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What's the next Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive planned for 2025?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The next Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive planned for a 2025 release is Mario Kart World, which launches alongside the console on June 5. In addition, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and Survival Kids will also be available on launch day as well. To make sure you're set up and ready for the new Mario Kart, be sure to check out our Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order page.

Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives include a brand new Mario Kart game, as well as a very Bloodborne-esque multiplayer game called The Duskbloods developed by FromSoftware. There are new versions of older Switch games too, that make use of the Switch 2's new chat and camera features.

In terms of upcoming games and Switch 2 launch games the next couple of months are absolutely stacked with Nintendo Switch 2 games. Some are exclusives like Kirby Air Riders, while others are new versions of old games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. One thing's for sure, there will likely be some new contenders for our best Nintendo Switch games list by the end of the year.

Here are the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives to look forward to in 2025 and beyond. We'll only be covering games that have been officially confirmed for release, many of which already have solid release dates locked in. In terms of what games we've chosen to include here, these are either only coming to Nintendo Switch 2, new versions of Nintendo Switch games, or Nintendo Switch 2 versions of upcoming games. We'll indicate where each game sits with regard to these release platforms as we go.

Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives

(Image credit: Future)

There are currently quite a few Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives planned and confirmed for future release on the upcoming console. We've listed them below, alongside their release dates where available.

The games below include those only coming to Nintendo Switch 2, new versions of Nintendo Switch games, or Nintendo Switch 2 versions of upcoming games. We'll indicate where each game sits with regard to these release platforms as we go.

• Mario Kart World - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• Survival Kids - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• Donkey Kong Bananza - July 17, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• Drag x Drive - Summer 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• Kirby Air Riders - TBC 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - TBC 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• The Duskbloods - TBC 2026 (Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive)
• Civilization 7 - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Breath of the Wild - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Tears of the Kingdom - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Tamagotchi Plaza - June 27, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Shadow Labyrinth - July 18, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Super Mario Party Jamboree - July 24, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land - August 28, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar - August 28, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)

(Image credit: FromSoftware) The Duskbloods - TBC 2026

New blood

Let's kick off this list of Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives with perhaps the most surprising reveal of the latest Nintendo Direct. The Duskbloods is a brand new game from Bloodborne and Dark Souls developer FromSoftware. It's a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, and it'll launch sometime in 2026. Beyond that, we don't know too much about it, other than it. being described as a PvPvE multiplayer game. Whether this will be similar to how things work in Elden Ring, with players invading your game, or more akin to what Elden Ring: Nightreign is going for remains to be seen.

(Image credit: Nintendo) Mario Kart World - June 5, 2025

Off the beaten track

Next up is Mario Kart World, which looks set to evolve the tried and tested formula that we all love. This arrives June 5, 2025, alongside the Nintendo Switch console. The big change here is that you'll be able to explore a huge interconnected map, as you race between courses, and explore off the beaten track. Up to 24 players can battle it out in each race, and there looks to be a lot more characters to choose from this time around. Mario Kart World will only be available for Nintendo Switch 2.

(Image credit: Nintendo) Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour - June 5, 2025

Let's show you the ropes

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is another launch game, and one that'll help players get to know the new hardware. Part game, part tutorial, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour will guide you through the console's new features, highlighting the mouse function, the magnetic Joy-Con attachments and more. Interestingly, this isn't free with the console, but it will be Nintendo Switch 2-only when it launches.

Survival Kids - June 5, 2025

Don't go it alone

Survival Kids is the third Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive that'll launch alongside the new console on June 5, 2025. This one is a revival of a 26 year old GameBoy title, adding in seamless co-op play across a series of desert islands. Alongside three others, you'll fish, gather materials, and cook as you explore and solve puzzles. Definitely a game that'll be fun to play with friends, using the new Chat button on Nintendo Switch 2.

(Image credit: Nintendo) Donkey Kong Banaza - July 17, 2025

Go bananas!

DK fans rejoice, there's finally a new Donkey Kong 3D platformer, and it looks absolutely beautiful. As Donkey Kong, you'll explore an underground world teeming with enemies to smash and secrets to unveil. Alongside new allies, Donkey Kong works to foil the plans of VoidCo, a mysterious new group that's got its eyes on the Golden Bananas that are buried in the ground. So far, it's looking like a great mix of Super Mario Odyssey, and the mine-cart mayhem of the best Donkey Kong games. We don't have long to wait either, as Donkey Kong: Bananza launches July 17, 2025 exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.

(Image credit: Nintendo) Drag x Drive - Summer 2025

A whole new ballgame

Drag x Drive is a 3v3 sports game that makes use of the new Joy-Con mouse function. By dragging Joy-Cons up and down a surface, you'll control the character's wheelchair. You can pull off tricks, throw the ball and score points, and even play against other players online. There's no solid release date for this one just yet, only a release window of Summer 2025. Drag x Drive will be exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 when it launches.

(Image credit: Nintendo) Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - TBC 2025

Back to where it all began

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a third-person action game that serves as a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It all plays out in that classic Dynasty Warriors style, with the story set around the Imprisoning War that kicks off Link's journey to save Hyrule with the help of the Zonai. From the looks of things, we'll be able to fight as Princess Zelda against large groups of Ganon's army. There's other playable characters too, like the masked champions from Tears of the Kingdom. This one doesn't have a release date yet, only that it'll launch sometime in 2025, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.

