges alongside Ho-Oh and Lugia artwork
HeartGold and SoulSilver — still DS-only after 17 years. Image via GameRant

What a Switch 2 Version Could Look Like

Speculation, clearly — but it is informed speculation. The Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald groundwork being laid on Switch 2 suggests The Pokémon Company is working through the generation catalogue methodically. HGSS, as Generation II’s definitive versions, would be a natural follow-up. A faithful port with HD textures and gyroscope-powered Pokéwalker functionality would be the conservative read; a full remake in the style of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is the more exciting possibility.

Singapore fans keen to watch the Pokopia reveal live can catch the showcase stream — we have the full Pokopia Worlds Watch details here. If HGSS is officially confirmed during the show, we will update this post immediately.

Pokémon HeartGold SoulSilver DS battle screen showing Quilava versus Diglett
The original DS battle screen — would a Switch 2 release finally modernise this? Image via GameRant

What We Know vs What We Are Guessing

Confirmed: Nintendo’s official Pokémon account posted HeartGold and SoulSilver artwork today, ahead of the Pokopia Worlds showcase.

Not confirmed: any Switch 2 port, remaster, or remake. No release window. No pricing. No official statement beyond the social post itself.

We will be watching the Pokopia showcase closely. The moment anything HGSS-related drops officially, this page will have it.

Game News

The Duskbloods Network Test Starts Tonight — All SGT Session Times

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If you scored an invite to The Duskbloods Closed Network Test, tonight is the night. FromSoftware’s Switch 2-exclusive PvPvE action game opens its first test session at 6:00pm Singapore time this Thursday (21 August), giving selected players their first real taste of Bloodsworn combat before the game’s full 2026 launch. Five four-hour sessions run across four days — here is exactly when to queue up from Singapore.

A Bloodsworn character stands in a gothic cathedral bathed in candlelight in The Duskbloods
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo
The Duskbloods – Official Network Test Announcement Trailer — via GameSpot on YouTube

All Five Sessions in Singapore Time (SGT, UTC+8)

The official times are listed in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC−7). Here they are converted for Singapore:

Session Singapore Date & Time (SGT) SG-friendly?
Session 1 Thu 21 Aug, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm ✅ Prime time
Session 2 Fri 22 Aug, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm ✅ Daytime
Session 3 Sat 23 Aug, 2:00 am – 6:00 am ⚠️ Late night
Session 4 Sun 23 Aug, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm ✅ Prime time
Session 5 Mon 24 Aug, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm ✅ Daytime

You do not need to join every session — pick the one or two windows that work for you. Sessions 1 and 4 are the standout slots for Singapore players: both fall in peak Thursday and Sunday evening hours.

A towering monstrous creature holds a small figure aloft against a blazing forest in The Duskbloods
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

What the Network Test Contains

The Duskbloods is a supernatural PvPvE multiplayer action game directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, set during a gothic “Dusk of Humanity” where eight Bloodsworn players compete in a single match — fighting each other and the environment’s monsters simultaneously. Each match is structured around earning Victory Points, with alliances forming and fracturing as players pursue First Blood.

The closed network test is primarily a server stress test. FromSoftware wants to evaluate matchmaking stability and online performance under real load, which is why the windows are short and scheduled — this is not an open demo. Progress made in the test does not carry over to the retail game.

A Bloodsworn warrior in a half-helmet performs a ritual gesture in a misty stone corridor in The Duskbloods
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

How to Get Into the Test

Access is invite-only. If you applied between 22–28 July 2026, check your registered email for an invite code — codes and download instructions went out via the official network test campaign page on 7 August. The client is a 3.8 GB download available on the Nintendo Store and Nintendo eShop directly on your Switch 2.

Two things are required: a Nintendo Switch 2 system and an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. The online service is sold separately, so make sure your subscription has not lapsed before the session starts.

A close-up of a pale hand bearing a scarred, circular blood mark — the Bloodsworn's mark in The Duskbloods
Image courtesy of FromSoftware / Nintendo

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

The network test comes with an NDA: participants are asked not to share gameplay footage, screenshots, or detailed impressions publicly. (Nintendo Life has noted that some footage has already leaked ahead of the test window, but the rules are clear.) FromSoftware also asks testers to submit a bug report and complete a post-session survey, which is how this kind of early test actually helps the developer.

