Red Dead Redemption 2 release date, news and rumors

Update: Red Dead Redemption 2 has been delayed. The news was announced by Rockstar Games on its official account, which also confirmed a new release date of October 26th. Read on below for everything else we know about the upcoming game. 

Original article continues below...

With so many great games being announced every day, it's not that frequent any more that we see the kind of clamoring excitement that accompanied the announcement of Red Dead Redemption 2. 

Teased and announced with perfect pacing on the part of Rockstar, the game will be the developer's third set in the Wild West and its first release since Grand Theft Auto 5 in 2013. To say Rockstar fans are waiting with bated breath is an understatement.

Though the game isn't due to be released until Spring 2018, news and rumors are circulating and we've gathered everything you need to know right here. 

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The sequel to the Wild West Rockstar hit, Red Dead Redemption
• When can I play it? October 26th 2018
• What can I play it on? PlayStation 4 and Xbox One have been confirmed so far

Trailers and screenshots

The first trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2 which was released shortly after the game's announcement. It doesn't reveal much other than that we're going to be returning to the Wild West. The game locations in the trailer are diverse and beautiful and it looks highly likely that the game will be open world. 

The game's second trailer came on September 28, after Rockstar teased some new information would be coming in a tweet earlier that week. This time around we got to see a bit more about the game, including a glimpse of its new protagonist Arthur Morgan.

Watch the trailer for yourself below and take a gander at all the screenshots we've collected as well as see some of the new theories this trailer has dragged up:

Screenshots

Release date

We thought we'd have Red Dead Redemption 2 in our stockings come Holiday 2017, but it turns out that may have been a bit preemptive on our part. 

Initially a blog post on the publisher's website from May 2017 said that we'll have to wait until Spring of 2018 to saddle up for Rockstar Games' next epic western:

"Red Dead Redemption 2 is now set to launch Spring 2018 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This outlaw epic set across the vast and unforgiving American heartland will be the first Rockstar game created from the ground up for the latest generation of console hardware, and some extra time is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the best experience possible for our fans ... We are very sorry for any disappointment this delay causes, but we are firm believers in delivering a game only when it is ready."

However, RockStar Games later tweeted to say that the game would instead be released on October 26th 2018, which is a few months later than the June 8th release date that leaked earlier this year. 

News and features

We have very little in the way of solid facts when it comes to Red Dead Redemption 2 but what has been confirmed by Rockstar can be found below.

There's a new protagonist

John Marston is no more. Red Dead Redemption 2 brings players a brand new protagonist called Arthur Morgan and the game will follow this outlaw and the Van der Linde gang as they rob and fight their way across America. 

Dutch is back

The main antagonist from Red Dead Redemption showed his face in this game's second trailer which confirms he'll be back. Whether or not he'll be the same antagonistic force is unclear but we think it's highly unlikely he's going to be a force for good.

It'll have an open world

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a sequel to an open world game and it's being developed by Rockstar so this isn't exactly surprising information. Though Red Dead Revolver was a more linear affair, it was apparent that Rockstar was moving away from this with its spiritual successor Red Dead Redemption and we imagine this trend will continue. 

On the game's site, Rockstar has called the game world "vast and atmospheric" and the trailer certainly backs up this claim. 

The environments shown in the trailer are diverse and stunning and we imagine that as before you'll be able to traverse them on foot, horseback and perhaps even by rail at your own pace. 

It'll have single and multiplayer

As you'd expect of a Rockstar game, Red Dead Redemption 2's vast open game world will be the backdrop to a thrilling single-player campaign. 

Though the first game followed the story of one man, we're not sure whether that will be the case with Red Dead Redemption 2. The game's trailer shows 7 figures on horseback which does suggest there could be multiple stories weaving together here like Rockstar did with Grand Theft Auto 5. We'll just have to wait to find out if this is the case.

One similarity we do know Red Dead Redemption 2 will have to Grand Theft Auto 5 is its huge online multiplayer world and it could be this element of the game that the 7 cowboys on horseback imagery is referring to. 

On the game's website, Rockstar has stated that the world of the single player campaign will "also provide the foundation for a brand new online multiplayer experience." 