(Image credit: Nintendo) Kirby Air Riders - TBC 2025

The sequel to a GameCube hidden gem

Kirby Air Riders, a brand new title originated from the Nintendo GameCube classic racing-action game Kirby Air Ride, is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this year – directed by Masahiro Sakurai. We don't know much about it yet, though it'll be a flying racing game starring Kirby and his pals for sure. The original featured items that transformed Kirby, giving him abilities like Link's sword. Hopefully this mechanic returns when the game launches some time in 2025.

Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives - new versions of Switch games

(Image credit: Nintendo)

In addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives listed above, there's also Switch 2 versions of existing and upcoming Switch games to contend with. Here are the games being upgraded and receiving separate Switch 2 editions:

• Civilization 7 - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Breath of the Wild - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Tears of the Kingdom - June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Tamagotchi Plaza - June 27, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Shadow Labyrinth - July 18, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Super Mario Party Jamboree - July 24, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land - August 28, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar - August 28, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - TBC 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)
• Pokémon Legends Z-A - TBC 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 edition)

Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives FAQ

(Image credit: Nintendo) Is The Duskbloods only on Nintendo Switch 2?

The Duskbloods is only planned for Nintendo Switch 2 as things stand. This means that it's not likely to arrive on any other platforms, even Nintendo Switch. By the looks of things, this is a collaboration between FromSoftware and Nintendo, so you'll need to pick up the new console to play it in 2026.

Will all new Nintendo games be Switch 2 exclusive?

While some new Nintendo games like Mario Kart World are indeed Nintendo Switch 2 only, there are still games coming to Nintendo Switch. Namely, Metroid Prime 4, and Pokémon Legends Z-A will release on both.

This will likely continue for a while, until eventually, things will move to be Switch 2 only. Even with a new console launching soon, you'll likely be able to play new games on your old Switch for a while yet, though you will miss out on the bigger titles like Donkey Kong: Bananza, and The Duskbloods.

Will Pokemon Z-A be Switch 2 exclusive?

Pokémon Legends Z-A is not a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. At launch, there will be separate versions for both Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. On the new console, it'll run at a better frame rate, and have improved visuals, but the game will be functionally the same on both devices.

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• Fans are demanding that Nintendo "drop the price" of the Switch 2
• The Treehouse: Live chat gets hijacked as fans spam the same request
• The Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at $449.99, while Switch 2 games will cost upwards of $80

The Nintendo Switch 2's controversial price has fans divided, and they're now taking their frustrations directly to the source.

Nintendo's first Treehouse: Live of the week is now live, showcasing some of the Switch 2's brand new games like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Welcome Tour.

However, instead of expressing excitement for the launch lineup, fans are practically begging Nintendo to "drop the price!" of its upcoming console, which is confirmed to cost $449.99 / £395.99.

With over 120K viewers watching, as of writing, it's hard to find just one comment that isn't demanding a lower price tag, with some joking that they will be "spending their life savings" on the console.

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Nintendo Treehouse: Live chat (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

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(Image credit: Future)

While others are blaming United States President Donald Trump for the recent increase in tariffs, there are also fans commenting on the high cost of Switch 2 games.

They're currently retailing for upwards of $79.99 / £75.99 and $89.99 / £85.99, with some arguing that a console and one single game together is simply too expensive.

Following the release of the Nintendo 3DS in 2011, Nintendo significantly reduced the price of the handheld from $249.99 to $169.99, following poor launch sales. Considering the contentious price of the Switch 2, it wouldn't be surprising for Nintendo to pull a similar move if it finds itself in the same situation.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct aired yesterday, confirming that the console will launch on June 5, 2025, with Switch 2 preorders scheduled to open on April 8.

TechRadar Gaming attended an exclusive hands-on preview and spent four hours with the Nintendo Switch 2

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• Here are the Nintendo Switch 2 launch games that you'll be able to pick up and play on June 5
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• Nintendo confirms the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers have been 'designed from the ground up' and I couldn't be happier

We played hours of Nintendo Switch 2 games the same day President Trump announced new global tariffs. Despite the hefty price tag, it's a solid evolution of one of the world's most popular consoles.

(Image credit: NPR)

• Amazon is making some models of Nvidia or AMD GPUs exclusive to Prime members
• A handful of RTX 5000 and RX 9070 models fall into this category
• The idea is to stop scalpers, or at least throw another hurdle in their way

Amazon appears to have made some changes that mean those who are Prime members stand a better chance of buying one of AMD or Nvidia’s new GPUs.

As you can’t have failed to notice, since they launched, it’s been a painful scramble for stock when it comes to Nvidia Blackwell and AMD RDNA 4 graphics cards, with would-be buyers finding it very difficult to secure a GPU.

Club386 was keen-eyed enough to catch (via Tom’s Hardware) that Amazon in the US now has some RTX 5000 or RX 9070 models marked as ‘reserved’ for Prime members. If you’re logged into your Amazon account and are a Prime subscriber, you’ll see these GPUs available to buy. But if you aren’t a Prime member, you won’t see them.

It’s also worth noting that you may not realize that these are Prime exclusives, as that isn’t flagged for those who are logged in – they just see that the GPU is on sale.

