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Nintendo held a Direct livestream this morning. Let's talk about it.

Thursday's Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase was, as expected, full of announcements from third-party publishers, with nary a game from Nintendo proper to be seen anywhere. And while the Switch 2 is in full force, Nintendo didn't forget Switch 1 owners, announcing several games or ports of older games for the older console. Here is everything that got announced during the Direct.

SEE ALSO: 'Dragon Quest VII Reimagined' is a chill, condensed take on a fascinating game Orbitals

Previously announced a couple of months ago, Nintendo kicked off the show with Orbitals, a retro anime-inspired co-op adventure that looks like it has a lot of style. You'll be able to play through Orbitals with a friend or loved one exclusively on Switch 2 in summer 2026.

PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse

A sequel to a 2023 cult hit, PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse is a visual novel that is presumably about a curse involving mermaids. It's out on Switch 1 very soon, on Feb. 19

Captain Tsubasa 2

Fans of both anime and soccer will be delighted that Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters is coming to Switch sometime in 2026. It's got more than 100 playable characters and a whole lot of stylistic flair to go around, making it a pretty distinctive take on the beautiful game.

Tokyo Scramble

Tokyo Scramble is a new survival horror game coming exclusively to Switch 2 on Feb. 11, just a handful of days from now. While many modern horror games give players ways to fight back against whatever is chasing them, Tokyo Scramble asks players to simply run away from subterranean dinosaurs and set up traps for them if necessary. Interestingly, it also has a co-op mode where up to four players can work together to control one character. One person takes care of movement, another takes care of traps, etc.

Valheim

Valheim went viral a few years ago during its Early Access period on Steam thanks to its creative Viking survival/crafting shenanigans. Now, it's coming to Switch 2 sometime in 2026, complete with way more features than the game had back in Early Access, and 10-player online play.

Hollow Knight: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

The original Hollow Knight is getting a Switch 2 edition with improved visuals. Anyone who owns the game already on Switch can get the Switch 2 version for free. Have fun, folks.

eFootball Kick-Off!

People who love soccer but hate anime should avert their eyes from Captain Tsubasa and look at eFootball Kick-Off! instead. It's coming to Switch 2 this summer and is the successor to the old Pro Evolution Soccer series, featuring real teams and players.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

The Adventures of Elliot appeared in a Nintendo Direct for the second time today after being announced last year. The new trailer reaffirmed that it'll be available on June 18 on Switch 2. It's an action RPG with gorgeous "HD-2D" visuals and a fun-looking time travel conceit. There's already a free demo on the Switch 2 eShop, so anyone who is intrigued can go check that out.

Super Bomberman Collection

Who doesn't love Bomberman? Konami's classic and explosive multiplayer series is getting a collection on Switch and Switch 2 and it's out today. It features several older games from the 8-and-16-bit eras, including a few that were never released in English before.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth was one of the best games of 2024 and it's coming to Switch 2 on June 3. That's really all you need to know.

Pragmata

There were several trailers in this Direct for games that are already known quantities, with the trailers themselves not really revealing anything new. One of those was Pragmata, a new third-person sci-fi shooter from Capcom that has an extremely cool hacking mechanic that is central to the gameplay. I played this one a few months ago at a preview event and loved it. There's a demo coming to the Switch 2 eShop later today, so check that out if you can.

Turok Origins

The Turok franchise of dinosaur-themed shooters is harder to kill than the dinosaurs were. After a long period of dormancy, it's back in the form of Turok Origins, which can be enjoyed in both first and third-person and with friends in co-op. If you've ever wanted to shoot dinosaurs with guns, this is the game for you. It's coming to Switch 2 in fall 2026.

Kyoto Xanadu

The successor to a series that goes all the way back to 1985, Kyoto Xanadu is an action RPG that blends side-scrolling exploration, 3D action combat, and everyone's favorite activity, going to virtual high school. It's coming to Switch and Switch 2 in summer 2026.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger

Coming to Switch and Switch 2 on July 10 after an initial release on other platforms last year, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is an RPG featuring everyone's favorite digital monsters. I haven't played them personally, but people I know dig these games, so if you like Digimon and/or RPGs, this might be for you.

Granblue Fantasy Relink - Endless Ragnarok

Granblue Fantasy Relink is one of my favorite action RPGs of the last few years, with gorgeous visuals, excellent music, and extremely fun combat featuring a few dozen playable characters who all have unique and interesting mechanics to learn. It's coming to Switch 2 on July 9, and I highly recommend taking a look at it if it looks interesting to you at all.