The game is rated for players 17 and above. The full release date for The Duskbloods on Nintendo Switch 2 has not been confirmed beyond a 2026 window — expect more news as the year progresses, and almost certainly something at upcoming gaming events in the months ahead.

Game News

1000xRESIST Switch 2 Edition Is Out Now, With a Free Upgrade

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One of the most acclaimed narrative games in years just made its way to Nintendo Switch 2 — and if you already own the original Switch version, you won’t pay a cent more. 1000xRESIST: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is out now, brought to Nintendo’s latest hardware by sunset visitor 斜陽過客 and publisher Fellow Traveller with enhanced framerate and resolution throughout.

A Story That Doesn’t Let Go

Three clones in sci-fi suits in 1000xRESIST
Image courtesy of Fellow Traveller

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where an alien pandemic has reduced humanity to a handful of clones, 1000xRESIST puts you in the role of Watcher — one of several “Sisters” living under the rule of a centuries-old goddess called ALLMOTHER. Through a mechanic called Communion, you dive into memories spanning a thousand years of buried history, piecing together a reality that has been deliberately hidden.

What elevates it beyond the sci-fi premise is what those memories are actually about. Developed by a four-person Vancouver studio whose roots span theatre, dance, and performance art, the game draws directly from the lived experience of the Chinese diaspora — the weight of intergenerational displacement, the grief tied to the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, and what it means to belong to a community shaped by migration and loss. For players in Singapore, where those stories run through many families, 1000xRESIST lands with unusual specificity.

Character Iris confronts Watcher with a blade in a tense scene from 1000xRESIST
Image courtesy of Fellow Traveller

Critical response to the original 2024 release was extraordinary. Metacritic scores reached 86 on PC and 87 on Switch, OpenCritic pegged it at 100% recommended, and it took home the Peabody Award for Interactive & Immersive Work — a distinction usually reserved for documentary and investigative journalism. Dozens of outlets named it their best game of 2024.

What the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Adds

Watcher walks through the futuristic Orchard hub in 1000xRESIST
Image courtesy of Fellow Traveller

The original Switch version worked within tight hardware constraints — a file size of just 5.9 GB that required the team to compress and cut corners. The Switch 2 Edition opens those up. The build now weighs in at 21.3 GB and runs at enhanced framerate and resolution, which Fellow Traveller says delivers the game as it was originally intended to look and feel.

Owners of the original Nintendo Switch version get the Switch 2 upgrade for free. If you already have 1000xRESIST, it will appear as a free update on your Switch 2 — no repurchase needed.

Watch the Trailer

1000xRESIST Out Now Trailer — via Fellow Traveller on YouTube

40% Off on the Nintendo eShop This Launch Week

A Communion memory sequence in 1000xRESIST showing floating figures in a red atmospheric sky
Image courtesy of Fellow Traveller

New buyers can pick up 1000xRESIST on the Nintendo eShop at US$19.99 (regional pricing applies in the Singapore eShop), with a 40% launch week discount bringing the price down for new Switch 2 purchases. The game is also available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

If you’ve been watching 1000xRESIST from the sidelines, this Switch 2 launch — better performance, free upgrade for existing owners, and a launch discount — is about as good an entry point as it gets. For more Switch 2 launches and game news, check our games section.

Game News

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition: What’s New on Switch 2 Before the 28 August Launch

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Eleven days out from its Nintendo Switch 2 debut, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition has a clearer picture than it did when Bandai Namco first confirmed the 28 August date. A new Story Spotlight trailer dropped on 11 August, and the full content breakdown for the edition is now confirmed — including two brand-new starting classes and a set of Torrent skins that existing owners on other platforms can also buy separately.

Two New Starting Classes — Heavy Knight and Idus Knight

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition — Tarnished on horseback overlooking misty castles
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

The biggest addition is two new character creation options that don’t exist in the original release. The Heavy Knight wears black heavy plate and wields a curved greatsword — a straight-up melee/tank starting point for anyone who wants to wade in and not think about spells. The Idus Knight takes the opposite route: lightweight gear designed for Dexterity builds, suited to fast weapons and quick movement.

Neither class locks you into anything — Elden Ring’s levelling is as flexible as ever — but both give beginners a cleaner launchpad than the original ten starting options. Singapore players picking up the game for the first time on Switch 2 will have these right from the character creation screen.