To give you a quick example, if you search for RTX 5080 models on Amazon (US), you’ll see that the Asus ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 OC Edition is an exclusive for Prime subscribers, as is the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5080 Gaming OC.

On those pages, those who aren’t Prime members will see a box to ‘Join Prime’ instead of the usual ‘Add to cart’ or ‘Buy now’ options (for those GPUs which are in stock, of course).

There are still more of these (relatively) new Nvidia or AMD GPUs available to everyone than reserved models for Prime members, granted – but there’s more than a handful of the latter.

(Image credit: Future / Asus / AMD) Analysis: Prime movers

What’s the reasoning behind this? Well, it’s another way of tempting folks to sign up for a Prime membership, of course, but it’s also a defensive measure against scalpers.

Price scalping types looking to buy MSRP level graphics cards – or more affordably priced models – as soon as they come in stock, to resell in order to make a profit are a scourge on the GPU world. They’ve made it particularly hard to get hold of more expensive GPUs (Nvidia models in the main), as they can be jacked up to even more ridiculous prices, and we’ve seen exactly this happening on auction sites this year.

Requiring a Prime membership for certain graphics cards at least shields them from some scalpers who, in the main, probably haven’t bothered subscribing to Prime. (Although that’s not to say some price gougers won’t, of course – or that they can’t sign up there and then).

Still, this should make it a little bit easier for Prime members to grab a GPU. Right now, for example, there’s an RTX 5070 overclocked edition from Asus available for Prime members at $700. That’s still a quarter over the MSRP, but there’s always going to be a premium for overclocked models, and in that light, it doesn’t look like a terrible buy. (Or it wouldn’t if the RTX 5070 was a better GPU in general, but sadly, it falls well short of what Nvidia has managed with other Blackwell GPUs).

On the AMD side, equally sadly, more affordable RX 9070 GPUs just aren’t available at Amazon currently, although they have been very recently, as Club386 highlighted. They may turn up once again before long, with any luck, and the situation with Nvidia’s Blackwell graphics cards certainly seems to be improving (dare I say it) on Amazon.

As far as I can tell, this is a US-only scheme for now, and certainly Amazon in the UK isn’t running it (at least not yet, at the time of writing).

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• AMD could be working on a faster RX 9070 Extreme graphics card

Operating system support: CentOS, Linux and Windows

Portability to different platforms

Whilst SPanel is a purpose-built admin panel by ScalaHosting, it is actually available as a standalone tool. It claims to support any virtual or private server and can even be managed by ScalaHosting on Digital Ocean, AWS, and, of course, ScalaHosting itself. The panel is cPanel compatible, which means migration to the platform should be easy, and if you need to migrate by hand, Scala also offers “unlimited migration.” Since it’s a fairly niche admin panel, not many other admin panels have automated importers, so in the rare case that you want to switch to another one, you may have a bit of extra work on your plate.

SPanel offers a no-nonsense pricing structure, which we really appreciate. Instead of holding back features for more expensive plans, it offers the kitchen sink, including unlimited websites, on all plans and instead charges per user. This makes it great if you’re looking for a budget-friendly control panel and have lots of websites to host, but primarily for your own use. Even for reselling, it works out slightly cheaper than the alternatives. However, reselling often demands a more flexible control panel to match customers’ varied demands, so we’d still recommend resellers splash slightly more money on a more mature control panel such as Plesk or cPanel. All plans also include 24/7 server management and support, which can be worth the monthly fee alone for those who need a little extra hand-holding.

Ease of use

When software is designed for both technical and non-technical users, there’s always a risk that an overly simplified user interface can limit the control you have over the underlying software. Thankfully, SPanel does a great job explaining the technical parts without removing any control. SPanel’s creators, ScalaHosting, have a wealth of experience dealing directly with hosting customers, and that really shines in their user interface. Whilst the user interface does work on mobile, it would be nice to have it optimized so there’s less zooming involved.

Support Web server support

Supports the usual Apache but has a single-click setup for faster drop-in replacements like Lightspeed. It also supports nginx as a reverse proxy, meaning you can have the best of both worlds - using nginx’s lightning-fast performance for static files such as images and CSS files whilst retaining Apache’s flexibility. SPanel really stands out here. There are a lot of easy to setup options and a clear focus on PHP performance.

Database support

Currently, it only supports MySQL/MariaDB, which is enough to host a lot of the most popular apps (WordPress, Magento, Joomla, and Drupal, to name a few), but it would be great to see support for alternative databases such as Postgres, which is gaining in popularity due to the more powerful features they offer. Again, it’s clear that SPanel is laser-focused on traditional PHP & MySQL setups, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if that’s your preferred tech stack.

Language support

Supports PHP and nodejs/Javascript, which is pretty essential. Languages such as Python require manual setup.

Email support

Includes Spam Assasin which is a pretty standard anti-spam tool.

Backups

Every account gets automatic offsite backup.

Extensions and apps

Being an admin panel that is focused on being optimized, SPanel understandably doesn’t boast a huge range of extensions. Like most other panels, there’s support for Softaculous so you have a whole host of apps you can install, but if you’re looking for extensibility in the admin panel itself, then it might be worth looking into cPanel or Plesk.

