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This week on Nintendo Pow Block, Edward and Corey discuss their time with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, the new information on a potential Astral Chain sequel, EA’s financial performance, and the cancellation of Earthblade due to personal challenges at the studio behind Celeste. They also dive into Phil Spencer’s Gamertag Radio interview, highlighting Xbox’s potential impact on the Switch 2, take a look at third-party support rumors including Xbox games, and end with answering community write-ins for Question Block.

Listen to Nintendo Pow Block:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Music | Amazon Music | YouTube

Find more links and episodes on the Spotify for Podcasters Landing Page

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Time Stamps:

0:00 – Welcome to Nintendo Pow Block

9:53 – Housekeeping

21:40 – Snacktendo!

31:23 – Playing with Power!

Edward

• Playing With Power
  • Dungeons of Hintenberg (Xbox)
  • Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Xbox)
  • Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
  • Tales of Graces f Remastered
• Weekly Pickups
  • N/A

Corey

• Playing With Power
  • Disney Dreamlight Valley
  • Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
  • Mario Party Superstars
• Weekly Pickups
  • Mega Man 11

Game of the Week: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

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FamiNEWS!

1:11:26 – Astral Chain 2 could finally be in Development, but the Director has left Platinum Games to form a new studio. 

Takahisa Taura, the director of Switch cult favorite Astral Chain, has reportedly left PlatinumGames and established a new company called Eel Game Studio in Tokyo. This follows earlier reports of several key figures departing the studio, including co-founder Hideki Kamiya, which we know has returned to CAPCOM to work on an Okami sequel. While details about Taura’s new venture are scarce, speculation has arisen about potential projects, such as a possible sequel to Astral Chain.

Source Link: Nintendo Everything

Source Link: PlatinumGames Subreddit

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1:33:50 – Xbox is “really looking forward to supporting Switch 2” Phil Spencer said in a recent interview with Gamertag Radio.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer confirmed Xbox’s support for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, expressing excitement about bringing more Xbox games to multiple platforms, including Nintendo. He praised Nintendo’s innovation and success, believing the Switch 2 will also be a massive hit. While no specific game announcements for the Switch 2 were made, Spencer mentioned ongoing collaborations, including the revival of Call of Duty on Nintendo platforms, with rumors of Diablo potentially joining the lineup.

“I want everybody to be able to play on Xbox and it does mean more of our games shipping on more platforms, not just PlayStation – we love the work that we do with Nintendo, we love what we do with Valve on Steam, and that’s going to continue, we’ll just continue to do more of it.”

“Who would ever bet against the success of that team, I mean, they are just masterful in what they do, Switch is a massive success and I think Switch 2 will be as well.”

Source Link: Gamertag Radio

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2:05:45 – Celeste developer Extremely OK Games cancels Earthblade after internal struggles

Extremely OK Games, the studio behind Celeste, has announced the cancellation of their next game, Earthblade, citing internal disagreements over Celeste’s IP rights that caused fractures within the team. Despite efforts to resolve the conflict, co-founders Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry decided the project was no longer worth pursuing, especially given the struggles and exhaustion associated with its development. Moving forward, the team is shifting its focus to smaller-scale projects, aiming to rediscover the joy of game development with a more organic approach.

Source Link: Push Square

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2:08:52 – Nintendo gets a nomination for its trans representation in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake for Switch

Nintendo’s Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Switch remake has been nominated for the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards for restoring the trans identity of the character Vivian, originally altered in the 2004 GameCube release. It joins nine other nominees in the “Outstanding Video Game” category, recognizing diverse and inclusive representation in gaming. 

Source Link: GLAAD.org

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2:17:06 – Surgent Studios, the studio behind Tales of Kenzera: Zau, is working on a new horror game published by Palworld Developer Pocketpair

Surgent Studios, the developer behind Tales of Kenzera: Zau, has partnered with Palworld publisher Pocketpair for a standalone “short horror” game set to release later this year. The project will explore a unique topic and serve as a creative detour before returning to the Tales of Kenzera universe, according to Surgent CEO Abubakar Salim. Pocketpair Publishing aims to support innovative creators like Salim, helping bring bold and unconventional ideas to life.

Source Link: Eurogamer.net

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2:19:25 – EA reports disappointing sales numbers due to the decline in revenue for FC25 and the underperformance or “failure” of Dragon Age The Veilguard.

Electronic Arts reported that Dragon Age: The Veilguard engaged approximately 1.5 million players during the quarter, falling nearly 50% short of the company’s expectations. This underperformance contributed to a downward revision of EA’s financial outlook, with the company now forecasting fiscal third-quarter net bookings of $2.22 billion, below the previous estimate of $2.4 billion to $2.55 billion. The shortfall was primarily attributed to weaker-than-expected sales of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the EA Sports FC franchise.

Source Link: Forbes

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2:26:03 – Will Xbox be the Biggest Publisher on Nintendo Switch 2? A lot more games have been added to the Switch 2 lineup rumor list, including several Xbox Game Studios Publishing, Bethesda, and Activision-Blizzard Games, so lets discuss!

The Switch 2 was officially revealed last week, and while more details will come in a Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025, rumors about software support are intensifying. Insider eXtas1s, known for accurately leaking Game Pass titles, has suggested that major games like Diablo 4, Call of Duty, Fallout 4, Starfield, and Elden Ring will be coming to the platform, along with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Tekken 8. While these titles remain unconfirmed, the growing number of leaks has raised hopes that this impressive lineup may be true. Doom The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden 4, and South of Midnight are also rumored after Xbox’s Developer Direct, meaning Xbox might be the biggest publisher on the platform other than Nintendo.