Monster Hunter Stories 3

Monster Hunter Stories is a spin-off series from the popular action franchise, with cartoony visuals, great turn-based combat, and a pretty neat take on Pokémon-style monster collecting mechanics. The new one comes out on Switch 2 on March 13, and there's a free demo going up on the eShop today.

Arcade Archives 2 and Console Archives

Arcade Archives is a long-running series of very well-regarded re-releases of old arcade games, and it's getting updated with some new titles on Switch this year. There's also a new Console Archives series of re-releases of old console games, including Ninja Gaiden II for NES.

Resident Evil Requiem

There was a new trailer for Resident Evil Requiem which honestly didn't have much in the way of new information to share about the upcoming survival horror title. If you want to know more about this game, which seems like it might be great, you can read my hands-on preview from a couple of weeks ago.

A few Bethesda ports

Nintendo closed out the show with three Switch 2 ports of existing Bethesda games. Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition launches on Feb. 24, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches on May 12, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered comes out sometime in 2026.

Do you use Linux Mint but feel like you’re not getting the most out of it? Or maybe you think Mint is too basic for serious work. Whether you’re a student or a working professional, these three Cinnamon applets can help you become more productive on Linux Mint.

SAVE $400.01: As of Feb. 5, get the iRestore LED Face Mask for $398.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $799. That's a discount of 50% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon iRestore LED Face Mask $398.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $400.01   Get Deal

When it comes to skincare, trying the latest and greatest gadgets can be part of the fun. There are tons of different items to try to jumpstart your skin and give it the upgrade you're looking for, and one of those includes infrared light masks and other devices. If you're looking to try to clear up tired, dull skin or even out your tone, light therapy could be what you need. You can get it at home for much less than paying for multiple salon treatments thanks to this deal.

As of Feb. 5, get the iRestore LED Face Mask for $398.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $799. That's $400.01 off and a discount of 50%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: We tried the celeb-favorite Solawave skincare wand

This red light mask offers 360 LEDs to shine on your face for double the power of your usual mask. It targets fine lines, wrinkles, uneven tone, and dull skin to rejuvenate your look. That means you're going to reveal smoother, firmer skin with each subsequent treatment. Obviously it's important to keep in mind it's not a miracle worker, but it's certainly meant to help you on your way.

In addition to red light, it offers both blue and infrared options to help target different skincare concerns as well, like blemishes, adding collagen, reducing dark spots, and more. All you do is strap on the lightweight mask and wear it for as little as 10 minutes 3 to 5 times a week.

If you're ready to add some oomph to your routine, this might be the route you want to go in, especially since it can get expensive heading to skincare boutiques for the same kind of treatment. Give it a try while it's on sale for this significant discount.

Car culture and PC culture share more vocabulary than you’d think—often entire concepts lifted straight from automotive engineering. Here are nine common PC terms that came directly from car culture, and how their meanings shifted (or stayed the same) when they drifted over.

There's a reason why Outlook is one of the most widely used email providers. But it's even better when you know how to get around it better.

You may think that Android's USB debugging feature, hidden within the developer options, is only for developers. But it can be very useful for just about anyone and could very well save your data someday. To do that, you'll need to have enabled the feature beforehand.

Last year, wireless charging for Android devices received a boost thanks to Qi2. The Galaxy S25 was one of the first to support this new standard, but Samsung infamously left out one of its biggest features: magnetic wireless charging—a.k.a. “MagSafe.” The Galaxy S26 series is making the same mistake.

Got an old Android phone sitting unused in a drawer? By installing an open-source ROM, you can bring it bang up to date and give it a whole new lease of life. That's what I did with my old Motorola phone. Here's how it went.

A non-working NVMe drive can be alarming. Not only are NVMe SSDs expensive, but if it was previously working and your system now won’t recognize it, it could also put your data at risk.

ExpressVPN is rolling out a suite of new and reworked digital security tools for its subscribers. Most of them will join its existing Basic, Advanced, and Pro plans at no extra cost, and current subscribers can start using two of them immediately.

The suite's freshest features include ExpressMailGuard, an email-disguising service, and ExpressAI, an encrypted AI platform that isn't trained on user data. ExpressMailGuard is available globally as of Thursday, Feb. 5, while ExpressAI will launch at a later date.