Considering Grand Theft Auto 5's online world is still growing and thriving 4 years after the game's initial release this is an exciting prospect. We imagine the cooperative missions that involve heists, races, gangs and money making will transfer neatly over to the Wild West world of Red Dead Redemption 2. 

PlayStation 4 players will get early access to some online content

Thanks to a partnership between PlayStation and Rockstar, PlayStation 4 owners will get early access to some of the game's online content. In a post on the official PlayStation Blog where the announcement was made it wasn't clear what the online content would be, however it was promised that more details would be revealed soon. 

There's an unlockable weapon in Grand Theft Auto Online

Grand theft Auto Online players are getting an interesting Red Dead Redemption 2 treat in the form of an unlockable weapon. Players should be on the lookout for an in-game email over the next few days containing a clue which will allow them to start a scavenger hunt of sorts. Following the trail in the game will lead players to the Double Action Revolver.

Once the revolver is acquired, a Headshot Challenge will launch in Freemode which, if completed, will give players a $250,000 in-game prize and the opportunity to unlock the revolver for use in Red Dead Redemption 2 when it's released in 2018.  

Rumors and what we want to see

Considering solid facts on the game are pretty thin on the ground, speculation and rumors are understandably rife, with most of the basis for guessing at possible features coming from the game's two trailers.

It could be a prequel or sequel

Red Dead Redemption 2 will have a brand new protagonist called Arthur Morgan which puts John Marston out of the picture. 

It was the appearance of Red Dead Redemption antagonist, Dutch Van der Linde, in the second trailer for this game, however, that made fans think it could very well be a prequel. Dutch looks much younger and more fresh in the trailer which gives this pre-Red Dead Redemption theory credence. 

That said, others have pointed out some anachronistic background details from the trailer which throw the prequel nature of the story into question. First up is a telephone which appears in an office scene of the trailer. This phone has a design which would have been in use long after 1890. However, a train which appears later in the trailer is being pointed out as being from a much earlier time than this.

Red Dead Redemption is largely set in 1911, so all of these details taken together suggest that Red Dead Redemption 2 could actually have a very long timeline which begins before John Marston's Red Dead Redemption and then runs concurrent to it, perhaps starring multiple characters.

However, it could also be a prequel that just doesn't stretch too far back in time – it's also being rumored that the game is set only 5 years before the previous game around 1906 which would make a great deal of sense. 

Bows and arrows and dual wielding weapons 

In the game's second trailer we see protagonist Morgan wielding a bow and arrow as well as simultaneously firing two revolvers. This suggests combat mechanics have advanced significantly from the previous game. 

Bow and arrows were actually a weapon option in Red Dead Revolver before being nixed in Red Dead Redemption. Since then, fans have been crying out for their return and the trailer certainly seems to show that's happening. 

Out on the water

You couldn't even swim in Red Dead Redemption but a glimpse of a character out on the open water in a kayak in the trailer for the sequel has people wondering if you'll be able to travel across water or maybe even swim this time around. It'd certainly make an already sure to be large game world even larger. 

More animals than ever 

The game's second trailers shows in no uncertain terms that bears are back. But this time they're being joined by crocodiles. This makes the surrounding game world significantly more dangerous and although we like to see as much wildlife as possible, we're not looking forward to being taken by surprise by a crocodile in a swamp. 

Sharing the load

A scene of a character walking alongside a mule loaded up with equipment also has fans wondering if it'll be possible to share your inventory with your steed. We imagine this would work in a similar manner to sharing your inventory with your companion in games like Skyrim. 

Could this be the game's map?

Earlier this April, a map claiming to be the setting for the next Red Dead leaked on NeoGAF.

The biggest takeaways from the tentative topography was a slight move eastward from the arid plains of Red Dead Redemption, showing more marshy locations, islands, and even a mention of a bayou city called New Bordeaux - possibly a tie-in with the recently released, 2K-published Mafia III?

A source with insider knowledge did confirm to us that the map was legit, adding that the game plans to take place before the events of Red Dead Redemption.

However, it is still a leaked map from the internet, so checked expectations are always a smart move. 

