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Hints and answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 192, for Thursday, April 3.

Hints and answers for Connections for April 3, No. 662.

• Semimetals promise more efficient conductivity, outperforming copper in energy use
• Copper’s limitations drive the search for semimetals like niobium phosphide
• Niobium phosphide conducts electricity better, even at nanometer thicknesses

For nearly two centuries, copper has been the standard for electrical conductivity, used in wiring, microelectronics, and computing - but as electronic devices become portable power stations, it's clear that copper is reaching its physical limits.

To that end, recent research at Stanford University has shown niobium phosphide can outperform copper in ultra-thin films, making it a promising candidate for nanoscale electronics.

Researchers are exploring semimetals as a potential alternative because these materials possess unique electronic properties that could enhance efficiency, minimize energy loss, and improve performance in next-generation technology.

Unlocking new possibilities in conductivity

Unlike traditional metals, semimetals such as niobium phosphide exhibit distinctive band structures and topological properties, allowing for improved electron transport.

Niobium phosphide (NbP) thin films exhibit much lower resistivity than copper at nanometer scales. As the film thickness decreases, the resistivity of NbP decreases as well, reaching just one-sixth of copper's resistivity at a similar thickness.

At approximately 1.5 nanometers, NbP has a resistivity of about 34 microohm-centimeters at room temperature, significantly outperforming copper’s resistivity of around 100 microohm-centimeters at similar scales.

“Better materials could help us spend less energy in small wires and more energy actually doing computation,” said Eric Pop, a professor at Stanford’s School of Engineering.

The problem with copper is that it becomes less effective as it gets thinner, particularly below 50 nanometers, and struggles to handle rapid electrical signals, resulting in energy loss as heat, yet the Stanford team discovered that NbP, even at just five nanometers thick, conducts electricity more efficiently than copper due to its topological nature, where the material’s outer surface is more conductive than its core.

“Now we have another class of materials – these topological semimetals – that could potentially act as a way to reduce energy usage in electronics,” said Akash Ramdas, a doctoral researcher involved in the study.

One of the key advantages of niobium phosphide is its compatibility with existing semiconductor technologies, as it can be deposited at just 400°C, a temperature low enough to avoid damaging silicon chips. This means it could be integrated into current manufacturing processes without requiring expensive redesigns.

The Stanford team is now exploring other topological semimetals that could further improve performance and efficiency.

“This kind of breakthrough in non-crystalline materials could help address power and energy challenges in both current and future electronics,” Pop explained.

However, there are challenges in making NbP a viable commercial material, such as maintaining the correct layer tolerances during production, as variations in the thickness of the seed Nb layer can impact the resistivity and quality of the NbP film.

As the demand for smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient devices grows, semimetals could play a crucial role in shaping the future of microelectronics. If research continues to advance, nanometer-thick semimetal conductors may soon replace copper in high-performance computing, setting a new standard for electrical conductivity.

Via IEEE Spectrum

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Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 396 for April 3.

Following the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, we've got our first glimpse at how Nintendo might make use of its new top-mounted USB-C port.

When Nintendo unveiled the new Switch 2, the secondary USB-C port caught my attention. No, not because I want a more convenient charging port for playing in tabletop mode or because I use wired controllers and can't be bothered to re-plug them into the dock's USB-C ports.

Instead, I was mostly excited by what this new port could represent for the Switch 2's future accessories, and Nintendo delivered with its new Nintendo Switch 2 Camera.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

As part of its latest livestream, Nintendo unveiled GameChat, which utilizes the new Camera for video calls, in-game AR features, and emotes. It'll be available at launch – June 5, 2025 – for $49.99 / £49.99.

As of this writing, we haven't seen any single-player games use the camera, but in time, you may be able to use it for motion-capture games like the good old heyday of EyeToy and Kinect gaming.

My hope, however, is that the Camera is only the beginning. I'd love to see the likes of the Super Scope 6, the Game Boy Camera and Pocket Printer, or even the Wii's Balance Board.

In an otherwise slightly underwhelming Direct with no major first-party launch titles to catch my eye beyond Mario Kart World, this second USB-C port and its peripheral potential remains one of the most interesting developments in the console.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct has been a rollercoaster of emotions with highs like the GameCube game announcements for Switch Online and the Mario Kart World showcase, and then lows like the eye-wateringly high prices.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $449.99 in the US or £395.99 in the UK (AU pricing is TBC), games like Mario Kart will set you back $79.99 / £74.99, and that cute Welcome Tour title that will explain the console’s features to you? You'll have to pay for that as well.