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN Starting at $3.49/month for 28 months Shop Now

ExpressVPN is also turning its built-in password manager and identity protection tools into standalone mobile apps for iOS and Android. ExpressKeys, the former, launches today alongside ExpressMailGuard. The other, Identify Defender, is set for release on Thursday, Feb. 26.

It bears mentioning that none of these tools will improve ExpressVPN's actual VPN service. Rather, they add to the value of an ExpressVPN subscription.

SEE ALSO: ExpressVPN review: A stylish, minimalist VPN service with solid privacy practices — and a steep price

The goal here is to turn ExpressVPN into a "broader privacy ecosystem," according to a press release, which puts it more in line with competitors like ProtonVPN and NordVPN.

ExpressMailGuard Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressMailGuard lets users create disposable email aliases that they can use to sign up for services, apps, and newsletters. If a sender fills your primary email inbox with junk or unwanted messages, you can block the alias associated with them. ExpressVPN said this tool works with any email service and device, "[unlike] existing email alias tools."

ExpressMailGuard makes it so that users don't have to give out their real email address as often, lessening their likelihood of appearing in a data breach. It's "like a VPN for email," said ExpressVPN COO Shay Peretz.

ExpressVPN Basic, Advanced, and Pro subscribers are all receiving varying degrees of access to ExpressMailGuard starting today.

ExpressAI Credit: Screenshot via ExpressVPN

ExpressAI is billed as "the world's first consumer AI platform built on confidential computing." Translation: User conversations, prompts, and files are encrypted to everyone, including ExpressAI's model providers and ExpressVPN itself. The company said the technology involved was previously exclusive to Nvidia's enterprise data centers. Additionally, ExpressAI's models are never trained on user data. Proton released a similar AI assistant, Lumo, last July.

ExpressAI is designed to better protect sensitive content, "like work files, financial questions, and personal details," compared to other AI platforms, ExpressVPN said.

Users can choose from up to five different models depending on their ExpressVPN subscription tier, including GPTOSS 20B, DeepSeek R1 Distill, Qwen2-VL 2B, Qwen3 32B, and Nvidia Nemotron. The same prompt can be run across multiple models simultaneously for easy comparisons.

All ExpressVPN subscription tiers will include access to ExpressAI.

ExpressKeys Credit: ExpressVPN

The ExpressKeys app works as a password generator, a password strength checker, a two-factor authenticator, and secure storage for logins, credit card information, and notes. It supports autofill, offline access, and automatic syncing across different devices. Everything is encrypted, so no one can see your data except you.

By moving this tool out of its VPN's mobile apps, where it was previously called "Keys," ExpressVPN will be able to grow it at a greater scale, the company said.

New ExpressKeys users can log in with their ExpressVPN credentials and import information from other password managers. Existing Keys users can continue to use that service until March 5, 2026.

ExpressVPN Advanced and Pro subscribers are getting complete access to ExpressKeys starting today. It's not available for ExpressVPN Basic subscribers.

Identity Defender

ExpressVPN Advanced and Pro subscribers will get full access to the Identity Defender app's services later this month. That includes dark web monitoring, $1 million in identity theft insurance, change of address alerts, automatic data removal, and a credit scanner.

ExpressVPN Basic subscribers will not get access to the Identity Defender app.

Working as a developer doesn't mean you always code. Often, you're assigned boring, mundane tasks. Be it converting data formats, encoding and decoding data, or validating their structure, jumping from tool to tool is cumbersome. That's where Dev Toolbox comes into play.

UK comedian James Acaster's appearances on Late Night with Seth Meyers are always fairly unhinged, but the one above takes thing to a whole new level.

In the clip above, Acaster relentlessly promotes his upcoming Q&A appearance at a record store in Denver, Colorado, explains to Meyers why he's exclusively wearing merch from the show, advocates for "street toasts," and offers his own disturbing recollection of Meyers' appearance on Taskmaster Live.

This the most we've seen Seth Meyers giggle during an interview in a long time.

If you're like me and tend to read physical books while listening to the audiobook, dismayed at the inconvenience of time spent away from your current narrative, insistent on having that storyline blasting through your consciousness 24/7, there's a new Spotify feature for you. (I'm fine.)