Torrent Gets New Skins — Plus Four New Armour Sets

Your faithful Spectral Steed Torrent can now be customised with three new appearance skins, a first for the base game. Four new armour sets for the player character round out the cosmetic additions. All of this is exclusive to the Tarnished Edition — and to the separately sold Tarnished Pack DLC (see below).

Watch the Story Spotlight Trailer

ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition | Story Spotlight — via Bandai Namco Entertainment America on YouTube

Everything in One Package — Including Shadow of the Erdtree

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition running on Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

For anyone who hasn’t played Elden Ring at all, Tarnished Edition is a complete package: the base game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, the two new starting classes, three Torrent skins, four new armour sets, and pre-order bonuses of two in-game gestures — The Ring and Ring of Miquella (the pre-order bonuses can also be unlocked through regular gameplay). The original game sold over 30 million copies and collected more than 400 Game of the Year nominations, and Shadow of the Erdtree extended that run with a full additional region and storyline.

The Switch 2 port targets 30fps, addressing the performance concerns that led Bandai Namco to delay it from its original 2025 date. The physical release ships as a Nintendo Game Key Card — the cartridge triggers a full eShop download rather than reading data directly.

Already Own Elden Ring on PS5, Xbox or PC? The Tarnished Pack Has You Covered

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree — warrior under red sky in a ruined fortress
Image courtesy of Bandai Namco

Singapore players who already own Elden Ring on PlayStation, Xbox or PC don’t need to double-dip on the full Switch 2 edition to get the new content. Bandai Namco is releasing a Tarnished Pack DLC for those platforms on the same date — 28 August — priced at €4.99 in Europe (approximately S$7–8, though local SGD pricing is to be confirmed). It includes the same two new starting classes, Torrent skins and armour sets.

It’s an unusual move for a game this old — Elden Ring launched in 2022 — and a welcome one for the community. Check the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store or Steam on 28 August for the Tarnished Pack listing.

Pre-Orders and Pricing

The Switch 2 version is priced at US$79.99 on the Nintendo eShop. A confirmed SGD price on the Singapore Nintendo eShop is to be confirmed; check Nintendo Singapore closer to launch. Physical copies can be pre-ordered through major game retailers and electronics chains in Singapore now. See our game news coverage for the latest Switch 2 releases landing this month.

Game News

Maestro Drops Free Switch Demo — Conduct Attack on Titan to Beethoven

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If you have ever waved your arms along to the Attack on Titan soundtrack and thought, “I could conduct that” — Maestro is here to settle the debate. Double Jack and Microids have dropped a free demo of Maestro on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 eShop right now, letting Singapore players step onto the conductor’s podium before the game’s September 17, 2026 launch.

MAESTRO: NINTENDO SWITCH – REVEAL TRAILER — via Maestro: Le Game on YouTube

What Is Maestro?

Maestro started life as a virtual-reality rhythm game on Meta Quest and PSVR2, where it won Meta’s Game of the Year award in 2024. Developer Double Jack has now rebuilt the experience for flat screens on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, swapping VR headsets for Joy-Con motion controls. The core loop stays the same: you stand at the podium and lead a symphonic orchestra through iconic pieces of music, one gesture at a time.

Maestro gameplay in a dramatic Viking-themed orchestra venue on Nintendo Switch
Image courtesy of Microids

The game is deliberately accessible — you do not need to know a crotchet from a quaver to enjoy it — but it has enough depth in its three difficulty tiers to keep rhythm-game veterans working for those perfect performances. As with most rhythm games, the real draw is what you are conducting.

The Soundtrack: Attack on Titan, Star Wars, Harry Potter and More

Maestro ships with 35+ compositions spanning classical and pop-culture scores. Anime and genre-fiction fans will spot some heavy-hitters. Kohta Yamamoto’s “Ashes on the Fire” from Attack on Titan is included as base-game content on both Switch versions — no DLC required. Beyond that, the tracklist pulls in John Williams’ “Duel of the Fates” from Star Wars: Episode I and “Hedwig’s Theme” from Harry Potter, Ramin Djawadi’s Game of Thrones main theme, and Howard Shore’s “Bridge of Khazad-dûm” from The Lord of the Rings. The classical side covers Verdi, Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms, among others.

Maestro conducting Verdi's Requiem in a golden Baroque palace venue
Image courtesy of Microids

Each track has its own themed orchestra venue to match the mood — a brooding Viking hall for the more dramatic pieces, a gilded Baroque palace for Verdi, an atmospheric Gothic courtyard for the Harry Potter theme. Post-launch DLC is planned, so the setlist should grow after September.