Cue the Michael Scott reaction:

That can’t be true, you must be thinking. I thought the same, but the official Nintendo of Europe account on Twitter – complete with Gold verification checkmark – described it as a “a paid downloadable launch title for Nintendo Switch 2.” There’s no more solid confirmation than hearing it from Nintendo itself.

Discover all the secrets inside your new console with #NintendoSwitch2 Welcome Tour, a paid downloadable launch title for Nintendo Switch 2. pic.twitter.com/X4SqIPDRtJApril 2, 2025

When the Direct’s Welcome Tour trailer showed us a handful of minigames and digital information desks detailing overly in-depth information on the magnets in the new Joy-Cons my initial reaction was that it looks like a harmless interactive manual and eventual bloatware – the sort of software we’ll hop into for a few minutes while we wait for our actual games to finish installing and eventually delete when we run out of Switch 2 storage.

It didn’t once cross my mind that Nintendo would charge anyone to 'play' Welcome Tour. Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but frankly even $1 / £1 feels too high.

I know this title would have taken time to develop and to fill with demos and info, but surely its cost could have been eaten up by the high Switch 2 price? Right?

I was cautiously excited for the Nintendo Switch 2, and the Direct mostly morphed that into true anticipation. June 5, 2025 was marked on my calendar, and as hype grows I could see myself putting in a preorder despite my promise to myself that a new Mario Kart wouldn’t be enough of a draw.

Now, with this Welcome Tour announcement, and several other missteps, I’m just feeling deflated by the whole launch. Hopefully my frustrations will mellow out in the coming days, but in the Switch 2 vs Steam Deck battle, in my mind the Nintendo console is in a losing position for now.

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Commentary: The original Switch rekindled my love of gaming, but Nintendo has done little to entice me to upgrade.

• MediaTek challenges Broadcom in Google's evolving AI hardware strategy
• Next-gen TPU aims for better AI processing and lower costs
• Google diversifies AI chip supply, reducing reliance on Broadcom

MediaTek and Google will collaborate to develop the next-gen tensor processing units (TPUs), a move which means Google will likely be reducing its reliance on Broadcom in its AI tools hardware business strategy.

The aim of this collaboration is to design an affordable and energy-efficient TPU, produced by TSMC and will likely launch as part of Google’s 7th-gen TPU series.

While Google will lead the overall design, MediaTek will handle input/output modules to facilitate communication between the processor and peripherals, marking a shift from Broadcom’s previous role in TPU core development, though Google is not cutting ties with Broadcom entirely.

Developing more efficient AI processors

Google’s TPUs, designed for demanding AI computations and essential for training the best LLMs, will reportedly see improved efficiency and performance, addressing the increasing demand for powerful AI processing.

Google has been developing its own AI server chips for internal use and cloud services to reduce reliance on external providers like Nvidia, whose dominance in AI hardware contrasts with Google’s push for a more self-sufficient ecosystem through TPU investments.

Meanwhile, Mediatek has been expanding its presence in AI chip development, including partnerships in AI supercomputers.

Ine arly 2025, the company announced an AI supercomputer project collaboration, with its latest partnership with Google aligning with its broader strategy to strengthen its position in the AI industry.

If this collaboration is successful, it may influence the development of the best LLM models by making AI processing more efficient.

Via UDN

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The Switch 2 will work only with microSD Express cards, so it's likely your old Switch card won't do the trick. We've found all the places where you can pick up a new one before the launch.

If you’ve got your eyes on the Nintendo Switch 2 and are in the US, Best Buy might be your best place to secure the hybrid console.

That’s because Best Buy will open at midnight ET / 9pm PT on launch day so that those who secure a pre-order can pick up the console as soon as possible on June 5.

The pre-orders are set to start on Wednesday, April 9, and to be in the best position to get the Switch 2 as soon as possible, you’ll want to pre-order through the BestBuy.com website or the Best Buy Mobile App.

Best Buy is one of the best places to pre-order gaming gear, and we envisage it being the same for the Nintendo Switch 2 - it should have plenty of stock, too, we hope. All you can do at the minute, though, is register your interest

“There are some moments gamers don’t forget, and one of those is the excitement and anticipation that comes with being one of the first to get the hot new console on launch night,” said Patrick McGinnis, chief merchandising officer at Best Buy. “We can’t wait to bring that moment to life with the Nintendo Switch 2, and help customers level up their gaming experience.”