Rockstar has revealed that the map of the game will be used as the foundation for building an online multiplayer world similar to that of Grand Theft Auto 5 so the incredible scale and diverse landscape suggested by this map would be suited to an online world. 

Keep checking back here for more Red Dead Redemption 2 news and rumors! We'll report everything as and when it's revealed. 

• The real cars of Grand Theft Auto V

February 01, 2018 at 11:24PM
Emma Boyle

The best DualShock 4 deals in February 2018: find a cheap PS4 controller

Picked up a sweet PS4 deal recently? Then you'll be on the lookout for a super cheap DualShock 4 deal as you'll want to always have one charged or be ready for a bit of local multiplayer.

The PlayStation and the DualShock controller have been best buds for most of the PlayStation brand's lifespan. Sony has changed little since the introduction of the dual analog design in 1997, instead pushing the iconic controller closer to perfection with each console generation.

Over 67.5 million PlayStation 4 consoles have been sold so far, but most bundles only come with one DualShock 4 controller. If you want to play local multiplayer games, you're going to need a second, third or even fourth pad. Having a spare to keep charged when the battery drains on another is super handy too.

Don't bother looking on the high street for controller deals - seriously those prices are not cool. Online is where the action's at and we've tracked down all the cheapest PS4 controller deals. We've picked out the best deals for the various different colors too.

Cheapest PS4 controller deals by color:

We've hand picked out a few more tempting deals for the various color variations below too. Naturally, these cheap PS4 controller prices are correct at time of writing.

More of the best DualShock 4 deals - USA

Gray/Blue DualShock 4: This looks like the same color controller as the one in the Uncharted 4 Special Edition console bundle. This will be your best bet then if you already own a PS4. This has shot up in price in recent weeks and you can save money by opting for a different color. If you've gotta have it though, Amazon is the cheapest today at $52.89 (used).

Urban Camo DualShock 4: This model is a bit of a rare find at most retailers so expect higher prices than most models. Today's best price for the Urban Camo DualShock 4 is $57 at Amazon.

Crystal DualShock 4: The clear Crystal DualShock 4 finally has an official US release. We've searched around for the best price and that'll be  $62.95 @ Amazon

Blue Crystal DualShock 4:This new see through blue DualShock 4 controller is a Walmart-exclusive in the US. So you won't find any other retailers officially selling it outside of places like eBay or Amazon Marketplace. Today though, it's cheapest at $59.86 @ Walmart.

Red Crystal DualShock 4: Like the blue crystal model above, this one's a specific retailer exclusive in the US too. It's currently going for a lowest price yet of $39.99 at Best Buy.

More of the best DualShock 4 deals - UK

Urban Camo DualShock 4: This one is a bit of a rare find at most retailers so expect higher prices than most models. Today's best Urban Camo price is £59 @ Amazon

Crystal DualShock 4: Crystal? Well, it's see through. It's also an Amazon exclusive apparently. Your new Crystal DualShock 4 is now £58.99 @ Amazon

Grey/Blue DualShock 4: This looks like the same colour controller as the one in the Uncharted 4 Special Edition console bundle. This will be your best bet then if you already own a PS4. We've seen this for as low as £45, but sadly the best deal today is a rather untouchable £84 @ Amazon

What's the difference between the original and new V2 DualShock 4 controller?

If you've seen mention of a 'New' or 'V2' DualShock 4 controller while looking for a new pad, let us tell you about the differences. The new/V2 DualShock 4 was released alongside the PS4 Slim and features a few improvements over the original.

Some listings are a bit vague, but the clearest visual indicator to look out for is the new light bar on the DualShock's 4 trackpad. This thin slit wasn't on the original, so just look out for the dimly illuminated blue line on the product listing's image gallery. The original blue/red/gold controllers had black plastic on the back half of the controller, but the V2 versions feature matching colours, albeit a shade darker.

Other improvements include USB functionality, allowing gamers to plug the controller in for lag-free gaming (it simply charged the original), which could give you the edge in online shooters or games like Street Fighter V. You'll also be able to use this enhanced connectivity to use the DualShock 4 on a PC without paying for the bluetooth adapter. The rubber on the analogues has been improved (again) to prevent it wearing away so much too.