Security

Automatically set up SPF, DKIM & DMARC for emails, which are special anti-spam records to help prevent your emails from ending up in other people’s spam boxes. It includes 2-factor authentication, which is essential for a high-value target like a server. Regular automatic updates are a welcome addition, even if it does increase the risk of another CrowdStrike debacle. Built-in Let’s Encrypt support means free and easy SSL certificates. It includes a built-in web firewall called SShiel, which uses “AI” to determine malicious visitors. This means potentially more malicious visitors blocked but opens up more scope for false positives.

Final verdict

SPanel is a welcome new player to the market. It clearly has a narrower focus than some of the more traditional admin panels like Plesk and cPanel, but that narrow focus allows it to offer a considerably more optimized experience. Performance has been greatly enhanced with SPanel, which provides very easy options to speed up your website, which is vital for potentially computing-hungry applications such as WooCommerce. It also comes with a fantastic support offering, borrowing expertise from SPanel’s hosting company, ScalaHosting. While you will sacrifice a bit of flexibility with a simpler admin panel like SPanel, if you want to host a standard PHP and MySQL/MariaDB application and you want it to be fast, then your best bet is SPanel. I'd recommend this to people who are hosting their own PHP & MySQL/MariaDB apps and care about performance. It could also be a good option for seasoned hosters who want something easy but aren't afraid to install system packages directly when they need something not supported out of the box.

Hungary said it will start the process to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an ICC arrest warrant, arrived in Budapest.

(Image credit: Denes Erdos)

With RSS.com having a stable 4.9 rating on all major review platforms, we put it to the test to see how it works.

For this RSS.com review, we began with the mindset of a complete beginner to see how easy the features are to use, how easy it is to set up and monetize our podcast, and how much it costs.

Our results? A “complete” podcast hosting provider with all the features you need to easily start and keep your podcast running within a few minutes.

Advantages of RSS.com (Pros)

Beginner’s Best Friend

If there is one thing I love about a podcasting hosting service, it's a clean UI. This, together with features that are not only easy to find but also use, makes setting up a podcast easier.

From uploading your audio file to the description, you can make your podcast live within a minute, even without any experience.

(Image credit: Rss.com)

Affordable Plans With Unlimited Uploads

With RSS.com, you get more for your money. Their plans start at just $11.99/month ($4.99/month for students and NGOs), offering unlimited episode hosting—a feature that many competitors, like Buzzsprout and Podbean, limit by capping upload hours. This means you can create and publish as many episodes as you want without worrying about hidden costs or overage fees, making RSS.com a cost-effective and scalable solution for podcasters of all levels.

Free Podcast Website

As soon as your podcast is live, your episode will be listed on your own website, which is desktop- and mobile-friendly. The website is free and has a media player embedded in it so your visitors can listen to your podcast directly on your site.

Automatic Distribution To Major Podcast Directories

RSS.com automatically distributes your episodes to the majority of its directories and offers guided options for the ones that don’t support automatic requests.

Easy Social Media Sharing

Easily share your podcast episodes across different social media platforms with a click of a button.

Who Is RSS.com For?

After thoroughly testing RSS.com, I found that it is good for beginners. If you’re completely new to the podcasting world, you don’t have to stress out where to start if you choose RSS.com. From signing up until you upload your podcast, the hosting provider will walk you through its visible option and easy-to-understand interface.

It also takes care of the majority of your tasks, like distribution, podcast website, etc., so you can focus on recording your podcast. All it takes is less than 2 minutes to have your podcast up and running.

Using RSS.com: Super Easy User Interface

One thing that stood out about RSS.com was its user interface.

The interface is clean, minimal, and clutter-free. The best part? There is zero learning curve, and the support bell is right at the top-right corner in case something gets difficult (but I doubt you’d find anything too confusing to understand).

If it’s your first podcast, RSS.com helps you navigate the entire process with the options visible on your screen.

After you’ve made your podcast live, the dashboard looks like this:

RSS.com interface

Think of this dashboard as your complete podcast ecosystem that allows you to access any episode/show and helps you create your public website for your show. It shows scheduled podcasts with their date. In the header, you can navigate through the analytics, distribution, monetization, and settings of your podcast, and it also shows scheduled podcasts and the date they’re due to go live.

You can publish new episodes or start a new podcast series from the dashboard.

When it comes to publishing your podcast, RSS.com allows you to either create a separate page (website link) or share a direct link through social media.

RSS.com (Image credit: Future)

You can check analytics and distribution at the click of a button, too. Overall, I’m quite impressed with RSS.com, which is extremely easy to use and understand for non-tech users.

Features Breakdown

1. Auto Transcription

When you upload your podcast, RSS.com gives you the option to generate a free transcript for your podcast. This powerful AI-powered feature supports 14 languages and generates SEO-friendly transcripts for your podcast for better accessibility.

2. Podroll

Love a show and want to share it with your audience? Pin up to 4 shows directly on your profile and let your listeners also tune into them. The feature is available in both plans.

3. Easy Scheduling & Publish URL

For people who love batch creation and busy individuals, you can schedule your episodes in advance. You also get a sharable public URL of your scheduled episode, allowing you to plan promotions and campaigns across social media ahead of the release.