There’s more good stuff, too, if you’re a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total member. For every $150 spent on Nintendo hardware, accessories, and games, you can get a $20 Best Buy certificate, ramping up to $100 worth. There’s a caveat: This offer is only valid from April 2 to August 3.

While I expect the Switch 2 to be offered by a whole range of the big US retailers, I’d cautiously suggest that Best Buy might be one of the best places to go to in order to secure the new Nintendo console; the retailer tends to be one the the companies that has healthy amounts of stock for such devices.

Given the massive success of the original Nintendo Switch, if you’re super-keen on the Switch 2, I’d suggest you be prepared to get a pre-order in so that you’re not left disappointed on its release day.

And as a reminder, the Switch 2 on its own will be $449.99 or $499.99 with a download code for Mario Kart World.

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It's not hyperbole to say we're in the midst of a golden age of video game adaptations.

From Arcane, Fallout, and The Last of Us TV shows, to the Sonic the Hedgehog films and The Super Mario Bros Movie on the big screen, there have been plenty of fantastic animated, live-action, and hybrid reimaginings to enjoy recently.

That's not to say there hasn't been the occasional dud and, unfortunately, A Minecraft Movie falls squarely into that category. Lacking a clear identity, and at times hideous and garish to look at, Warner Bros' take on the best-selling game of all time isn't the blockbuster video game adaptation I was hoping for.

Press play

Four human outcasts accidentally travel to the Overworld, aka Minecraft's block-based universe (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

A Minecraft Movie tells the story of four human misfits who are inadvertently transported to the Overworld, a surreal, cube-based reality where your imagination is the only limitation to what you can craft.

However, the quartet – washed-up gaming champion Garrett (Jason Momoa), struggling realtor Dawn (Danielle Brooks), and orphaned siblings Henry (Sebastien Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Myers) – soon realize that this idyllic dimension isn't all it seems.

It's hard not to be impressed by... how incredibly faithful A Minecraft Movie is to Mojang's hugely popular sandbox game

When the malevolent Piglin leader/sorceress Malgosha (voiced by Rachel House) learns that the group possesses the Orb of Dominance, a magical cube that grants its wielder unlimited power, she sends her Nether-based forces after them. Cue Henry and company teaming up with Steve (Jack Black), another human outcast who's made the Overworld his home, to stop the Orb falling into Malgosha's hands – or, rather, hooves.

Right off the bat, it's hard not to be impressed by the scope of this film, nor how incredibly faithful A Minecraft Movie is to Mojang's hugely popular sandbox game.

Indeed, the attention to detail is tremendous. From the gorgeous, block-based backdrops, whose draw distance adds to the movie's scale, to the sheer number of Minecraft references and other gaming secrets dotted throughout its 100-minute runtime, A Minecraft Movie is a near-perfect example (from an Easter egg viewpoint, anyway) of a video game adaptation done right.

Many Minecraft fans have taken exception to its movie adaptation's art style (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Legendary Pictures)

Unfortunately, that's where A Minecraft Movie's positives largely begin and end. Awestruck though I was by the background imagery, Warner Bros' live-action-animated hybrid flick isn't pleasant to look at.

That's being polite about its visuals, too. When its first trailer dropped last September, I couldn't decide if A Minecraft Movie looked beautiful or horrifying. Having seen the full film and spoken to its director, Jared Hess, about its incredibly divisive visuals, which he described as being "taken out of context" by audiences, I'm firmly entrenched in the latter camp.

Warner Bros' live-action-animated hybrid flick isn't pleasant to look at

Whether it's the uncanny valley nature of the fauna that inhabits the Overworld or the film's fleshy, nightmare-fuel-inducing take on Minecraft's villager contingent, I just couldn't get on board with its aesthetic.

There's no reason, as some long-time fans like Alumio on YouTube have demonstrated, that A Minecraft Movie couldn't have stuck with the game's block-based, pixel art style. In fact, I'd argue it would have a far better chance of not only succeeding but also getting fans on side if its creative team had retained the video game's 16-bit-esque visual approach.

Player selection issues

A Minecraft Movie doesn't know who it wants its protagonist to be (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

There's little to shout about on the human cast front, too.

For one, A Minecraft Movie doesn't know who it wants its protagonist to be. Yes, there's an argument to be made that Minecraft is more enjoyable as a multiplayer experience than a single-player one. From that perspective, it makes sense to build the movie's plot around an ensemble and ensure each character, who all possess unique personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, has their fair share of screentime.

