This week on Nintendo Pow Block:
Edward Varnell goes solo, discussing how Nintendo is teaming up with the Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance to bring competitive gaming to schools, letting over 80,000 students jump into Smash Ultimate, Splatoon 3, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with free NSO memberships and codes to get them started.
On the flip side, Pokémon scalpers are at it again. McDonald’s Japan had to pull its Pokémon card Happy Meal promo in just 24 hours, and scalpers showed up in full force at the 2025 Pokémon World Championships to snatch up exclusive merch for resale—leaving fans frustrated once more.
Edward also chats about the chances of Tekken 8 making it to Switch 2, Bandai Namco’s accidental tease of a Tales of Xillia remaster, and the surprise arrival of Chibi-Robo on the GameCube NSO Expansion Pack. It’s a fun mix of esports, Pokémon chaos, and some classic Nintendo goodness.
This and more on Nintendo Pow Block!
This week’s Patreon Early Access Episode of Expansion Pass:
Edward Varnell and Corey Dirrig dive into the growing complaints around Game-Key Cards following the recent Partner Direct, and explore potential solutions to the issue. Is this a problem that needs to be fixed—or just the new normal for physical collectors? Only on Patreon for as little as $1.
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.
Nintendo Pow Block – A Nintendo Podcast by Boss Rush
Nintendo Pow Block is a weekly Nintendo podcast hosted by Edward Varnell, Corey Dirrig, and their friends from around the internet. Each week, they dive into the latest Nintendo news and rumors for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, new and upcoming releases, updates to Nintendo Switch Online and the Nintendo Music app, and discuss what they’ve been playing in the Playing with Power segment.
Nintendo Pow Block Podcast – Now your Podcasting with Power!
Switch 2 Rumors, an OLED Model, Kingdom Hearts, & Expedition 33 – Nintendo Pow Block Podcast – Now Your Podcasting with Power!
- Switch 2 Rumors, an OLED Model, Kingdom Hearts, & Expedition 33
- EXP: Xbox's Business Aims to be Efficient, Small, and Discless
- Shantae Returns, New Pokemon LEGOs, and the State of Xbox's Studios
- Rumored Metroid Ravenous Leaks for Nintendo Switch 2
- Celebrating Ten Years & 500 Episodes of Friendship, Games, & Nonsense
Listen to Nintendo Pow Block on Podcast Services
Apple Podcasts + Spotify + Goodpods + Amazon + More Links
Follow and Connect with Nintendo Pow Block: A Nintendo Podcast
X/Twitter + Bluesky + Instagram + Threads + YouTube
Thank you for watching or listening to Nintendo Pow Block, the Nintendo podcast from Boss Rush Network! If you enjoyed the show, be sure to subscribe to the channel, give the video a Like, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode. If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review—it really helps! For more great content, visit our website at BossRush.net. Thanks for your continued support of Nintendo Pow Block and our independent endeavor with the Boss Rush Network!
Expansion Pass – Bonus Conversations by Nintendo Pow Block on Boss Rush Podcast Plus
Boss Rush Podcast Plus from Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network features extended conversations and extra content released first on Patreon and later for free. Join Corey Dirrig, LeRon Dawkins, Stephanie Klimov, Edward Varnell, and guests as they dive deeper into games, the industry, interviews, spoilercasts and review discussions, and the topics that matter to them. Expect longer discussions, candid takes, and side conversations that go beyond the main podcasts.
Listen to Expansion Pass on Podcast Services
Apple Podcasts + Spotify + Goodpods + Amazon + More Links
Follow and Connect with Boss Rush
X/Twitter + Bluesky + Instagram + Threads + YouTube
Thank you for watching and/or listening to Expansion Pass, the weekly bonus conversations by Boss Rush. If you enjoyed the discussion, subscribe and like the video, leave a comment, and hit the bell so you don’t miss an episode. If you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, remember to leave us a five star rating and a nice review. You can support Boss Rush on Patreon at any tier and get Expansion Pass two weeks early and other perks. Thank you for supporting Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network’s independent endeavor. It means more than you know.
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