Conducting With Joy-Con — How It Works

The control scheme maps directly to real conducting technique. One Joy-Con acts as the baton, keeping time and setting the tempo as you sweep it through the air. The other hand cues individual orchestra sections — strings, brass, woodwind, percussion — and shapes the dynamics. Maestro supports both tabletop and docked play modes on Switch, so you can keep the volume low in a shared HDB flat or go full arm-flailing in the living room.

Maestro's MAGNIFICO score screen with cherub illustrations and audience applause
Image courtesy of Microids

Nailing a performance earns you the “Magnifico” rating from the crowd, and there is a full cosmetics system to unlock — new venues, conductor outfits, batons and gloves — giving long-term players something to chase beyond the leaderboards.

Free Demo, September 17 Launch — What Singapore Players Need to Know

The free demo is live on the Nintendo eShop right now for both Switch and Switch 2. It includes Verdi’s Requiem across all four difficulty levels, which is a decent sampler of whether the motion controls click for you before you commit.

Maestro's in-game conductor character presenting The Bridge of Khazad-dum Lord of the Rings track selection
Image courtesy of Microids

The full game launches September 17 at US$29.99 (Singapore eShop pricing to be confirmed — check the local listing before purchasing). That date coincidentally lands on the same day as Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, making it a busy week for Nintendo fans locally. Maestro supports Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese text, so the interface will feel familiar for players in the region.

There is no confirmed physical edition for Singapore at this point — Microids is publishing a physical cartridge for Switch internationally, but local retailer availability has not been announced. The safest bet for Singapore players is the digital version on the Nintendo eShop, which is available now for the demo and will carry the full game on September 17. Check more Switch and Nintendo news on the blog for updates as launch gets closer.

Game News

Rumour: Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Are Coming to Switch This Autumn

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Hoenn fans, it may be time to warm up the Mach Bike. Reliable leaker Shpeshal Nick is claiming that Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are headed to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 this autumn — and there is enough circumstantial evidence sitting behind the rumour to make it worth paying close attention to.

What Shpeshal Nick Claims

Pokémon Ruby gameplay — trainer on bicycle with Latias in Hoenn
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

On 12 August, Nick posted on X that ports of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are currently planned for late September or October 2026. He did not specify whether the three games would arrive simultaneously or be staggered, and no pricing or eShop details were given. The Pokémon Company has not commented.

Nick’s track record gives the claim weight. He accurately leaked the Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2 console and the 40th Anniversary Pro Controller before either appeared officially — so while his word is not law, the history is hard to dismiss outright.

The Evidence Behind the Rumour

Rayquaza GBA battle sprite from Pokémon Emerald
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

Two pieces of supporting evidence make this rumour feel credible rather than speculative:

Dataminer discovery: Shortly after Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen launched on Switch on Pokémon Day (27 February 2026), dataminers found connectivity strings inside those ports explicitly referencing Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald. The same kind of inter-game linking existed in the original GBA releases, and the presence of that code in the Switch versions suggests Game Freak built in hooks for Hoenn games that were already in the pipeline.

Rayquaza marketing push: The Pokémon Company has been running a high-visibility Rayquaza campaign through mid-2026 — Mega Rayquaza anchored the Pokémon TCG Pocket Ruler of the Skies expansion (July 30) and the TCG Storm Emeralda set (with Mega Rayquaza ex). Rayquaza is the cover legendary of Pokémon Emerald. A coordinated card push without a game announcement would be unusual; a push that dovetails with an eShop port would be textbook Pokémon Company marketing.

The FireRed/LeafGreen Blueprint

Pokémon FireRed on Nintendo Switch — Wild Snorlax battle screenshot
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company / Nintendo

The Gen 3 ports would almost certainly follow the approach Nintendo used for FireRed and LeafGreen in February 2026: faithful recreations of the GBA originals, slightly upscaled for Switch resolution, with no remade visuals or added features beyond eShop convenience. FRLG cost US$19.99 each — equivalent to roughly S$26–27 at current eShop rates for Singapore. Expect similar pricing for Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald if they arrive.

