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Conference call: What to expect from GDC 2026 - Thumbsticks The Game Developers Conference, now rebranded as the “GDC Festival of Gaming”, expands beyond its traditional conference roots.

GDC returns next week with a new name and a shift in direction. The schedule is still sprawling, however, so we've picked some session highlights.
#gdc #gamedev @officialgdc.bsky.social

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How the Sega Master System changed the way I play - Thumbsticks The passing of hardware designer Hideki Sato has made me reflect on how the Sega Master System shaped the way I enjoy video games.

Thoughts from @olddannew.bsky.social on how the Sega Master System shaped a love of video games, and the friendship that came with it.

#Sega #VideoGames #RetroGames

Mario Tennis Fever review - Thumbsticks Mario Tennis Fever puts the nostalgia debate to bed and succeeds on its own terms as an excellent tennis game for Nintendo Switch 2.

Mario Tennis Fever bins the nostalgia baggage and delivers a genuinely excellent #NintendoSwitch2 tennis game. Here's our review: www.thumbsticks.com/mario-tennis...

The cool tricks behind backwards compatibility on the Game Boy Color - Thumbsticks When Nintendo released the Game Boy Color in 1998, players didn’t just get a new system with new features.

When Nintendo released the Game Boy Color, players didn’t just get a new system with new features. They got an upgrade that instantly refreshed the games they already owned.

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#nintendo #gameboy

The massive influence of Double Dragon (on ZX Spectrum) - Thumbsticks Arcade-to-home conversions in the 1980s often left a lot to be desired. Especially on the ZX Spectrum. And especially if it was Double Dragon.

No one could say the ZX Spectrum version of Double Dragon was good, but it was a genuine learning experience for @olddannew.bsky.social. #gaming #arcadegames #zxspectrum

Grid Legends: Deluxe Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 review - Thumbsticks Grid Legends races to Nintendo Switch 2, but can Feral Interactive repeat its porting magic with this Codemasters classic?

VROOOM!!! Grid Legends races to Nintendo Switch 2, but can Feral Interactive repeat its porting magic? Read our review and find out, if you like. 🏁

#NintendoSwitch2 #videogames #GRIDLegends

From the Backlog: Mario Sports Superstars - Thumbsticks Mario Sports Superstars is a forgotten Nintendo 3DS game, and a home run hidden in plain sight.

Is the forgotten Nintendo 3DS game Mario Sports Superstars a home run hidden in plain sight? Find out in our latest From the Backlog. ⚾

#Nintendo #SuperMario #Baseball #TorontoBlueJays #Retrogames

www.thumbsticks.com/from-the-bac...

The best thing Stadia gave us is still going strong - Thumbsticks Google officially ended support for updating Stadia controllers at the end of 2025, but I'll be using mine for a long time to come.

Google has officially ended support for updating Stadia controllers, but I'll be using mine for a long time to come.

#google #stadia

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review - Thumbsticks Metroid Prime 4 evolves a classic formula into something bigger, stranger, and more ambitious, but does it hold together?

Metroid Prime 4 evolves a classic formula into something bigger, stranger, and more ambitious… and a little more uneven. Here’s our review.

#metroidprime4 #nintendo

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Poker, Pixels, and Persuasion: The Marketing Bets Behind Balatro - Thumbsticks Balatro looked like an overnight indie miracle, but the game's success took planning, strategy, outreach, and a little luck.

Balatro looked like an overnight indie success, but it took planning, strategy, outreach, and a little luck. Read our report from #MIGS25 to find out how Playstack brought the game to a wider audience.

#balatro #indiegames #indiedev #gamedev #videogames

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment review - Thumbsticks Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment tells a sweeping war story that makes the Musou formula feel essential.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a surprisingly rich companion to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, pairing sharp, satisfying Musou combat with a story that actually feels essential. Here's our review...

www.thumbsticks.com/hyrule-warri...

#NintendoSwitch2 #LegendOfZelda

Inside MIGS25 and the Future of Canadian Video Games - Thumbsticks The Montréal International Game Summit (MIGS25) charts a path forward for the Canadian video games industry.

Can Canada stay one of the best places to make video games? Here's our report from the 2025 Montréal International Game Summit.

#MIGS25 #gamebusiness #gamedev #indiedev #canada

Today’s mood.

Nintendo's mobile apps need fixing - Thumbsticks Nintendo needs to streamline its messy ecosystem of smartphone apps to match its otherwise impressive online services.

Nintendo’s suite of mobile apps is great, but do we really need so many? 🤔

#Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #NintendoSwitch2 #NintendoToday #Android #iOS #Apple #SuperMario #NintendoGames #smartphones #apps

#migs25 is here. Don’t forget your boots. (Like we did)

#gamedev #montreal #gamebusiness

Conference Call: What to expect from MIGS25 - Thumbsticks The post-pandemic landscape hasn’t been kind to video game conferences. While global giants rethink their futures, MIGS is doubling down.

