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Nintendo is not known for existing on the bleeding edge of technology. In fact, most of its 21st-century success has been built around the opposite of that idea; the Wii and DS were both much less powerful than their competition, yet each proved to be more popular with a mainstream audience. The hybrid Switch, meanwhile, was impressive for a handheld machine when it was released, but when hooked up to a TV it was soundly outgunned by the PlayStation 4let alone the 5. On paper, the Switch 2 doesnt do much to change that. Its still a less capable console than the PS5, even though its coming out more than four years later. But now that its finally in my hands, Im struck by how up-to-date it feels. The gaming landscape has changed since the original Switch, with the handheld market growing in size and diversityand you could make a case that on some levels, Nintendo now has the most advanced hardware. Functionality and pragmatism The Switch 2 is a fascinating system for Nintendo, mostly because its so straightforward. This is the first time Nintendo has ever straight-up released a Console 2, let alone one so similar to its predecessor. Its an exercise in functionality and pragmatism, with nips and tucks across the board. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/multicore_logo.jpg","headline":"Multicore","description":"Multicore is about technology hardware and design. It's written from Tokyo by Sam Byford. To learn more visit multicore.blog","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.multicore.blog","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}} The new Joy-Con controllers look similar to before but are an immediate improvement from the second you hold them. The curvier design is much more comfortable, and the way they snap onto the system magnetically is a lot less fussy; they also feel more securely attached. Time will tell if the analog sticks prove more durable, but for now the extra size and throw is appreciated. [Photo: Nintendo] Point of contention The screen will be a point of contention. Its a 7.9-inch 120Hz 1080p LCD panel with support for VRR and HDR, which is an upgrade in most respects except for the LCD part. Nintendo did go out of its way to release an OLED version of the original Switch, so the return to a conventionally backlit LCD panel does feel like a step back in terms of contrast. On the other hand, its actually a pretty great LCD for what it is. The HDR support was never going to compare with a high-end TV with local dimming, but games like Mario Kart World clearly show how Nintendo is making the most of the wider color gamut. I would compare the experience to watching HDR movies on a good LCD tablet like an iPad Air. Its streets ahead of the screens in the original Switch or the Steam Deck. Yes, I would have preferred an OLED panel. But the boosts here to size, resolution, and refresh rate are real, and there isnt really another gaming device out there with a directly comparable display. Advanced graphics The Switch 2 has, of course, been in the works for a long time, and thats reflected in the silicon that powers it. We know that the Nvidia-designed system-on-chip is manufactured by Samsung on its somewhat outdated 8nm process, the same technology behind Nvidias RTX 3000-series GPUs. In a video released this week, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the Switch 2s SoC is unlike anything weve built before and has the most advanced graphics ever in a mobile device. I have a feeling Apple might take issue with that claim, but it was likely true when Nintendo and Nvidia started collaborating on the console. More to the point, the Switch 2 will obviously shred an iPhone in practice. Ive enjoyed playing the occasional ambitious ports to Apples platforms as a technical exercise, like Death Stranding and Resident Evil 4, but its hard to imagine the iPhone 16 Pro ever getting a better version of Cyberpunk 2077 than the Switch 2 version I just spent a couple of hours with. Its a hugely impressive port that runs at 40fps in its performance mode while looking dramatically sharper than the PC version on my Steam Deck. The Switch 2 is less powerful than competing home consoles, of course, but its the overall package that impresses. Although the screen size has increased, this is still a relatively thin and light device that turns in excellent performance compared to much bulkier PC-based handhelds. Its the payoff for Nintendo going all-in on ARM-based hardware nearly a decade ago.The biggest trade-off is the battery life; you shouldnt expect more than two to three hours of endurance when playing demanding games. But thats comparable to a lot of PC handhelds, and Nintendo and Nvidia will likely be able to eke out more efficiency in future models by switching to a newer manufacturing process. TV connection Even when connected to a TV, the Switch 2 feels like a modern system, with its 4K UI and snappy loading times thanks to the faster flash storage. Its a huge quality upgrade on its predecessor, which was stuck with 720p menus and a torturously slow online store. Of course, that original Switch also felt quite advanced for the time upon