Launched on Feb. 5, Spotify's new Page Match feature takes cues from Audible's reading/listening sync, enabling you to seamlessly switch between audio and physical format. The feature was announced as part of Spotify's major push into physical book sales, with the audio streamer pairing up with online book marketplace Bookshop.org to sell titles directly through the platform.

SEE ALSO: Spotify moves beyond audiobooks to offer physical books

The anticipated feature follows Spotify's audiobook Recaps feature, launched in Nov. 2025, which lets you listen to short audio summaries of the story so far.

But what is Page Match and how does it work?

What is Page Match?

As Mashable culture editor Crystal Bell writes, Page Match is a "technically ambitious" Spotify mobile app feature that amalgamates your physical books, audiobooks, and e-books and lets you continue where you left off reading. Essentially, it's like a bookmark across time and space.

"Built using computer vision and text matching — not AI, [Owen Smith, Spotify’s global head of audiobooks] noted — the feature lets readers scan a page in the Spotify app to jump instantly to the corresponding moment in the audiobook, then scan again later to find their place back on the page," Bell writes.

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So far, Page Match is only available in English, and will be available for most titles by the end of February.

Is Spotify's Page Match free?

Page Match is available to all Spotify users, free and paying, however there's some differences — and remember, those prices are going up.

The feature only works for free users who have bought an audiobook through Spotify. Premium Spotify users can use Page Match for any book with the monthly allocation of audiobook hours that comes with the subscription, as can users who have paid for the extra Audiobook+ plan.

Now, here's how to use the feature, whether you're moving from book to audiobook or the other way around.

How to use Spotify's Page Match (book to audiobook) Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• Spotify iOS or Android app on mobile

Step 1: Open Spotify on your smartphone.

Step 2: Search for your book in the audiobook section.

Step 3: Tap "Scan to listen" and allow camera access with the pop-up.

Step 4: Take a photo of the page you're currently reading.

Step 5: Wait for Spotify to match the page to the audiobook time, then tap "Play from here" or "Save for later."

If Spotify can't find the page, the app will prompt you to try again.

How to use Spotify's Page Match (audiobook to book) Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• Spotify iOS or Android app on mobile

Step 1: Open Spotify on your smartphone.

Step 2: Navigate to your audiobook in search or Your Library.

Step 3: Tap the "Page Match" button."

Step 4: Tap "Scan to read" and allow camera access with the pop-up.

Step 5: Take a photo of any page in your physical book or e-reader.

Step 6: Wait for Spotify to process, after which it should tell you where in the book you stopped listening.

If you can't yet see the Page Match buttons on your Spotify app, don't fret. The feature only launched on Thursday, Feb. 5 and is rolling out globally, so it should appear on your phone soon — make sure you've updated the Spotify app at least.

SAVE $20: As of Feb. 5, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max has been marked down to $39.99 at Amazon. This 33% discount saves you $20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max $39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20   Get Deal

Between a new season of Bridgerton, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and even The Muppet Show, streaming services are stacked with great things to watch right now. If you've been searching for a streaming device that'll help you enjoy it all in a high-quality format, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is worth a look. What's even better is it's currently on sale at Amazon.

For a limited time, Amazon has dropped the price of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max to $39.99. Usually its full price is $59.99, so this gives you a chance to grab it for $20 less.

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Enjoying shows and films across a wide variety of streaming services with a crisp, colorful picture quality comes easy with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, as it supports 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+. It even supports Dolby Atmos audio to match its supported picture quality, so you can catch every sound happening on screen.

Plus, with support for WiFi 6E, you'll experience smoother streaming quality while you watch. And on top of all that, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max even features the Fire TV Ambient Experience, which allows you to show off art or photos on your TV when you're not streaming.

If it's caught your attention, now is the time to grab it on sale. Act fast to save on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max at Amazon.

If you’ve been shopping for a Prius because of its affordable starting price, but dream of something more refined and luxurious, the used market has an intriguing alternative. For roughly the same price you’d pay for a new Prius, you can step into a German sedan with premium appointments, thoughtful design, and the kind of build quality usually reserved for higher price brackets. It’s a rare opportunity to get true luxury without stretching your budget.

You're probably familiar with the most common ways to trigger automations in Home Assistant. You can trigger an automation when the state of an entity changes, when you press a button, when presence is detected, or at a specific time of day. Today we're going to take at some lesser-known triggers that can be just as useful.

Apple's Lockdown Mode for iPhone is getting significant attention this week.