All set for the Montréal International Game Summit? Here’s our preview of this year’s event, including some session recommendations and an interview with the organizing team.

#MIGS25 #gaming #gamedev #canada #gamebusiness #videogames #b2b #MIGS

Pokémon Legends: Z-A review - Thumbsticks Can Pokémon ever truly reinvent itself? Pokémon Legends: Z-A makes a compelling case that it can.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A is uneven, but it’s also inventive, surprising, and often brilliant.

#nintendoswitch #nintendoswitch2 #pokemon

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 review  - Thumbsticks Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 return. But is a visual polish enough for these cosmic masterpieces?

Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 return. But is a visual polish enough for these cosmic masterpieces?

#supermariogalaxy #supermariogalaxy2 #nintendoswitch #nintendoswitch2 #videogames #nintendo

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment preview - Thumbsticks Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment impresses ahead of its fall release on Nintendo Switch 2.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment impresses ahead of its release on Nintendo Switch 2. It’s preview time!

#nintendoswitch2 #videogames #nintendocanada #nintendo #zelda #thelegendofzelda #gaming #hyrulewarriors #totk

Love this!

EA Sports FC 26 - Nintendo Switch 2 review - Thumbsticks Nintendo players finally get a modern, competitive version of EA Sports FC, though some compromises remain.

Nintendo players finally get a modern, competitive version of EA Sports FC, though some compromises remain.

#nintendoswitch2 #nintendoswitch #eafc26 #football #westham #easports #switchgaming #gaming #videogames

From the Backlog: Yakuza 0 - Thumbsticks Yakuza 0 mixes crime drama, absurdity, and unexpected heart. After years on the backlog, it’s well worth the wait.

How many platforms does it take to finally start a game? For Yakuza 0, our answer is: 3! Here's the first article in our new From the Backlog strand.

#NintendoSwitch2 #Sega #Yakuza0

Star Wars Outlaws - Nintendo Switch 2 review - Thumbsticks Ubisoft brings Star Wars Outlaws to Nintendo Switch 2 in an ambitious and surprisingly successful port.

Ubisoft brings Star Wars Outlaws to Nintendo Switch 2 in an ambitious and surprisingly successful port.

#starwarsoutlaws #nintendoswitch #nintendoswitch2 #starwars

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World review - Thumbsticks A sparkly update proves Kirby still has plenty of puff.

A sparkly update proves Kirby still has plenty of puff. Here's our review of, deep breath, Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World!

www.thumbsticks.com/kirby-and-th...

Split Fiction - Nintendo Switch 2 review - Thumbsticks Split Fiction is an exuberant, cinematic co-op adventure that thrives on shared moments, scraped victories, and magic moments.

Is Split Fiction on Nintendo Switch 2 a blockbuster or bomb? Here’s our review of Hazelight’s latest co-op action game.
#splitfiction #nintendoswitch2

Do you remember... Grand Prix Manager? - Thumbsticks While some games are broadly memorable, others can stick in your head for the most trivial of reasons. One such game is Grand Prix Manager.

While some games are broadly memorable, others can stick in your head for the most trivial of reasons. One such game is the classic 1995 PC sim, Grand Prix Manager.

#videogames #pc #grandprix #f1 #gaming

Nintendo Switch 2: The Thumbsticks Review - Thumbsticks Now that we've had more time to get to know the Nintendo Switch 2, is the difficult second album everything we hoped it would be?

Now that we’ve had more time to get to know the Nintendo Switch 2, is it everything we hoped it would be? Here’s our review…

#nintendoswitch2 #nintendo

Donkey Kong Bananza review - Thumbsticks DK steps back ‒ or rather, smashes through a brick wall – into the spotlight in Donkey Kong Bananza for Nintendo Switch 2.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a bold and brilliantly messy outing for Nintendo’s original video game icon.

#nintendo #donkeykong

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Pay Attention, 007 - OldDanNew I'm working on a cool new project and would like to connect with players and fans of the video game: GoldenEye 007. Rare’s game was released for the Nintendo 64...

Now pay attention, #007!

I’m working on a new project and looking to connect with players and fans of GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo 64. Find out more here (and all shares appreciated!) ❤️

#Nintendo #JamesBond #GoldenEye007 #n64

In today's climate, a video game about pressure washing feels like fantasy - Thumbsticks In the face of another summer of extremes, heatwaves, droughts, and hosepipe bans, PowerWash Simulator feels like fantasy wish fulfillment.

In today’s climate, a video game about pressure washing feels like fantasy.

www.thumbsticks.com/in-todays-cl...