February 01, 2018 at 10:08AM
Brendan Griffiths

A Mario movie from the makers of Minions is in the works

There’s an animated Mario movie on its way to your screens, and given who’s producing it, there’s every possibility it’s going to be good (or at least successful). 

The flick comes as Nintendo finalizes its deal with Illumination, the production house behind such animated hits as Despicable Me, The Secret Life of Pets, and Minions. Love them or hate them, the little yellow critters made a big splash, and now it looks like Illumination is turning its attention to everyone’s favorite plumber (yeah, we know, he’s technically not a plumber any more, but he always will be in our hearts).

Given that the deal’s only just been announced, the film is in the early stages of development, which in the world of animated films means it’s going to be years before the film actually hits the silver screen. 

Avoiding the banana peels

For those with long enough memories, the idea of a Mario film will bring back some very vivid images of Dennis Hopper with...um, interesting hair. Not only that, but Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as the titular Mario and his brother Luigi.

The film was (to put it lightly) not as successful as the games that spawned it, but we’re hopeful that an animated film will be able to be a little more faithful to the source material. While films about games are generally pretty hit-and-miss, the success of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph shows that you can make a successful animated film about games.

The news of the film came from a tweet from the Nintendo of America account:

Mario is currently riding high, with recent release Mario Odyssey being one of the big hits on the Nintendo Switch. It definitely makes more sense to make a film out of a pre-existing franchise like Mario than about, say, emojis. Fingers crossed.

• Want more Mario news? Check out: Nintendo announces Mario Kart Tour will be its next mobile game

Via Variety

February 01, 2018 at 06:56PM
Andrew London

Free Nintendo Switch online play ends September 2018

Change is coming, Nintendo Switch owners. While you've been happily heading online with your consoles since launch for some free multiplayer sessions, those days are numbered. Nintendo has now dated the launch of its paid-for online service.

The Mario house announced that its paid-for online subscription service will be launching in September 2018 and it's expected that the subscription offering will bring with it the end of free online play for Switch owners.

Nintendo's subscription service, its answer to Sony's PlayStation Plus and Microsoft's Xbox Live, will cost $3.99 a month (around £2.80 / AU$5), or $19.99 annually (£14 / AU$25).  

Retro return

Thankfully, the fee will bring with it some new features, beyond the online play access that Switch owners currently enjoy free of charge.

Perhaps the most highly anticipated is the introduction of a rotating catalogue of classic retro Nintendo games to play each month, set to be included as part of the subscription. It's not yet clear however which era of Nintendo's history, let alone what specific titles, will feature, nor what if any limitations there will be in terms of access, but previous rumors have suggested that GameCube games could be set to appear on the Switch's Virtual Console - so fingers crossed. 

Back catalogue titles will also be updated with new features including leaderboards and the addition of online multiplayer where not previously available. 

If Nintendo does enforce a blanket paid-for multiplayer policy it'll be a loss for those that have so far enjoyed the simplicity of Nintendo's service. But with the Labo line on the way, and sales still going strong, it's hard to imagine it denting the momentum Nintendo has built with the Switch so far.

• Nintendo Switch review

February 01, 2018 at 06:08PM
Gerald Lynch

The Best Laptop 2018: Our pick of the best laptops you can buy

If you're looking for the best laptop for your needs, then you've come to the right place, as we've listed the very best laptops money can buy in 2018.

Each these top laptops has been carefully tested by us, so we can give you our expert advice on what the best laptops of 2018 are. We're constantly updating this list as well, so our best laptop list will feature the newest models. The most recent addition to our best laptops list is the 2018 model of the Dell XPS 2018, and once again it sits at the top of our list.

So, read on for our list of the best laptops money can buy, which includes our own price comparison tool to make sure you get the very best deals for these amazing notebooks.