RSS.com (Image credit: Rss.com)

4. Convert Audio to YouTube Video Podcasts

RSS.com uses PodViz to convert your audio podcast to automatically turn into engaging videos that you can share on YouTube. The video podcast contains dynamic visual elements and supports high resolution. Moreover, if you use chapters inside your audio podcast, they will be added atomically in your video, making it easier for your viewers to see them.

5. Embeddable Podcast Player

RSS.com offers a customizable podcast player that you can embed on your website to boost your podcast. This player is fully responsive across all devices, so even if your audience views your website on their mobile or desktop, they can still enjoy the experience.

Furthermore, you can even customize the color palette to meet your brand guidelines. For instance, I embedded my podcast in my blog post, and this is how it looks:

RSS.com (Image credit: Rss.com) How to Get Started With RSS.com?

Once you set up your RSS account, use the steps below to make your podcast live!

Step 1: After signing up, your blank dashboard will appear. Click on “New Podcast.”

Step 2: Add your podcast title, description, and cover art. Next, set up your custom URL.

Add title (Image credit: Future)

Step 3: Add categories, primary categories, and author details. You’re all set with your podcast. It’s time to add episodes inside, and surprisingly, it’s easy too.

Step 4: Click on “New Episode” from your dashboard.

New episode on RSS.com (Image credit: Future)

Step 5: Add your audio file. Following this, fill in all the details of your episode.

Adding details of epsiode (Image credit: Future)

Step 6: Choose whether you want to publish the episode right away or want to schedule it later. You’ll be able to track the process either way.

Podcast Distribution

RSS.com makes podcast distribution easy with automatic to majority podcast directories. You can publish your episode in one place and let RSS.com take care of the rest.

For instance, once you upload your episode, head over to “Distribution” and click on “Submit now.”

RSS.com (Image credit: Future)

The submission usually takes up to an hour, but my first episode was submitted within 30 minutes.

RSS.com automatically submits your podcast on:

• Spotify
• Amazon Music
• Podcast Index
• Listen Notes
• RSS.com Community

For other directories that don’t support automatic submissions, such as Apple Music, iHeartRadio, etc., RSS.com offers a complete guide on how to do it. You can automatically submit your podcast to these directories using the guided methods.

On the other hand, if you want to submit your podcast manually, you can directly copy the RSS feed.

Migration From Other Podcast Hosting to RSS.com

Migrating from one podcast host to another is tricky, but RSS has really made it easy, along with 6 months of free access.

All you need to do is enter your podcast name/RSS feed and submit your email. RSS.com will verify your email and import your show automatically. And the best part of migrating? Your shows will still be available despite being under migration, allowing your followers to not miss out on anything.

(Image credit: Future)

Note: To be eligible for a 6-month free offer for migrating, your show must have at least one episode, and it must be a minimum of 30 days old.

Monetization Options

RSS.com provides plenty of monetization options for your podcast, such as:

• Apple Podcasts Subscriptions
• Sponsorship opportunities
• Donation and Funding

For sponsorships, you need a minimum of 1,000 downloads per month. RSS.com regularly partners with potential sponsors who might be interested in funding your show.

It’s important to note here that sponsorships are not guaranteed despite your meeting the eligibility criteria. The team will reach out when they find the right opportunity for you, and you can decide if you want to proceed with the same.

Rss.com sponsporships (Image credit: Future)

On the other hand, Apple subscriptions and donations are available for everyone, irrespective of the number of downloads.

RSS’ “Value 4 Value” stood out for me and caught my attention. Through its direct partnership with Alby, you can receive real-time payments in bitcoins through ‘bootstagram’ from your listeners.

Simply set up a free account on Alby, and you’ll be able to activate Value 4 Value monetization option.

Lastly, RSS.com is also releasing dynamic ad insertion for larger shows. However, there is still no update on the official release yet.

Analytics and Data By RSS.com

RSS.com has detailed analytics that you can see from your dashboard. The analytics gives you data for up to the last 180 days. You get data for:

• Downloads
• Listeners
• Apps, Directories & Browsers (downloads by countries)

Data & analytics by RSS (Image credit: Future)

You also get a heatmap that showcases unique downloads by week and day.

The data and analytics are clearly displayed and are easy to read. Let’s say you’re a complete beginner. The analytics given by RSS.com will definitely not give you a tough time understanding how your episodes are performing, your audience demographics, etc.

RSS.com Pricing Plans & Options

The pricing and plans of RSS.com are extremely affordable and come with 30 days refund policy.

Compared to other podcast hosting providers that put limits on how much content you can upload in a month (upload hours), all the plans of RSS.com offer unlimited episodes, audio, and unlimited podcast shows (for the top-tier plan).

RSS.com comes with a free trial that lets you set up your account and publish one podcast episode. You don’t need to enter your card details to get the free version. Additionally, it even includes distribution for the first episode as a part of their free basic version.

For the paid versions, it comes with three plans:

• Student & NGO at $4.99/month: Applicable only for students and NGO’s globally
• All in One Podcasting at $11.99/month: Best For beginners and small businesses
• Podcast Network at $18.75/month: Ideal for large businesses or podcasters to host multiple shows

Note: All prices are in USD and for the annual plan. The monthly plan is 25% higher.

RSS.com pricinng (Image credit: Future) Free vs Paid Plan: Do You Really Need to Pay?