its launch. It was based around Nvidias Tegra X1 chip, which failed to get much traction in tablets but turned out to be a great fit for a handheld gaming device. It had the advantage of a brand new form factor and the ability to run games that no one had ever imagined could be taken on the go. But as a portable machine it was clunky, and as a home console there was a much bigger gap between it and its competitors. Occasional miracle ports like The Witcher 3 or Doom Eternal aside, the Switch generally made do with a separate library of software. These days, though, developers are used to scaling games down to less capable machines, whether its the Steam Deck, the PS4, or the Xbox Series S. The Switch 2 will have a better shot at running a lot of the software that comes to high-end hardware. It still isnt going to be the platform of choice for hardcore gaming enthusiastsno handheld ever will. But I do think its the first Nintendo system that feels like a refine device at the top of its class on day one. {"blockType":"creator-network-promo","data":{"mediaUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2025\/03\/multicore_logo.jpg","headline":"Multicore","description":"Multicore is about technology hardware and design. It's written from Tokyo by Sam Byford. To learn more visit multicore.blog","substackDomain":"https:\/\/www.multicore.blog","colorTheme":"salmon","redirectUrl":""}}
Category:
E-Commerce
After nine long years, McDonalds has finally announced the revival of the Snack Wrap, one of its most belovedand most copieddiscontinued menu items. To herald the wraps return, the brand made an entire digital archive dedicated to documenting fans fervor for the Snack Wrap. The wrap returns after a number of other fast food chains, including Burger King, Wendys, Chic-fil-A, and, most recently, Popeyes, have made their own dupes of the item in its absence. McDonalds’ attempt to reclaim its Snack Wrap dominance comes as the company continues to face difficult financial headwinds; reporting its second consecutive quarter of sales declines in its first-quarter financial report on May 1. Now, the company is betting on fans Snack Wrap nostalgia to score a boost this summer. [Photo: McDonald’s] On McDonalds’ official website, a cryptic official statement from Joe Erlinger, McDonalds USA president, simply reads, Its back. Accompanying the statement, though, is the link to a website called the Snack Wrap Files thats a wealth of Snack Wrap-based information. Per the site, the Snack Wrap will be made with McDonalds’ McCrispy Strips in two flavors: ranch or spicy. It will be available as a combo meal and, at last, it has secured a spot as a permanent menu item. The Snack Wrap Files also serves another purpose: The site, which has a simple, early web vibe, is an archive dedicated to all of the times that McDonalds fans have yearned for the Snack Wrap since 2016. [Screenshot: McDonald’s] It’s back. According to its FAQ section, the Snack Wrap Files was created to highlight the bond fans have with the Snack Wrap. The Snack Wrap was phased out nationally in 2016, but it never left fans hearts, the website reads. From countless social media posts to full-fledged petitions, they never gave up on their favorite menu item. Theyre the ones who inspired us to make its return to the menu happen. And McDonalds is dedicated to spinning that return into a dramatic, full-blown campaign. Currently, there are 10 folders on the Snack Wrap Files site, three of which are unlocked for public viewing. A countdown at the top of the page marks the time remaining before the other seven files are unlocked. In the Media Materials folder, users can find official photos of the new Snack Wrap and FAQs about its return. Under BTS, they can take a peek behind the curtain at McDonalds’ creative team poring over Snack Wrap ad materials. But The Fandom folder is where the site really shines. [Screenshot: McDonald’s] Within this section, the McDonalds team has compiled a highlight reel of fans most fervent pleas for the Snack Wraps return. Some are on the tamer side, like an email that reads, Is it true youre bringing back the Snack Wrap??!! I will be so excited!!!!!! and another sharing, In fact I am 13 weeks pregnant and my biggest craving is something I cant have. I am due July 14th, 2025. Will snack wraps be back before then? Please just give me a hint. Others take a more desperate tone. Where is the snack wrap. You guys promised me 2025, it is 2025. I do not see the snack wrap. Please get back to me, this is an important matter, reads one inquiry. When the snack wraps are dropped Im going to do a challenge where I try and eat 1,000 in a calendar year, another says. If I record myself and post it on tik tok or something will you give me a reward? [Screenshot: McDonald’s] One emailer resorted to a direct threat: I hope youre not playing with our emotions because I swear to god the people of the US will riot if you pull the rug from underneath us! Whew. In three days, 23 hours, and 40 minutes (at the time of this writing), the Snack Wrap File’ cryptic “Reaction Clips,” “Merch Concepts,” “Internal Emails,” “Promo Codes,” “Playlist,” “Voice Note,” and “Credits” folders will be unlocked.