A Minecraft Movie doesn't know who it wants its protagonist to be

A Minecraft Movie fumbles the bag with this approach. Its prologue, which outstays its welcome by a good 10 minutes, suggests Steve will be its central character. One quick pivot later, though, and Garrett is set up as the movie's primary hero. No sooner has Momoa's character been established as the protagonist than Henry is installed as its champion-in-chief. Simply put, A Minecraft Movie's multifaceted main character energy outweighs the group dynamic nature it desperately wants to emulate.

The subplot involving Jennifer Coolidge's Marlene is the funniest thing that A Minecraft Movie has to offer (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

It doesn't help that it somewhat relegates its female characters to the sidelines.

A Minecraft Movie tries to make Dawn and Natalie feel important to the story, but they're just kind of... there. Character-wise, they're not as fully formed as their male counterparts, which feels like a huge misstep in the current climate. Their burgeoning friendship is only fleetingly explored when the boys are off having much more thrilling adventures, too.

A Minecraft Movie... doesn't devote enough time to establishing bonds between its core cast of characters

But theirs isn't the only dynamic that feels half-baked. A Minecraft Movie spends so much time on slapstick moments and winking to the camera that it doesn't devote enough time to establishing bonds between its core cast of characters.

The exception to that rule is the slightly gratifying expansion of Steve and Garrett's relationship. What starts out as an amusing rivalry, as they attempt to one-up each other, leads to a deep respect for what their former frenemy has to offer. Black and Momoa may be playing archetypal individuals – Black's character, in particular, is just a heightened version of himself – that we've seen them portray many times before, but they play the parts well, so I can excuse their trite character portrayals to some degree.

Refusing to enable creative mode

A Minecraft Movie should be more creative than it actually is (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

What's less forgivable is A Minecraft Movie's lack of innovation from narrative and thematic standpoints.

As I said, Hess and company deserve credit for their meticulous approach to Minecraft's in-game lore and other homages to Mojang's hugely popular video game. But, in a virtual world where creativity is king, A Minecraft Movie's inflexible and derivative approach to its story, and lack of action-based invention, leaves a lot to be desired.

A Minecraft Movie would've shone far brighter if it had been braver on the originality front

There are moments when A Minecraft Movie seems like it's ready to break free from its self-imposed shackles.

Henry and Garrett's respective crafting of a Tater Tot Gun and Buck-Chuckets (the latter being two buckets joined by an iron-link chain) are unorthodox, but at least they're wholly original weapons that aren't copy-and-paste jobs from Minecraft's extensive items list. The movie's final battle does something similar with the leader of an Iron Golem army, too – further evidence that A Minecraft Movie would've shone far brighter if it had been braver on the originality front.

A Minecraft Movie's plot doesn't creep along like one of the game's iconic Creepers do (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Mojang Studios)

I'm always hesitant to criticise a movie or TV show for its plot pacing, especially one like A Minecraft Movie that, at its core, is designed for kids.

However, it gets off to a slow start due to the aforementioned sluggish prologue before performing a dizzying U-turn and barreling through its main quest. It's certainly lean in its make-up and, therefore, tailor-made for young minds with shorter attention spans, but I do wish it had been slightly more methodical tempo-wise.

My verdict

Two questions have dominated my thoughts since the press screening of A Minecraft Movie.

The first – 'Will families and/or Minecraft devotees enjoy this?' – can be answered with an emphatic 'yes'. Whichever way you slice it, A Minecraft Movie is a child-friendly film that's also designed to nostalgically appeal to those of us who have spent countless hours exploring procedurally-generated maps that allowed our imaginations to run wild.

As much as I want to recommend A Minecraft Movie, though, the answer to the second question that's been on my mind means I can't. Whenever I leave a film screening, I always ask myself, 'Did I enjoy that?' and, unfortunately for this movie, the answer is a firm 'no'.

A Minecraft Movie had the building blocks to be a great video-game film, but, for me, it's been crafted on shaky ground, rather than a layer of bedrock. My advice? Quit this game while you're ahead and wait for one of 2025's new movies to be available to stream on Max instead.

A Minecraft Movie launches exclusively in theaters worldwide on April 4.

• GameCube Classics are headed to the Nintendo Switch 2
• The first three titles are The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Soul Caliber 2, and F-Zero GX, coming on June 5, 2025
• Other games like Pokémon Colosseum, Luigi's Mansion, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

Nintendo’s major Nintendo Switch 2 Direct event was brimming with game releases, but forget about Mario Kart World, FromSoftware’s new The Duskbloods and that sweet five seconds of Silksong footage for a minute and join me in celebrating the two actual biggest announcements: Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness are hitting the new console (alongside other GameCube games).