The best laptops of 2018:

The Dell XPS 13 has been the top of our best laptops list for three years in a row, and the 2018 revision of Dell's flagship laptop continues that trend. This is a slimmer, more powerful version of the best laptop in the world, and it now comes with a stunning new 4K display and a gorgeous new color: Rose Gold on Alpine White model is on its way. It's more expensive than previous version of the XPS 13, but the 2018 edition makes up for it with powerful 8th generation Intel processors, ranging from i5 to i7, along with a nigh-bezel-less ‘Infinity Edge’ display, which fits a 13.3-inch screen into an 11-inch frame, the Dell XPS 13 really stands out from its competition. Not only that, but the port selection is equally on point. Compared to Apple’s exclusive USB-C approach, Dell’s flagship notebook impresses with – in addition to USB-C – USB 3.0 along with the elusive SD card slot. It’s no wonder the Dell XPS 13 continues to be the most popular WIndows laptop in the world. Yet it gets even better. You also get the choice of a super high-res or multi-touch screen as well as a breadth of options for storage and memory. Or you can save on cash and opt for more conservative specs.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

If you love the look of the Dell XPS 13 but you don't want to pay the steep asking price, the Asus Zenbook UX310UQ is the best alternative. It costs substantially less - in fact it's usually about half the price - while retaining a fabulous screen, excellent build quality and looks, plus top performance for everyday tasks. Because of this, it's also a viable alternative to the 2017 Macbook if you want something super slim that's not a Mac and doesn't cost as much. Like most laptops of this kind, it comes in various specifications so the cheaper versions have Intel Core i3 CPUs and full HD screens while the most expensive options come with a super high res display and Intel Core i5. Whichever one you go for, though, you're getting a fantastic laptop. Asus has long been a great brand for offering great value on these kinds of laptops so it's not much of a surprise that in 2017 we find ourselves recommending another Asus laptop in this price bracket.

Read the full review: Asus Zenbook UX310UA
See more like this: The best Ultrabooks 20178

Some of the very best laptops in 2017 have been 2-in-1 devices, and Lenovo has added to that list with the excellent Lenovo Yoga 920. It features a wonderfully slim design, and its build quality is exceptional. The 360 degree hinge allows you to convert the laptop into a tablet-like device, making it flexible in all senses of the word. It's cheaper than the Surface Book 2, and while it doesn't offer quite the same quality when in tablet mode, it's an excellent device with plenty of power and bags of battery life. It's definitely a worthy alternative, and it's easily one of the best laptops we've seen this year.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 920

If you're after the latest and greatest laptop from Apple, welcome to the 13-inch Macbook Pro with touchbar. It's the best laptop Apple has ever made, and builds new features into the classic design. Of course the headline feature is the touchbar - it's a thin OLED display at the top of the keyboard which can be used for any number of things, whether that be auto-suggesting words as you type or offering Touch ID so you can log in with just your fingerprint. If you're a massive fan of the Macbook Pro 2017 you'll be happy with this model but there are some serious reasons why you should consider one of the Windows alternatives. For a start, this laptop is very expensive for what is is, especially considering the better value alternatives. On top of this, it's not as powerful, the screen is lower-res versus the competition and isn't touchscreen friendly, plus the battery is a bit disappointing too. So if you're open to switching to a PC, definitely consider the XPS 13 as a more modern, cheaper alternative. But if you're a steadfast Apple die hard, this is definitely the best laptop for you!

Read the full review: Apple Macbook with touchbar (2017)
See more like this: The best Macs and Macbooks 2017

Part of a new generation of Max-Q gaming laptops in 2017, the  Asus ROG Zephyrus is both ridiculously powerful and astonishingly thin and light. Make no mistake, this thing is large compared to a Macbook Pro or Dell XPS 13, but compared to gaming laptops of the past this effort from Asus is something of a holy grail achievement. Your expectations of a 15-inch gaming laptop will never be the same after seeing the Zephyrus in action. It's expensive of course, but with powerful Core i7 CPU and GTX 1080 graphics it'll be easily powerful enough to play the best games for many years to come on the built-in 1080p screen. It's an ideal top-end desktop replacement that is, possibly for the first time ever, also extremely portable.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501
See more like this: The best gaming laptops 2017

If you're after a new gaming laptop and you don't have the kind of money that you need for the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501 above, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming laptop is your best option. It comes in at well under half the price and offers absolutely fantastic value for money. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics chip is easily powerful enough to lubricate the best games on the built-in 1080p display while general performance in Windows is super slick thanks to the Core i5 CPU. If you're going to be moving around a bit, you'll be pleased to know that the battery life on this laptop is also superb - we got nearly 8 hours out of it while watching HD video. A gaming session with Tom Clancy's The Division on medium settings for two hours only dropped the battery to 66%. This is far better than similarly priced rivals. So in the reasonably-priced category, the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 is definitely the best laptop around at the moment.

Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming
See more like this: The best gaming laptops 2017 

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is 2017's best laptop for you if you're looking for the perfect cross between a nimble Windows tablet and a fully functional laptop. The base version of the Surface Pro 4 is just a tablet - you get the main unit itself with kickstand but if you want the Surface Pen or the fantastic Type Cover keyboard you'll need to pay extra for a bundle or buy it separately. Often the best value option is a bundle but even the tablet on its own represents pretty good value. The Surface Pro, alongside the also-excellent Surface Book laptop, is to Windows what the Pixel is to Google's Android. It's the benchmark Windows device, with software and hardware working together in perfect harmony. So if you need a new laptop and a tablet, the Surface Pro is the best does-it-all 2-in-1 option. If you want this but need something a little cheaper, check out the Acer Switch 3 below!

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 4
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017 

If you want the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 but you want to spend a lot less, the Acer Switch Alpha 12 is definitely the your best option. It's designed around essentially the same concept as the Surface Pro and it's a less capable thanks to slightly lower power innards, but for most tasks it's a brilliant little machine. What's more, to add further value this 2-in-1 laptop/tablet comes with the keyboard upgrade which means no little extras to pay for. As usual it comes in several different versions, with USB Type-C, 8GB RAM, an IPS display and Intel Core i3 7100U CPU coming with the more expensive option.

Read the full review: Acer Switch Alpha 12
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017 

If you love the look of the XPS 13 at the top of this list but need something a little bigger with more graphics power, the Dell XPS 15 2017 could be the best laptop for you. Packing the same InfinityEdge technology, the screen extends right to the edge of the machine which means it's as small as it's possible to make a 15-inch laptop in 2017. It's quite pricey though, depending on which version you get. The very top end version has a 4K colour-accurate display which makes it perfect for graphic design, and gaming performance is decent as long as you play at either a lower resolution or on medium settings.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15

And finally - HP's best 2-in-1 laptop is a really stunner. It's super thin and light while packing in fantastic performance and a fast charging battery. It's expensive, but for the money what you're getting is the best ultra portable laptop available in 2017. As with many laptops on the list, this laptop comes in a number of different builds - with the bottom end one starting with a full HD screen while the top end model packs in a 4K one. Whichever one you go for though, you're getting a fabulous laptop that you'll love carrying around with you.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360
See more like this: The best 2-in-1 laptops 2017 

Which type of laptop is best for you?

General laptops: Where the best cheap laptops are found, devices that focus more on practicality than style, portability or power. That’s not to say they can’t be fast, but you’ll typically find a non-Ultrabook clamshell laptop with an HD screen and spinning drive-based storage for less than $600 or £400.

Ultrabooks: Where you’ll find thin-and-light notebooks sporting SSD storage and display resolutions that exceed 1080p. Paired with powerful, albeit mobile-centric components and especially long battery life, the best Ultrabooks will cost a pretty penny – $700 or £500 to $2,000 or £1,800.

2-in-1 laptops: Where notebooks that double as tablets are located. The Surface Book 2 might be a ways off, but many of the best 2-in-1 laptops are available right now. Outfitted with both detachable and 360-degree rotating hinges, these hybrids are the most versatile way to experience Windows 10 (or Chrome OS) on a touchscreen.

Gaming laptops: Need a laptop to play games (almost) just like a shiny desktop PC can? Then you’ll want one of the best gaming laptops. These machines generally cost from $800 or £600 to upwards of $3,000 or £2,800 and they’ll likely be the ones to take advantage of AMD’s laptop-grade Ryzen processors first.