Category:
E-Commerce
Six weeks before UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down outside a Manhattan hotel in December, suspect Luigi Mangione mused about rebelling against “the deadly, greed fueled health insurance cartel” and said killing the executive “conveys a greedy bastard that had it coming,” prosecutors revealed Wednesday.The Manhattan district attorney’s office quoted extensively from Mangione’s handwritten diaryhighlighting his desire to kill an insurance honcho and praise for Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomberas they fight to uphold his state murder charges. They also cited a confession they say he penned “To the feds,” in which he wrote that “it had to be done.”Mangione’s lawyers want the state case thrown out, arguing in court papers that those charges and a parallel federal death penalty case amount to double jeopardy.They also want state terrorism charges dismissed, have asked for the federal case to go first and say prosecutors should be barred from using evidence collected during Mangione’s arrest, including a 9mm handgun, statements to police and the diary.Manhattan prosecutors contend that there are no double jeopardy issues because neither case has gone to trial and because the state and federal prosecutions involve different legal theories.His lawyers say that has created a “legal quagmire” that makes it “legally and logistically impossible to defend against them simultaneously.”The state charges, which carry a maximum of life in prison, allege that Mangione wanted to “intimidate or coerce a civilian population,” that is, insurance employees and investors. The federal charges allege that Mangione stalked an individual, Thompson, and do not involve terror allegations.Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty in both cases. No trial dates have been set.Mangione’s “intentions were obvious from his acts, but his writings serve to make those intentions explicit,” prosecutors said in Wednesday’s filing. The writings, which they sometimes described as a manifesto, “convey one clear message: that the murder of Brian Thompson was intended to bring about revolutionary change to the healthcare industry.”They quoted excerpts in which Mangione discussed options for the attack, such as bombing UnitedHealthcare’s headquarters, before deciding to target the company’s investor conference in Manhattan. He wrote about plans to “wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention” because it was “targeted, precise and doesn’t risk innocents.”UnitedHealthcare, the largest U.S. health insurer, “literally extracts human life force for money,” Mangione wrote, envisioning the news headline, “Insurance CEO killed at annual investors conference.”The company has said he was never a client.Mangione is due back in state court June 26, when Judge Gregory Carro is expected to rule on his request for dismissal.His lawyers asked Tuesday for his handcuffs and bulletproof vest to be removed during the hearing. They called him a “a model prisoner, a model defendant” and said the security measures would suggest to potential jurors that he is dangerous. Carro has not ruled on that.Mangione’s next federal court date is Dec. 5, a day after the one-year anniversary of Thompson’s death.Surveillance video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind as he arrived for the conference Dec. 4 at the New York Hilton Midtown. Police say “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were scrawled on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase commonly used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.Mangione was arrested Dec. 9 at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) to the west, and he is being held in a federal jail in Brooklyn.Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has called the ambush “a killing that was intended to evoke terror.”U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in April that she was directing federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for “an act of political violence” and a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.”The killing and ensuing search for Mangione rattled the business community while galvanizing health insurance critics who rallied around him as a stand-in for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty bills. Supporters have flocked to his court appearances and flooded him with mail.Mangione “demonstrated in his manifesto that he was a revolutionary anarchist who would usher in a better healthcare system by killing the CEO” of one of the biggest U.S. companies, prosecutors wrote. “This brutal, cowardly murder was the mechanism that defendant chose to bring on that revolution.” Michael R. Sisak, Associated Press
Category:
E-Commerce
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