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D&D dragons no longer just make everyone run away screaming—now they've got more nuanced forms of crowd control

by: Randy -

All dragons used to have a Frightful Presence in the Dungeons & Dragons 5e 2014 Monster Manual. Not anymore.

Now, in the new D&D 5e 2024 Monster Manual, that Frightful Presence is transmogrified into different powers. Rather than just a blanket 120-foot sphere of Fear, the Red Dragon, for instance, casts Commanding Presence as a Legendary Action. The Gold Dragon can simply Banish you. The Black Dragon summons a Cloud of Insects.

Much more flavorful on the battle map, even if none of these strike raw Fear into a dragon's enemies like the old Frightful Presence used to.

Here's a breakdown in each 2024 dragon (their Ancient and most powerful setting):

SPECIES OLD POWER NEW POWER

Black Dragon

Frightful Presence. Each creature of the dragon's choice that is within 120 feet of the dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute... Cloud of Insects. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 21, one creature the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 33 (6d10) Poison damage, and the target has Disadvantage on saving throws to maintain Concentration until the end of its next turn...

Blue Dragon

See above. Cloaked Flight. The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Invisibility on itself, and it can fly up to half its Fly Speed...

Green Dragon

See above. Noxious Miasma. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 21, each creature in a 30-foot-radius Sphere centered on a point the dragon can see within 90 feet. Failure: 17 (5d6) Poison damage, and the target takes a -2 penalty to AC until the end of its next turn...

Red Dragon

See above. Commanding Presence. The dragon uses Spellcasting to cast Command (level 2 version)...

White Dragon

See above.

Frightful Presence. The dragon casts Fear, requiring no Material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (sepll save DC 18)...

Brass Dragon

See above. Scorching Sands. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 20, one creature the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 36 (8d8) Fire damage, and the target's Speed is halved until the end of its next turn...

Bronze Dragon

See above. Thunder Clap. Constitution Saving Throw: DC 22, each creature in a 20-foot-radius Sphere centered on a a point the dragon can see within 120 feet...

Copper Dragon

See above. Giggling Magic. Charisma Saving Throw: DC 21, one creature the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 31 (9d6) Psychic damage. Until the end of it its next turn, the target rolls 1d8 whenever it makes an ability check or attack roll and subtracts the number rolled from the D20 test...

Gold Dragon

See above. Banish. Charisma Saving Throw: DC 24, one creature the dragon can see within 120 feet. Failure: 24 (7d6) Force damage, and the target has the Incapacitated condition and is transported to a harmless demiplane until the start of the dragon's next turn...

Silver Dragon

See above. Cold Gale. Dexterity Saving Throw: DC 23, each creature in a 60-foot-long, 10-foot-wide Line. Failure14 (4d6) Cold damage, and the target is pushed up to 30 feet straight away from the dragon...

The White Dragon is the only dragon that still has Frightful Presence. Though its area of effect is reined in. Instead of the 2014 dragons' Frightful Presence hitting everyone within 120 feet with Fear, the 2024 Frightful Presence—which likewise operates like a Fear spell—nevertheless has a reduced area of effect of a 30-foot cone.

A lot more changes have gone into effect, not only for dragons, but for every creature you can get your dirty paws on

Nintendo Switch 2 launches in June

by: Nathan -

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct has just concluded and we finally have a release date for the Switch 2. The Switch 2 will launch on June 5th 2025 and there will be two options available for purchase. The Switch 2 itself or a bundle with Switch 2 and a digital download of Mario Kart: World. No pricing or pre-order information was provided. The official website for the Switch 2, with more information will go live later today. 

EDIT: The Nintendo Switch 2 website has gone live and confirms the price of the console. The Nintendo Switch 2 will retail for $449.99. The Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart: World bundle will retail for $499.99.

Gamecube Games coming to Nintendo Switch Online exclusively on Switch 2

by: Nathan -

Nintendo Switch Online and the Expansion Pass is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and a new system has been confirmed to be available to play. Gamecube games will be available when the system launches. Two games were confirmed to be available at launch including.. 