With limited opportunities to capture and train your Pokémon companions adding some real challenge compared to the core series, combined with some incredible music and a unique plot, these spinoffs are my favorites in the whole Pokémon series.

And after misplacing my copy of Gale of Darkness (which is very costly to replace on the secondary market) I’m beyond excited to be able to replay both of these titles again soon.

They’re being released via a new GameCube addition to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. This expanded version of the Online subscription includes access to DLC and exclusive classic console game libraries (including the N64 and GameBoy Advance) for $49.99 / £34.99 / AU$59.95 a year.

The only downside for Pokémon fans is that while these two best-in-class spinoffs have been confirmed to be launching on the service at some point they won’t be available at the new console’s launch.

Instead, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Soul Caliber 2, and F-Zero GX will be the first trio of GameCube titles to hit the service on the Switch 2’s launch date.

One thing to note is that it appears that Nintendo Switch original players with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack won’t be able to access these GameCube titles. Instead, the GameCube expansion will be exclusive to Nintendo’s latest console.

Complete the GameCube setup

(Image credit: Nintendo)

To capture the authentic GameCube experience, Nintendo announced it’s releasing a wireless GameCube controller (complete with the new C button) for £58.99 (likely around $75 based on exchange rates; Nintendo has yet to confirm a US price).

It’ll only be available through the MyNintendo online store, and – to make things more frustrating – you’ll only be able to preorder one if you’re a Nintendo Switch Online member, and initially it will “only be offered to those invited to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2 console” according to the MyNintendo UK store.

This is presumably a move to prevent scalpers from sucking up all the stock before anyone else can react, so just be prepared to jump through some hoops if you’re keen to get this Switch 2 GameCube accessory.

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Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, directed by Frank Capra, 1939.'/>

In 1939, the character of Mr. Smith — played by Jimmy Stewart — spent 25 hours on the Senate floor railing against corruption.

(Image credit: Silver Screen Collection)

Subscribers can play these games and more with a Game Pass subscription.

Vibe coding—creating and editing software simply by giving instructions to AI—enables businesses and individuals to unleash their creativity without requiring a developer. Some worry that vibe coding will replace developers, but that’s not the case. This trend proves that programming is evolving, and those who adapt will find more opportunities, not fewer.

The evolution of AI coding

AI-powered coding assistants have been around for a while. They started as “autocomplete” tools, similar to how your phone predicts the next word when you text.

GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and similar tools boosted developer productivity by helping them finish lines of code, detect mistakes, and suggest improvements.

In fact, software engineering is the field where AI is most commonly applied. To put things in perspective, over 37% of all queries sent to Claude cover tasks like software modification, code debugging, and network troubleshooting.

Even major tech companies, such as Google, now rely on AI for coding—more than a quarter of their new code is AI-generated.

But vibe coding takes this concept even further. Instead of merely assisting developers, tools like Hostinger Horizons, Lovable, or Bolt.new can now generate complete applications based on user prompts.

People with no coding knowledge are creating personal web apps, automating tasks, and even building successful SaaS businesses.

This marks a fundamental shift: AI is no longer just assisting developers—it’s taking on entire development tasks.

While vibe coding is impressive, it comes with notable limitations that make human oversight essential. However, with research advancing rapidly, AI’s coding capabilities will continue to improve. AI already outperforms humans in creative tasks, decision-making, and some other tasks, so similar progress in software development is inevitable.

What AI currently can and can’t do

Basically, current large language models (LLMs) are advanced text predictors. They analyze patterns and generate outputs based on training data, but unlike humans, they can’t comprehend the meaning of what they generate.

AI's lack of true understanding causes several significant limitations:

1. AI can’t think out of the box to find better solutions on its own. It simply generates code based on given instructions and examples from the training data.
2. AI hallucinates and makes errors. In some cases, a subtle mistake or oversight can require extensive efforts to correct later on.
3. To create a large, complex application, users must clearly explain the app's logic to the AI because it’s unlikely to come up with that structure on its own.

In other words, current vibe coding tools are similar to junior software developers. They help non-developers bring their software ideas to life with minimal effort.

That said, complex projects still require more time, deeper expertise, and often the involvement of a professional developer.

The new role of developers

Vibe coding tools are evolving rapidly. In just a few months, we could see significant improvements—bringing them closer to the expertise of mid-level or even senior developers.