Laptop-tablet hybrids: Designed from the tablet-first approach to laptop-tablet hybrids, the best Windows tablets pack beyond-HD touchscreens, sometimes with kickstands in their frames or provided via keyboard covers. These generally shine with a stylus, and range from the budget to the premium price ranges.

February 01, 2018 at 04:40PM
Abbas Jaffar Ali,Joe Osborne,Kevin Lee,Matt Hanson

The best Nintendo 3DS deals in February 2018

If you're looking for the best Nintendo 3DS deals or New 2DS XL prices, you've come to the right place. This is a fantastic time to get a cheap 3DS as retailers continue to unleash discounts as gamers snatch up the Nintendo Switch deals too. We check the prices from all reliable online retailers every few hours to make sure the prices are up to date!

Nintendo has long been boss of the handheld market, but the fact it continues to be so successful in a market now dominated by smartphones is impressive and we're bound to see it rock the handheld scene with some seasonal deals too. The 3DS software lineup features some of the best first-party Nintendo titles ever and you can always check out our pick of the best Nintendo 3DS games.

Nintendo's latest handheld, the 'New 2DS XL', is a welcome no nonsense handheld. On this page we're displaying the best 2DS XL, 2DS and new 3DS XL deals around. Older models are very hard to get a hold of nowadays and prices have shot up disproportionately.

A note on chargers

For reasons known only to Nintendo, most 3DS consoles do not come with a mains charger. So if you're in the market for 3DS and don't already have a compatible charger (for an older model maybe?) then you'll need to buy a new one. This is especially important if you're buying a 3DS as a Christmas gift. 

On the plus side the New 2DS XL and older slate-styled 2DS do come with a charger. We've included some handy links to some 3DS charger deals below (don't forget to check it's compatible with your type of 3DS).

• 3DS charger deals at Amazon - UK
• 3DS charger deals at Amazon - US

The best Nintendo New 2DS XL deals

This is the newest member of Nintendo's Nintendo's wildly popular handheld. Unlike the original 2DS' wedge-like design, the clamshell form returns, which should be much more appealing to older gamers. The 3D tech has been dropped, but you're getting the fantastic XL screen along with the upgraded tech of the 'New' 3DS models. This is considerably cheaper than the New 3DS XL too.

The best Nintendo New 3DS XL deals...

If the standard New 3DS is a bit small for you, then take a look at the New 3DS XL which is perfect for gamers with larger hands or anyone that fancies a larger screen. Look out for some special edition New 3DS XL models listed below this comparison chart too.

The best Nintendo 2DS deals...

If the 3D aspect and the clamshell look isn't for you you can get a Nintendo 2DS for cheaper. The 2DS is a great way of entering Nintendo's handheld family without spending much money, but we're really talking to kids and parents here. Parents of clumsy children have praised the flat design that removes the need for those pesky breakable hinges of the original models.

It's that excellent lineup of games that makes it even easier to recommend the 2DS. With a generation of kids familiarising themselves with quick and easy games like Angry Birds, it's important for Nintendo to show them how much better gaming can be. The 2DS is a hell of a lot sturdier than a smartphone or tablet too.

February 01, 2018 at 07:17AM
Brendan Griffiths

Nintendo announces Mario Kart Tour will be its next mobile game

Nintendo has announced its next mobile game, and it'll be based on the company's long-running Mario Kart franchise. 

We don't have any other details about the game other than the name, Mario Kart Tour, but presumably the game will feature the same fast-paced powerup-fuelled racing mayhem the series is known for. 

We've got our fingers crossed that the game's addictive multiplayer element will make it to the mobile game intact. 

Nintendo's mixed mobile efforts

Nintendo's mobile efforts have, so far, been a little hit and miss. It recently announced that its Miitomo app will be shutting down in May, and many were disappointed by the free to play elements of its last game Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. 

However, Super Mario Run was much more warmly received - marrying the complexity of a Mario game with the simplicity of a single-control smartphone interface. 

With a release date of "the fiscal year ending March 2019" (which means a release could technically come as early as April 2018) fingers crossed we won't have to wait much longer for some answers. 

• Get up to speed with the last Mario Kart with our Mario Kart 8 tips and tricks guide

February 01, 2018 at 04:30PM
Jon Porter