On Wednesday, 404 Media reported the FBI has so far been unable to access the seized iPhone of a Washington Post reporter during an investigation. The barrier to entry? The publisher reports the phone has Lockdown Mode enabled, a feature Apple added in 2022 as heavy personal defense against sophisticated cyber attacks.

Added by Apple with iOS 16, Lockdown Mode was launched as "an extreme, optional protection for the very small number of users who face grave, targeted threats to their digital security," meaning journalists, government officials, and other professionals with a high risk of being personally targeted by mercenary spyware.

SEE ALSO: FBI says it's investigating Signal. Should users worry?

However, while Lockdown Mode launched for this particular group of iPhone users, the feature has since been rolled out to all — though Apple cautions it as "extreme protection if you believe you're being targeted in a cyberattack."

Lockdown Mode limits certain functionalities on your iPhone — it's also available for iPad and Mac — including restricting or blocking some apps, websites, and features. So, be warned.

How Lockdown Mode affects your iPhone

If you have Lockdown Mode enabled, Apple says:

• Message attachments are blocked unless they're video, images, or audio.

• Phone calls and plain text messages work, but incoming calls won't ring on a paired Apple Watch.

• Incoming FaceTime calls are blocked if the device owner hasn't called the number within the previous 30 days.

• Link previews in Messages are disabled.

• Wired connections with a computer/laptop are blocked if the iPhone is locked.

• Photo location data will be omitted if you share an image, and shared albums will be removed from the Photos app — you can still see these on other devices.

• Live Photos are unavailable.

• Company IT teams can't monitor these devices — configuration profiles cannot be installed, and the phone can't be added to a company's remote mobile device management (MDM).

• Your iPhone won’t automatically join non-secure Wi-Fi networks.

• 2G and 3G mobile support is turned off.

• Invitations to Apple service apps like the Home app are blocked unless you have previously invited that person.

• Internet browsing is limited, though you can exclude an app or website in Safari from being impacted and limited by WebKit restrictions. You may receive notifications even if an app or website is blocked by Lockdown Mode.

• Game Centre is disabled.

• SharePlay is unavailable.

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Now, here's how to switch it on and off.

How to enable Lockdown Mode on iPhone

Make sure you've updated your iPhone/iPad/Mac software to the latest iOS and back up your device. Lockdown Mode works with iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, watchOS 10 or later, and macOS Ventura or later.

You'll have to turn Lockdown Mode separately for each device, however, if you enable it on your iPhone, your paired Apple Watch will have it switched on automatically.

Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• iPhone

Step 1: Open Settings.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap "Privacy & Security."

Credit: Shannon Connellan / Mashable

Step 3: Scroll down to the bottom and tap "Lockdown Mode."

Credit: Shannon Connellan / Mashable

Step 4: Tap "Turn On Lockdown Mode."

Credit: Shannon Connellan / Mashable

Step 5: Scroll through the features (read them) and tap "Turn on Lockdown Mode" again.

Enter your Apple Account user password if required.

Step 6: Tap "Turn On & Restart."

BYROW is the gold standard for row-based math in Excel. By housing your formulas in one spilled range, you eliminate the risk of manual overrides, keep your files lean, and make your data more scalable. It's the easiest way to turn a fragile, messy workbook into a robust tool that actually works.

The one thing that slows me down (or at least used to slow me down) was having to look up documentation or commands while working with Termux. So I found a way to bring an AI assistant (not a coding agent) into Termux. Now I can look up commands and search for stuff on the fly without leaving the terminal. It's helping me learn Termux faster and saves me the trouble of switching between apps.

Donald Trump has been insulting female journalists again, this time CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins, who had the audacity to do her job and ask the president about the Epstein files at a recent press conference — leading Trump to respond, "I don't think I've seen you smile."

"Damn, that is messed up," says Daily Show host Michael Kosta in the clip above. "Can I talk to the president alone, for just a second? Hey, uh, DJ, few thought. I don't know if there's ever a time to tell a reporter to smile, but I'm almost positive it's not when she's asking you about sex trafficking victims."

Kosta goes on to play a clip of Trump saying he thinks "it's really time for the country to get on to something else."

"Yeah, of course you want to move on to something else," says Kosta. "I would too if I was in the Epstein files thousands of times. I feel the same way when the IRS tries to audit me. Hey guys, I appreciate your interest, but me and my business jacuzzi are ready to move on."

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