  • The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
  • F-Zero GX

More titles were confirmed to be coming in the future including the following

  • Super Mario Sunshine
  • Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
  • Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness
  • Super Mario Strikers
  • Luigi's Mansion
  • Chibi-Robo
  • Pokemon Coliseum 

The Switch 2 launches on June 5th 2025.

Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition announced

by: Nathan -

That title is a doozy. Street Fighter 6 will be launching a new version of the game in June called Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition and as you would expect this is a bundle of all the content released in the game so far. This version will include all of the DLC fighters released for the game including Ed, Rashid, AKI, Akuma, Bison, Terry, Mai and Elena. It will also include all of the DLC stages, Outfit 1 for each character and all of their colors. 

Hey we also get to see new art for Elena who has yet to get an official trailer. 

Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition will release in June and has also confirmed to be available on Nintendo Switch 2 

Everything Nintendo Exclusive for Nintendo Switch 2

by: Joseph -

My colleague Nathan is covering the hardware side, and a couple of announcements for the Nintendo Switch 2, but I couldn't contain my excitement. I'm going to spend $500 on this thing, because it comes with Mario Kart, and I'm going to be busy with Gamecube games anyway. Speaking of which...here's the exclusive games announced for Nintendo Switch 2. Hold on...

Gamecube Games - Expansion Pack

They are bringing Gamecube games to the Switch 2, with The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, F-Zero GX and Soul Caliber 2 (The one with Link), and promises updated graphics. There will be more games added later, including Pokemon Coliseum. This will be available at launch.

Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV

The Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree comes with more mini games, and more games that use the mouse controls, in a game show experience called Bowser Live. It releases July 24th.

Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Updates

BOTW and TOTK are getting performance upgrades for the Nintendo Switch 2. Frame rates are doubled, and load times will be faster. They will also have better graphics. The newly named Nintendo Switch App will also bring Zelda Notes to help you navigate locations and find items. These will be available day one for purchase. 

Kirby and The Forgotten Land + Star Crossed World 

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is also getting the upgrade treatment, with a whole new story DLC. It promises new and improved performance, and it will release in August. 

Metroid Prime 4 -  Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

You all knew this was coming, but yes, Metroid Prime 4 is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 with enhanced graphics and those Joy Con 2 mouse controls. Plus, you can choose between quality mode at 4K at 60fps, or performance mode at 1080p at 120fps. Launch date is still later this year. 

Pokemon Legends: Z-A - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

Yep, Pokemon Legends Z-A is still coming this year, and yes, your getting the upgraded performance treatment, and yes, this is your first Pokemon game in 4k. What a time to be alive. 

Kirby's Air Riders

You've waited three console generations, and you're finally happy. You finally get what you want, and Kirby Air Riders, directed by Masahiro Sakurai. It will be out later this year, and could definitely mean you will see it's sequel for the Gamecube Nintendo Switch online app.

Donkey Kong Bananza 

The last announcement was a new 3D Donkey Kong game, which seems more sandbox and Super Mario Odyssey than an open world Donkey Kong game. The game comes out July 17th, giving us a breather from the games we already have. 

The Duskbloods

From Software announced Elden Ring was coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, but then surprised everyone with a brand new exclusive title. It won't come out until 2026, but there will be a special presentation coming on April 4th with director Hidetaka Miyazaki. 

I'm going to go lay down.

A new From Software game is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2

by: Nathan -

Well that was a surprise. We have waited so long for Sony to release Bloodborne 2 that Nintendo basically said "fine ill do it myself". Well, kinda. It's not Bloodborne 2 but Nintendo will have their own exclusive From Software game as The Duskbloods has been announced as one of the final surprises at the end of the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct presentation.

Boy oh boy does this look like a From Software game alright and it looks awesome. I'm sure this is going to be another game where I'm gonna have to read a wiki fan page to understand any of the lore 

The Duskbloods launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. 