The free version of RSS.com sounds great if you’re just testing out the features of the hosting provider before committing to the paid plan. However, you’ll be able to upload only one episode on the free version, and this even restricts you from trying out its scheduled feature (if you’re hitting the publish button for your first one).

Our tip is to thoroughly use the free version to its best and explore all the available features. Once done, go with the monthly plan before committing to the annual one. Although you can cancel your plan anytime without being bound by contracts, we’d still want your money to fall into the right hands that align with your needs.

RSS.com Customer Support & Help

You get a direct support bell icon to browse through their hundreds of helpful articles and tutorials.

You can enter your query, and RSS will automatically show up all the related guides. If the DIY option doesn’t solve your issues, you can submit a ticket to the customer support team with a turnaround time of a few hours to business days, depending on the complexity.

However, I received a response within 23 minutes to my query since it was a short question.

RSS.com customer support response (Image credit: Future) Final Verdict: Is RSS.com Worth It?

RSS.com is a value-for-money podcast hosting packed with all the necessary and stellar features you need to start your podcast. From having your custom podcast page to one-click distribution, it’s a great pick for anyone who is entirely new and wants to start a podcast without any technical know-how.

Meet the authors

Podbean comes at an affordable price and includes all the necessary features you need from a podcast host. So, we decided to put it to the test and explore its features, value for money, customer support, migration process, etc.

For this Podbean review, we tested its basic version and researched other people’s experiences with the platform.

Find out our results and how well Podbean performed in our real-time podcast hosting test below!

Advantages of Podbean (Pros)

1. Easy to Use & Set up

Podbean is beginner-friendly, and setting up everything will take you less than 5 minutes (if you have your audio files ready). Even if you’re a complete novice in podcasting, you will find Podbean quite easy to begin with and host your first podcast.

2. Unlimited storage and bandwidth

Except for the free plan, all Podbean plans come with unlimited storage and bandwidth, meaning they can host an unlimited number of podcasts. And it will even cope with thousands of downloads without hampering your podcasts’ performance.

3. Free podcast recording app

Available on the App Store and Google Play Store, you can download the podcast recording app Podbean, which lets you record, edit, and publish your podcast right from your mobile device. Through the app, you can also invite guest speakers without needing to use your laptop.

4. Excellent monetization tools

Podbean is packed with powerful monetization tools without putting you under restrictions. You can earn money through subscriptions, sponsorships, advertisements, fan clubs, etc., via Podbean.

5. Budget-friendly

Podbean stands as our top pick when we speak about podcast hosting providers due to its value for money. The free plan lets you test out its features, and once you’re enjoying it, you can upgrade to the paid plan, which starts at $9/month.

Who is Podbean Right For?

Podbean is great for people looking for a budget podcast host and video podcasters.

The plan starts at $9/month and includes all the essential features you need from a podcast host. Within a fair price, you get AI-powered features, unlimited storage and bandwidth, advanced statistics, a blog to podcast, video to podcast, etc.

Similarly, certain plans are tailored for video podcasters, and you can easily record or convert your existing video to a podcast with a few clicks. You can also record a new video podcast and upload it on YouTube directly through Podbean.

Using Podbean (Interface)

Podbean has a clean and easy-to-understand user interface, making it easier to publish your episodes.

One-click import audio makes it easier to upload your audio without any learning curve.

User interface of Podbean (Image credit: Future)

Setting up your account and publishing your first episodes took us less than 2 minutes. Similarly, the dashboard comes with all the options to view your podcast, distribute, monetize, etc., at the sidebar.

Upon publishing your episode, you get a free custom landing page that you can share with your audience and even customize as per your branding colors.

Podbean interface (Image credit: Future)

Lastly, you can directly manage (install or deactivate) plugins at the click of a button through your dashboard.

Overall, we’d rate Podbean's interface as beginner-friendly, packed with all the necessary features that are easy to access.

Features Breakdown Podbean AI

The Podbean AI turns your bad-quality audio into the highest quality automatically, but that’s not all it does. The AI-driven solution allows you to optimize, edit, and generate within a few clicks. Podbean AI will cut extra noise, remove filler words, and take care of the filtering.

On the other hand, it can automatically generate titles, notes, transcripts, etc.

Livestreaming & Live Podcasts

Start live streaming and conducting live podcasts where you control everything. Through this feature, you can directly interact with your audience by answering them live. Moreover, your audience can send you virtual gifts that you can monetize and also allow you to create a fan club for recurring revenue.

Convert blog posts into a podcast

Podbean lets you repurpose your blog posts into podcasts easily with the support of 150+ languages and 500+ different accents. You can choose the AI voice, and Podbean will automatically convert it into an audio format, boosting accessibility and repurposing. Note that you get a limited number of credits to use this feature, depending on the plan you pick.

YouTube Video To Podcast

If you already have YouTube videos, you can convert them into podcasts and upload them directly. This is actually great if you want to repurpose your videos for your listeners to hear on the go and diversify your revenue streams through podcasts.

How to Get Started With Podbean? RSS.com's Super Easy User Interface

Once you’ve signed up with Podbean, you can use the following steps to make your episode live.

Step 1: Go to episodes and click on “Publish Episode.” Now, import your audio file or simply generate one from AI with Podbean.

Step 2: Once you import the audio file, add your title and description of the episode.

