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April’s rolling fast, and this week’s gaming news (April 7–10) is packing heat. Nintendo’s Switch 2 pre-order buzz is deafening, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is feeling the sales pinch despite a hot patch, and the industry’s churning with updates and rumors. Here’s what’s shaking the scene as of 2:01 PM EDT today.Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Order Frenzy Kicks OffYesterday, April 9, Nintendo opened pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2, launching June 5 at $449.99 standalone or $499.99 with Mario Kart World. That April 2 Direct—Nintendo’s longest ever—unleashed a torrent: magnetic Joy-Cons, a beefier display, and launch titles like Kirby Air Riders and a steampunk FromSoftware tease. X is ablaze with fans predicting a sellout, especially after Mario Kart World’s 24-racer chaos stole hearts. Street Fighter 6 and Elden Ring ports are confirmed, while Metroid Prime 4: Beyond dazzles with upgraded visuals—still slated for 2025. Posts on X lean hyped but wallet-shy; $450’s steep, but the vibe’s “Nintendo’s back, baby.”Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Patch Helps, Sales Don’tAssassin’s Creed Shadows (out March 20) is a tale of two fates. Tuesday’s patch (April 8) tackled fan gripes—auto-follow mounts, multi-item dismantling, uncapped hideout FPS, and PS5 Pro perks—earning nods on X for “finally listening.” Creative director Jonathan Dumont told GamesRadar+ at GDC they’re eyeing an even tougher difficulty mode, too. But sales? Ouch. Despite hitting 3 million players and 40 million hours played (Ubisoft’s March 27 flex), it’s slipping. Steam charts show it lagging Monster Hunter Wilds, and X posts call it “Ubisoft’s softest AC launch.” Bugs linger—crashing cutscenes, glitchy stealth—and microtransactions sting. Early buzz pegged it as a top-five U.S. seller (GameSpot, March 31), but only Wilds outdid its first week. The shine’s dimming fast.Xbox Handheld Rumors Gain TractionMicrosoft’s “Project Keenan”—a late-2025 Xbox handheld—keeps simmering. Windows Central’s Jez Corden doubled down this week, hinting at a portable Flight Simulator and Halo: Master Chief Collection for Switch 2 and PS5 too. X is split: some drool over “Game Pass anywhere,” others scoff—can Xbox nail hardware after the Red Ring days? With Switch 2 and Steam Deck flexing, Microsoft’s timing feels right, but it’s still whispers. GDC 2025 (ending tomorrow, April 11) might spill more.April Fools’ Echoes and UFC RipplesLast week’s April Fools’ pranks still echo—Palworld’s dating sim stunt added a Steam hub, and PUBG’s playable gag scored rewards. X loved Sonic’s Weekly Hedgehog headlines, but the laughs are fading. Meanwhile, Nabil Anane’s March 23 upset over Superlek at ONE 172 has UFC 5 fans on X clamoring for roster tweaks—Nabil’s stock is up, Superlek’s might dip. No word from EA yet, but fight game chatter’s alive.Current Champs Hold StrongMonster Hunter Wilds (February 28) is untouchable—Capcom’s “record engagement” claim holds as it rules Steam and Twitch. Split Fiction (March 6) keeps its 90 Metacritic crown, with X dubbing it “co-op gold.” WWE 2K25 (March 14) slams on, boosted by NCAA March Madness crossover streams. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (April 24) looms large after Future Games Show hype—Microsoft’s dropping it on PS5 alongside Forza Horizon 5 this month. April’s stacked.The Wrap-UpThis week’s a rollercoaster: Switch 2’s pre-order madness has us buzzing, Shadows patches up but sales slump, and Xbox handheld dreams tease the future. Wilds and Split Fiction keep dominating, while Expedition 33 waits in the wings. What’s your play—grabbing a Switch 2, sticking with Shadows, or eyeing that Xbox portable? Drop it below—I’m all ears.
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