Source Link: Go Nintendo via Video Games Chronicle

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3:08:36 – PAK Watch and NSO Updates

Available on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo eShop:

1/28 – Cuisineer – A super cute and tasty roguelite-flavored dungeon crawler! Explore a lush world and defeat monsters with your trusty spatula and some boba tea, then gather delicious ingredients and bring them home to cook and serve at your restaurant! 

1/28 – Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos – This is an action game in which players assume the role of a goddess attempting to free her friends from a strange spell. Players ride motorcycles, complete missions, collect creatures (Dogoos), and battle various opponents.

1/28 – Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter – As Arlo, young heir to the Warden of the Wastes, journey through the vast, snow-ravaged lands of the North in an epic quest to overcome the Dark Wings once and for all. Hunt down giant beasts. Unite disparate clans. Upgrade your settlement.

1/28 – The Stone of Madness – The Stone of Madness is a real-time tactical stealth game set in an 18th-century Spanish Monastery. Located in the Pyrenees, this time-worn Jesuit monastery is home to a madhouse and an inquisitorial prison.

1/28 – Warside – Warside is an “action-tactics” game with a bias towards fluid skirmishes and away from turtling. We’re turn-based and fast-paced. All factions have stalemate breaking units for disrupting frontlines. Production changes encourage higher tier units to see more play.

1/29 – Agent Fall – Agent Fall is a retro side-scrolling shooter across sprawling platformer stages, from the desert sands and jet hangars of the surface to mysterious underground labs and waterways. Choose from 4 agents and infiltrate the base in a search-and-destroy operation where you’ve got the ultimate license to kill.

1/31 – Genso Manege – A beautifully produced festival of romance! Follow Emma as she fights to reawaken her magical powers in order to aid a unique cast of characters, all of whom are trapped inside a magical traveling amusement park.

Super Nintendo NSO Updates

• Fatal Fury 2 – One year after the events of Fatal Fury: King of Fighters and the death of Geese Howard, a mysterious nobleman becomes the sponsor of a new “King of Fighters” tournament. This time, the tournament takes place around the world with both veterans and newcomers competing and battling against each other.
• Super Ninja Boy – An action role-playing game released for the Super NES featuring random encounters with side-scrolling battles, although some boss battles are fought with a traditional menu-based system. There are also a few platforming sections. In single-player mode, the main character is Jack.
• Sutte Hakkun – Sutte Hakkun is a puzzle-platformer where players control Hakkun, a penguin-like bird, to restore the shattered Rainbow of Happiness by collecting rainbow crystals. Gameplay involves moving blocks and using color potions to alter their properties, with no time limits or enemies but a score system rewarding efficiency. Initially released in parts via the Satellaview.

Nintendo Music Updates

• 1/20 – Super Mario Kart (SNES) – 37 Tracks

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Question Block!

3:14:53 – Third Party Support and Spreading Releases Out

Name: Sam Hall via YouTube
Question: Hello my favorite Elite Block Agents! I wanted to say I loved the 3+ hour show last week, it was awesome! I am asking a question about the launch window of Switch 2. Do you think third party titles will spread themselves out over the course of the first 6 months or do you think they will release all at the same time? This seems to be a very different launch situation for Nintendo. Thanks for the show and everything you do! 

3:24:23 – Switch 2 Accessories

Name: DaShawn Malone via Email
Question: Hey yall. Do yall think the switch pro controllers and accessories will be backwards compatible just like the games?

3:26:05 – Switch 2 vs. The Other Consoles vs. Steam Deck

Name: Chris Ondecker
Question: Hello Ed and Corey, I am new to the show and I really enjoyed the Switch 2 talk. I have been looking for more Nintendo related content lately and I really enjoyed what I listened to so far. How do you think the Switch 2 will fare against the other consoles this holiday? Thanks again, looking forward to your thoughts.

3:38:47 – Final Thoughts

3:48:02 – Thanks for Watching

Thank you for watching or listening to this episode of Nintendo Pow Block. You can catch new episodes Wednesday on your podcast service of choice, on YouTube, or on our free Patreon tier. Remember if you’re watching the video, subscribe on YouTube, like the video, and leave a comment. If you’re listening, leave us a rating and a nice review. Get this show ad-free along with other perks like early access to Expansion Pass, Video Game Book Club, become a Patreon Producer, exclusive content, and more by heading to our Patreon at Patreon dot com slash Boss Rush Network. Follow us at Boss Rush Network and at Pow Block Podcast on all major social media platforms including Bluesky. And find all of our content, including reviews, daily Banters, features, and more on our website at Boss Rush dot net. Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you next time! Bye everybody!

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FOLLOW OUR HOSTS:

Edward Varnell is the Cofounder of Boss Rush Media, the host of Nintendo Pow Block, and the Director of Nintendo Content for The Boss Rush Network. You can connect with Edward on Bluesky, on X/Twitter and on Instagram.

Corey Dirrig is the Founder and President of Boss Rush Media. He is the host of The Boss Rush Podcast, Nintendo Pow Block, Tower Casuals: The Destiny Podcast, and cohosts a variety of other podcasts and content. You can follow Corey on Bluesky, on X/Twitter, and on Instagram or connect with him on LinkedIn for Business Inquiries.

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