Using Podbean (Image credit: Future)

Step 3: Once you’re done, click on publish now.

Podcast Distribution With Podbean

Podbean helps you submit your episodes/podcasts to multiple directories, but the process isn’t entirely automatic. Whether you’re on the free plan or the paid one, your podcast will be automatically submitted to Podbean's own directory. However, for other directories, such as Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, etc., you need to manually submit them.

Podcast distribution (Image credit: Future)

Podbean offers a centralized dashboard to simplify submissions to major podcast directories. So, with one click, you can manually submit them.

Note that if you’re on the free plan, you won’t be able to submit your podcast to any directory (except Podbean’s own) unless you upgrade to the paid one.

While submission is one-click, the distribution feature could have been improved with automatic submissions, even for the free plan users. For example, BuzzSprout, its competitor, offers automatic submissions to all major directories, even for free users. In the same way, Podbean could use some fine-tuning here.

Migration from Other Podcast Hosting to Podbean

Step 1: Click on Import Existing Project

Step 2: Tap on Import Existing Podcast and enter your RSS feed URL.

Import existing podcast to podbean (Image credit: Future)

Step 3: Now, select your import option. Note that this process may take some time, depending on your existing podcast size.

Step 4: Once your import is completed, set 301 redirect. You can also customize the URL to fit your requirements.

set 301 redirect (Image credit: Future)

Step 5: Wait for the email, as RSS will update you as soon as the final import is done.

Note here: If you only have a couple of episodes, it’s faster to migrate to Podbean. For instance, we had one episode up, and it took us less than 5 minutes to migrate.

Monetization Options

Podbean has multiple monetization options to make podcasting an active revenue stream, such as:

• Podcast Advertising
• Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Integration
• Dynamic Ad Insertion

You can list your podcast on the Podbean marketplace and allow potential advertisers to find you. Further, you can also charge subscriptions to your readers to access your podcast through Apple podcasts subscription integration, making it easier to make extra money from your podcast directly.

Analytics & Data

Podbean offers quite detailed analytics into how your podcast is performing and also gives detailed insights into your listeners. You can find your analytics under the “statistics” tab on the left side of the dashboard.

Analytics (Image credit: Future)

Through analytics, you can also track your downloads up to the last 24 months. Other than that, you can get:

• Where Your Audience Comes From
• Downloads by Time of Day (GMT)
• Download Sources
• Most downloaded episodes
• User Retention
• Listeners data

Further, you can review the performance of episodes and compare performances from a set period. However, complete insight is only available to paid users. The free version can only have a small overview of their overall analytics.

Podbean Pricing & Plans

Podbean offers a range of pricing plans catering to different types of podcasters, from beginners to large networks.

The free plan offers basic features to test the podcast hosting service, but it comes with limited features. You only get 5 hours of total storage and 100GB monthly bandwidth with the free plan. You also don’t get access to directory submissions. So, if you’re serious about podcasting, you’ll have to upgrade to its paid plan.

Coming to its paid plan, they start at $9/month, offering unlimited storage and unmetered bandwidth. It’s affordable and offers amazing features, including Podbean AI, blog posts to audio, videos to podcasts, etc.

If you’re working with both audio and video, the Unlimited Plus (at $29/month) is a great option that adds 20GB of monthly uploads, though it might feel a bit pricey for those who don’t need video.

Lastly, the Network plan, priced at $79/month, is great for large podcasters and packed with essential scaling features.

Overall, Podbean offers competitive pricing plans with unlimited storage. It’s great for anyone looking for an affordable yet robust podcast hosting provider.

Customer Support & Resources

Podbean has excellent customer support and resources and has positive feedback from people. One of its users also shared their experience (screenshot below), highlighting their prompt response, and we had a similar experience.

Customer support review via TrustRadius (Image credit: Future)

Whether you’re stuck somewhere and need a DIY solution or are starting your first podcast, you can join its dedicated Podcast Academy. This academy contains:

• 24 tutorials
• 8 webinars
• 57 events
• 18 interviews

And all of these are free to check out. You can also check out their separate 70+ articles for help.

Lastly, if DIY doesn’t work, you can raise a ticket with the customer support team, and the average turnaround time is 2-3 business days.

Verdict: Is Podbean Worth It?

Overall, Podbean is worth paying for people looking for an affordable yet feature-loaded podcast hosting provider. It’s especially an excellent option if you want to do video podcasts since it comes with a dedicated plan that offers the same.

You can try its free version to see if it aligns with your requirements before upgrading to the paid version.

Meet the authors

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• Sonos Era 100 is now $199 / £199 / AU$319
• Sonos Ray is now $199 / £199 / AU$349
• Retailers may discount even further

If I were in charge of Sonos, my earworm would be Black Eyed Peas' Where Is The Love? – because since the botched app update in 2024, there have been many cases of users hurtin' and users cryin'. But now the firm has embarked on a new strategy to win back audio fans' love: it's seriously cutting the price of some of its key products.

Sonos has permanently cut the price of two of its key speakers, the Sonos Era 100 smart speaker and the Sonos Ray soundbar.

These are significant cuts: the Era 100 is down $50 from $249 to $199 (£199 / AU$319). And the Ray is down even more, from $279 to $199 (£199 / AU$349).