Mario Kart: World announced. Launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2

by: Nathan -

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct has just ended and the first big announcement was the official confirmation of a brand new Mario Kart game called Mario Kart: World. Mario Kart: World now bumps up the number of drivers in each race to 24 and this time around races are held through regions on a giant open world map where maps will also have different times of day and weather conditions which is a nice touch. 

Mario Kart: World expands on the series by letting you drive off course on the various maps in the game and you can also freely explore these worlds in the new free roam mode. There is also a new mode called Knockout Tour where you race non stop across the maps and if you are below the placement line before a checkpoint you are eliminated. 

Mario Kart: World will be exclusive to Switch 2 and will be available on launch day, June 5th

Hit Me With Your Best Shot! Undercover Shot Now Available for Pre-Order

by: Kelly -

So today I was doomscrolling through threads, as I so often do, when something bright green and shiny caught my eye.

What is this?! A neon green NES throw back cartridge?! I honestly assumed it was anything but a game, but that's where I was mistaken. I had to learn more. And now? So do you.

Undercover Shot is everything I loved about my nostalgic childhood, mixed with a more modern mini deduction game. Created by a first time game developer, Pirate Princess Games, this co-op game is played with the Nintendo Zapper, or equivalent (!!).

Here's how it's played:

Player 1 (The Rat) uses the directional buttons on the controller to select a character. Once the game starts, the Rat mimics the behaviors of the innocent rats to try to blend in seamlessly and avoid their ultimate demise.

Player 2 (The Boss) needs to observe all of the characters on screen to try and deduce which one is actually The Rat (Player 1).When The Boss thinks they know who the rat is, they then must shoot that character with the Nintendo Zapper. If the Boss shoots the right rat, then they win! However, if the Boss shoots any of the innocent rats, then The Rat becomes the victor.

Short, sweet, nostalgic, and adorable. If you're looking for a silly little game where you can zap until your hearts content, then learn more here, pre-order, and/or see the trailer below.

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct will be 60 minutes long. Nintendo Treehouse to hold a livestream on April 3rd and 4th

by: Nathan -

The time is also here folks. Tomorrow Nintendo will finally pull back the curtain and give us the first official rundown of their new console, the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo Switch 2 direct will air at 9AM EST and hopefully we will also get a release date and price with this stream as well. No world on what will be shown I think it's safe to say that when it's over we will know all the ins and outs of this console. 

Even better is that the Nintendo Treehouse will hold a livestream on both April 3rd and April 4th of Nintendo Switch 2 games at 10AM EST on both days. 

We already saw a glimpse of Mario Kart 9 in the original Switch 2 reveal and I suspect we will see more of Metroid Prime 4 at the event as well. My big prediction though is that Nintendo lives to have a huge game ready for the launch of the console. We got Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the original Nintendo Switch's launch. We already got Tears of The Kingdom last year but there is one franchise that we haven't seen for a while that I think will be the big reveal for the event. So I'm putting it out there as a prediction that the big reveal we get will be the next 3D Mario game and the sequel to Super Mario Odyssey. 

LEGENDS BMX brings its bag of tricks over to PlayStation 5

by: Jason -

Score-chasing extreme sports game LEGENDS BMX brings the thrill of BMX to PlayStation 5 with all content updates and enhancements since launching on PC last December. Available right now, LEGENDS BMX features physics-based freestyle gameplay that lets you perform endless tricks, spins, flips, and grinds while chaining together moves for massive scorestreaks. It also features a variety of unlockable bikes, parks, characters, and customization items (including a Shark, because why not). The easy-to-pickup gameplay makes it easy to learn its freestyle trick system while climbing global leaderboards or completing weekly challenges.

I’m most impressed with its cartoonish art style blended with somewhat realistic environments, and its dynamic isometric camera that tracks your movement and trick flow. The PS5 version includes enhanced visual effects and cinematic camera angles, as well as support for the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, according to the game’s PlayStation Store page, which I know about because I just bought it for the incredibly low price of $9.99.

Check out a new PlayStation launch trailer below: