In this week's Nintendo News Recap, an unlikely source has Nintendo fans rethinking the Game-Key Card controversy: Grand Theft Auto VI.

Now that the physical release of GTA 6 is confirmed to be a code in a box, gamers are starting to realize that a physical cartridge you can lend or resell, even without any actual game data, might not be so bad after all. Does the argument hold any water, or are they still as vile as some would have you believe?

We also look at Nintendo's new R&D center in Kyoto and why we think that's a good sign for the company's future. And now that Star Fox is out in the wild, we roundup some critic reviews and discuss the vibes surrounding a game we've been eager to try for ourselves!

Quick Headlines: Unreal Engine Lighting Update for Switch 2, new Nintendo-inspired hardware from 8BitDo, Rhythm Heaven Groove's eShop demo, daily Splatoon Raiders comics on Nintendo Today!, Star Fox plushies are coming to the US, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment on Nintendo Music, and a Star Fox event in Tetris 99

Time Codes:

00:00:00 Opening

00:18:17 Discless GTA 6 Makes Game-Key Cards Look Better

00:26:48 Nintendo's New R&D Building in Kyoto

00:28:45 Star Fox Review Roundup

00:31:59 Quick Headlines: Unreal Engine, 8BitDo, Star Fox Plushies

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What elements make Nintendo games so special? Instead of trying to rank Nintendo's greatest games overall, we're taking a different approach. We picked 15 different gameplay categories and crowned the single Nintendo game we think does each one better than every other game the company has ever made.

From stealth and storytelling to collectibles, progression, music, puzzles, world design, and much more, every category sparked plenty of debate. Some of our picks are obvious classics, and others might surprise you! Whether you're a lifelong Nintendo fan or just looking for a fresh perspective on some of the company's greatest games, this episode is packed with fun arguments and plenty of opportunities to disagree.

Be sure to let us know in the comments which Nintendo games you think deserve the crown in each category!

Time Codes:

00:00:00 Opening

00:03:24 Exploration

00:10:53 Platforming

00:17:55 Movement

00:22:28 Stealth

00:25:47 Combat

00:30:06 Boss Battles

00:35:40 Puzzle Design

00:41:53 Progression

00:45:13 Collectibles

00:50:18 Level Design

00:56:30 Atmosphere

01:01:18 Storytelling

01:04:16 Music

01:09:52 Multiplayer

01:12:37 Replayability

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Xbox is (once again) struggling, withe reports of layoffs and studio closures coming in the near future. In this Nintendo News Recap, we discuss how we think they got there, what that says about the industry as a whole, and why Nintendo always seems to avoid these kinds of situations.

We also look at data suggesting that Nintendo's June Direct was the most-watched summer showcase, even beating out SGF Opening Night! We discuss a long-awaited (and perhaps too late) update to the original Switch's eShop, and we round up reviews for The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales.

Quick Headlines: Switch Online Bonus Offer, Europe Gets a Pokopia Switch 2 Bundle, Nintendo is Fighting Scalpers in Japan, Standalone Xenoblade 2 Torna Expansion Gets a Free Update, Star Fox's New Graphics Brought 64's Art Director to Tears, and Dispatch Removes (Some) Censorship

Time Codes:

00:00:00 Opening

00:05:22 What is Happening at Xbox?

00:24:21 Nintendo Direct Most Watched Summer Showcase of 2026

00:27:21 Switch 1 eShop Gets MUCH Faster

00:29:36 Adventures of Elliot Review Roundup

00:35:17 Quick Headlines: Switch Online Offer, Torna Gets Free Update, Dispatch Removes Censorship

00:43:14 Out This Week

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The rumored remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has finally been confirmed, so this week we're asking a simple question: if Nintendo fis remaking one of the most beloved games of all time, what should actually change?

We debate whether an Ocarina of Time remake should surprise longtime fans with new content, redesigned areas, and unexpected twists, or if staying faithful to the original is the safer path. Is there room to expand Hyrule and rework dungeon items? Should the game become less linear? And how much change is too much when you're remaking a gaming masterpiece? From graphics and art direction to dungeon design, exploration, combat, music, puzzles, story presentation, and progression systems, we break down the elements that deserve modernization and the ones Nintendo should leave completely untouched.

Time Stamps:

00:00:00 Opening

00:02:56 Graphics and Art Style

00:16:58 Music

00:19:11 Linearity, Dungeons, and Items

00:23:54 Exploration and World Building

00:28:18 Story and Lore

00:32:24 Moment-to-Moment: Combat/Puzzles

00:37:56 Should This Remake Surprise Us?

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Summer showcase season is over, and Nintendo Switch 2 fans have a lot to talk about.This week, we're recapping the biggest announcements from the June 2026 Nintendo Direct, Summer Game Fest, and the Xbox Games Showcase to see just how strong the Switch 2 lineup is becoming.From The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, Xenoblade Genesis, and Switch Sports Resort to third-party heavy hitters like Resident Evil Veronica and Final Fantasy VII Revelation, we're discussing the reveals that stood out most and what they mean for Nintendo's future.Time Stamps:00:00:00 Opening00:07:21 Rhythm Heaven Groove, Orbitals, Rayman Legends Retold00:21:02 Pokopia DLC, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, DK Challenge00:36:25 Xenoblade Genesis, Switch Sports Resort, Star Fox00:47:17 Final Fantasy Resonance, The Duskbloods, Splatoon Raiders00:51:18 Kingdom Hearts IV, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time01:02:55 Resident Evil: Veronica, Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Spyro: A Realm BeyondSubscribe to Podcasting With Power for more Nintendo discussions, news, and deep dives!Socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podwithpowerBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/podwithpower.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@podwithpowerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/podwithpower

As we near the long-awaited return of Star Fox in just a few weeks, we wanted to examine why that wait has been so long in the first place? The series started strong in the 90s, but hasn't really held its ground since. What went wrong with Star Fox?

In this deep dive, we explore the complete history of the Star Fox series, breaking the franchise into distinct eras and examining every major release along the way. We discuss the early innovations that put Star Fox on the map, the peak moment that was Star Fox 64, and the experimental period that left the series struggling to find its identity.

Will this new Switch 2 entry define a new era of Star Fox? What would we want a new Star Fox to look like? Let us know what you think in the comments?

Time Stamps:

00:00:00 Opening

00:03:09 Beginnings (Star Fox/Star Fox 2)

00:08:26 Peak (Star Fox 64)

00:14:29 Experimentation (Adventures/Assault/Command)

00:32:56 Lost Identity (64 3D/Zero/Guard)

00:39:43 Where does Star Fox go?

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We've been Toy Story fans just about as long as we've been Nintendo fans. This week, those worlds collided with the announcements of the Toy Story: Retro Roundup! collection and Toy Story 3: Complete Edition coming to Switch and Switch 2 later this year! We break down why these games have such a special place in our hearts, and which we're most excited to revisit.

We'll also discuss Mina the Hollower's strong start in sales, and the latest Crocs collaboration with Nintendo! Make sure to stick around for our quick headlines, where we'll share some new release dates, a gamebreaking bug in Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and some new additions to Nintendo Music!

Time Codes:

00:00:00 Opening

00:08:37 Classic Toy Story Games Are Back!

00:18:29 Mina the Hollower Sells 300,000 in 3 Days

00:22:13 Super Mario Crocs Collection

00:27:09 New Release Dates, Pokemon Champions on Mobile, Yoshi Bug, and Nintendo Music

00:33:02 Out This Week

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We've finally both gotten our hands on The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, and we're both sold!

In this preview discussion, Jordan and Zachary break down their experiences with the Prologue Demo, covering everything from the gorgeous HD-2D visuals and soundtrack to the game's combat, exploration, and overall feel. We also discuss how the game compares to classic 2D Zelda adventures and whether it has what it takes to stand alongside the genre's best.

Having played a DIFFERENT demo last year, Jordan brings a unique perspective to the conversation as he points out what has changed in the past year of this game's development!

Time Codes:

00:00:00 Opening

00:01:55 Comparisons Between Demos

00:05:26 Dialogue and Performances

00:10:23 Storytelling, Graphics, and Music

00:14:06 Gameplay, Combat, and Difficulty

00:19:14 Our Excitement

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