These aren't the cheapest prices we've ever seen for these Sonos products. But this is a permanent price reduction, not a promotional discount or retailer loss leader.

Opinion: a sound strategy for Sonos

There's no doubt that the Sonos app fiasco did a lot of damage to the brand. But Sonos has made good on its promises to keep updating the app, and while that's still ongoing, the app is in much better shape now.

The app problems seem to have cost Sonos a lot of sales as well as reputation, and the previously loyal customers who've vowed to ditch the brand altogether may not be coming back. And that means Sonos needs to persuade new people to buy into its ecosystem.

(Image credit: Future)

For years, Sonos has positioned itself as the Apple of audio, a premium brand offering a premium experience at not too premium prices. The app problems have made that a much harder sell, and until the app disaster is a distant memory – as it eventually will be; who thinks about Apple's "antennagate" when considering an iPhone? – one of the best tools in Sonos's toolbox is price.

Even before the app problems we felt that these two products were a little overpriced. In our Sonos Era 100 review, we said that the price was pushing it "closer to high-end speakers", where there's an expectation of excellence. Similarly, we felt that the Sonos Ray was "middle of the pack for value". At these newly reduced prices, both products are much more compelling.

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• Online retailers like Very and Smyths opened Nintendo Switch 2 preorders early
• Some fans have already secured their console ahead of the official preorder date, April 8
• Amazon UK is currently accepting invites for Switch 2 preorders

Some online storefronts in the UK opened Nintendo Switch 2 preorders ahead of time, but if you missed out, there may be a way to get your hands on one, too.

Nintendo Switch 2 preorders don't officially begin until April 8, but according to numerous posts online, fans were able to secure their console from websites like Very and Smyths days early.

Unfortunately, these sites quickly sold out of units, and the majority of Very's Switch 2 preorder stock has now sold out – although we sometimes see a few bundles available.

As of writing, however, Argos is currently accepting preorders for the Switch 2 and Mario World bundle, but we're unsure how long supplies will last.

While Amazon isn't taking preorders right now, it is accepting invites for those interested in getting their hands on the console. When you head over to the webpage, there will be a "Request invite" button that will allow you to opt in for a chance to purchase.

"If invited to purchase, you'll get an email with a link that's valid for 22 hours. We won’t be able to grant all requests," Amazon explains.

Meanwhile, US retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart have announced that they will take Nintendo Switch 2 preorders from April 9 with in-store collection or free delivery available on the release date.

It's important to note that even though it may seem that your preorder has gone through on websites offering the console early, some stores may not have stock just yet. We'd recommend waiting until the official preorder date to ensure you've secured one.

The Nintendo Switch 2 officially launches on June 5, 2025, and it will cost you $449.99 / £395.99.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders – quick links

• My Nintendo Store - from $449.99 on April 8
• Amazon - preorder details TBC
• Walmart - from $449.99 on April 9
• GameStop - register your interest
• Best Buy - from $449.99 on April 9

• My Nintendo Store - from £395.99
• Argos - in stock now from £395.99
• Amazon - request an invite now
• Currys - register your interest
• EE - register your interest
• Smyths Toys - in stock from £395.99
• Very - limited stock from £395.99
• ShopTo - sold out
• TGC - register your interest

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the US

The official My Nintendo Store is, naturally, one of the best places to bookmark and keep close by for Switch 2 pre-orders when they go live. You can register your interest now and priority will be given to Nintendo Switch Online members who have an active membership and a minimum of 50 hours playtime as of April 2.

Best Buy is one of the best places to pre-order gaming gear and the retailer has confirmed it will take orders from April 9. You can register your interest now for notifications. Also, Best Buy will do some late-night store openings so you can pick up your console from 12:01am ET on June 5.

No word on pre-orders here just yet, but as the biggest retailer of them all, Amazon is always one of our top places to check for stock. It will likely require you to register your interest or request and invite before the pre-order window opens on April 8, so check back in regularly to get your name on the list.

Old, reliable retailer Walmart has confirmed it will take Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders on April 9, with both the Switch 2 console and Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle listed as coming soon. As a bonus, the retailer also promises free delivery before 9am on launch day when you pre-order at Walmart.

Of course, video game retailer GameStop will be offering Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - and it might even offer some super attractive trade-in deals for your OG Switch.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders - UK links to bookmark

Going straight to the source is never a bad idea, and this is the first place we've seen offering Nintendo Switch 2 preorders. However, there is one caveat: preorders from here will be initially offered on an invite-only basis to Nintendo Switch Online members.

Argos is a superb option if you're looking for that physical store element to your Switch 2 pre-order, and it's available right now. Don't expect stock to stick around for long.

Amazon is giving you the option to request an invite to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2, but the retailer hasn't confirmed if they will be available on April 8 like the official Nintendo Store. However, if you're one of the lucky chosen ones, you'll be emailed a link to buy the console that remains valid for 22 hours.

Very has several Nintendo Switch consoles and bundles available to preorder right now. Stock is extremely limited, though, and seems to be vanishing from sale about as quick as we're seeing it. Because of that, you'll need to move fast if you want to secure a Nintendo Switch 2 from here.

Currys is a terrific option in the UK for pre-orders. Since its reveal, it has been working hard on Switch 2 coverage and taking registrations of interest.

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