What This Would Mean for Singapore Trainers

If the ports are real, Singapore players should expect:

  • Nintendo eShop download only — as with FRLG, no physical cartridge is likely
  • SGD pricing around S$26–30 per game based on the FRLG precedent
  • Nintendo Switch Online not required to play, though it may unlock connectivity features
  • Pokémon HOME compatibility likely to follow — the October HOME 4.1.0 update already confirmed expanded Gen 1 (FRLG) connectivity; Gen 3 linking would be a natural next step

One important caveat: these would almost certainly be digital-only Switch ports of the original GBA releases — not remakes. If you were hoping for Hoenn reimagined in the Legends style, this isn’t that. What you would get is the authentic 2003–2004 experience on a modern screen, which for many players is exactly what they want.

Neither Nintendo nor The Pokémon Company has confirmed anything. Treat this as a strong, evidence-backed rumour until an official announcement lands. We will update this post if that happens. Keep an eye on our news section for any Pokémon Presents developments.

Game News

Kingdom Hearts Is Now a Billion-Dollar Franchise — Watch the D23 Deep Dive Tonight

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Disney has officially confirmed what longtime fans have suspected for years: Kingdom Hearts is a billion-dollar franchise. The announcement landed this week ahead of a dedicated D23 Deep Dive panel streaming tonight — and Singapore fans can catch it live on Sunday morning.

Kingdom Hearts Hits the Billion-Dollar Mark

Disney Games portfolio including Kingdom Hearts, Marvel Games, Lucasfilm Games
Image courtesy of Square Enix / Disney

Sean Shoptaw, Executive Vice President of Global Games and Digital Entertainment at Disney, revealed in an official blog post that the company’s games division now spans nine franchises that have each cleared $1 billion in retail revenue. Kingdom Hearts is one of them — sitting in the Disney & Pixar Games label alongside Marvel Strike Force and titles from Lucasfilm Games and 20th Century Games.

Shoptaw noted that “games have become such an important part of the broader Disney landscape” and are increasingly “the first place audiences discover Disney’s characters and worlds.” Disney Games as a whole drove an estimated $3.5 billion in annual consumer spending in recent years, surpassing $4 billion in the most recent fiscal year. It’s a remarkable figure for a series that began as an unlikely crossover between Square Enix’s Final Fantasy DNA and Disney’s beloved animated worlds back in 2002.

Kingdom Hearts IV — Sora in combat in Quadratum
Image courtesy of Square Enix / Disney

Watch the D23 Deep Dive Live — Sunday Morning SGT

The timing of the billion-dollar reveal is no accident. Disney is hosting a “Deep Dive Into Kingdom Hearts” panel at its D23 fan event in Anaheim today, August 15, at 4:30 PM PT — that’s 7:30 AM SGT on Sunday, 16 August. The hour-long session will be livestreamed on the official Kingdom Hearts YouTube channel and the Disney YouTube channel, so Singapore fans can set an alarm and tune in from the couch.

DEEP DIVE Into KINGDOM HEARTS | D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event — via KINGDOM HEARTS on YouTube

Note: the panel may not be saved as a VOD after the stream, so watch live if you can. If it is archived, we’ll update this post.

What to Expect From the Panel

Kingdom Hearts IV — Sora battles a large Heartless in an urban street
Image courtesy of Square Enix / Disney

The panel commemorates the series’ 25th anniversary (the actual milestone falls in 2027) and is confirmed to feature a behind-the-scenes look at how the games come together. Panellists include:

  • Nana Gadd — Disney & Pixar Games
  • Tai Yasue — co-director at Square Enix
  • Haley Joel Osment — voice of Sora (and Vanitas)
  • David Gallagher — voice of Riku
  • Renée Johnson — Disney character voices

Disney has not confirmed outright that Kingdom Hearts IV will appear, but with Tai Yasue on stage, the series co-director in tow, and the franchise’s biggest financial milestone as backdrop, anticipation among fans is understandably high. Speculation is running hot on whether a new KH4 trailer — possibly showing English voice acting and the first confirmed Disney worlds — could drop during the stream.

The Switch 2 Collection Is Still on Track for October

Kingdom Hearts IV official logo
Image courtesy of Square Enix / Disney

For Singapore fans who haven’t played the older entries, good news: the Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] — covering HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind — is still confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 on 8 October 2026, alongside PS5 and Xbox Series X|S releases. As we covered when the collection was confirmed for Switch 2, the original Switch versions will run via cloud streaming. This is the complete, native way to get the full saga on Nintendo hardware before KH4 arrives.

Set that alarm for Sunday morning. If anything big drops from the D23 stage, we’ll have the breakdown up shortly after. Check in on our game news section for the follow-up.