Nevertheless, AI will need humans to guide it, test, and refine the outputs. This is where the future developers will step in, ensuring AI-generated code is reliable and secure, managing and integrating different AI solutions, and solving complex and unique challenges.

AI isn’t a threat but rather a tool to solve tedious, repetitive tasks, allowing developers to focus on new, unique challenges, and create innovations.

That’s what we see in our business today. AI fully solves more than half of all client queries, allowing our Customer Success experts to focus more on advanced technical issues.

Adapt or step back

As AI becomes an integral part of software development, the skill set required for developers is evolving. Future-proof developers will need to master AI literacy, prompt engineering, code analysis, debugging, and problem-solving to stay ahead in the job market.

This shift also necessitates changes in education. Schools and universities must integrate AI-powered tools into their curricula to ensure graduates are relevant and competitive in the job market.

Yet, this transformation is not limited to programming. With 400 million weekly ChatGPT users, it’s hard to imagine any industry without AI, at least in terms of intellectual work.

However, rather than replacing human ingenuity, AI helps people be more productive and efficient. Businesses will always need smart people for strategic thinking, decisive action, and driving innovation.

The future of coding isn’t about choosing between AI and human developers—it’s about collaboration. The best developers will be those who know how to harness AI effectively.

This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Nintendo has some requirements for access to Nintendo Switch 2 priority sales
• One of them is a Nintendo Switch Online membership
• It might be an awesome anti-scalper strategy

What if on April 8, you queued up to buy the just fully announced Nintendo Switch 2 and didn't find that inventory was empty before you even had a chance to hit enter? Nintendo might have a fascinating new plan for leveling the consumer gaming console playing field.

The new Nintendo Switch 2 is bigger and better in almost every way than the original Nintendo Switch and even the more recent OLED model. It's got a bigger screen, magnetic Joy-Cons, USB ports, four times the storage, and 4K support (when docked). My personal favorite is support for classic GameCube games.

Even though it costs $150 more than the last model, it's sure to be a hot item and one that you might struggle to get your hands on. Unless, that is, Nintendo's unusual purchasing restrictions make it harder for scaplers to scoop up thousands of units and deplete what is sure to be limited supply.

The requirements, as outlined on Nintendo's How to Buy FAQ page, are simple:

• You must have been the one who purchased any Nintendo Switch Online membership
• You must have had any paid Nintendo Switch Online membership for a minimum of 12 months
• You must have opted in to share gameplay data and have at least 50 hours total gameplay hours.

This is not "one of the above." It's all of them.

On the face of it, I might be against the rules. Who is Nintendo to force us to pay almost $20 a year on a service membership just for the privilege of owning a Nintendo Switch 2? But when viewed through the prism of a reality hurdle, meaning a real Switch gamer who's anxious to upgrade, it makes sense.

Combining that with the one-year of active membership is smart because while it's easy to sign up for Nintendo Switch Online membership today, that won't be enough.

I might also give the last requirement some privacy side-eye. After all, why would I want to share my gameplay data with Nintendo? Who might they share it with?

Still, in this case, it shows, through the additional task of 50 hours of gameplay, that you're serious about the platform.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

All of this is undoubtedly designed to separate real Switch fans from scalpers who will try to flood the zone and use countless auto-generated Nintendo IDs and virtual credit card numbers to scoop up as many Nintendo Switch 2 consoles as possible. They'll then turn around and sell them on third-party reseller sites, eBay, and elsewhere at a significant markup.

These rules could make that difficult, if not impossible.

Looking at it another way, though, I see that this is also a smart strategy for managing supply chain issues. Causal buyers may be cut out of the mix, and what already looks to be a limited supply will only go to the most invested Nintendo Switch 2 buyers.

Nintendo describes the priority availability as going out "in batches...until purchasing on My Nintendo Store is opened to everyone." Who knows when that wil be. It could take all year for Nintendo to open up the purchasing doors.

Gaming supply and demand

The Nintendo Switch was notoriously limited in supply for years and took forever to overtake its predecessor, the Nintendo Wii, in sales.

If Nintendo is successful in selling mostly to real, motivated buyers, that equation may change, and we could go from batches to full availability and have the Nintendo Switch 2 surpass the original Nintendo Switch in sales in no time.

Overall, I applaud this and hope that we see similar loyalty programs applied to the PlayStation 6 and future Xbox launches. It might not hurt to do it with Apple's first foldable iPhone and Samsung's first tri-fold either.

Your best customers are usually connected to your brand through previous purchases and service memberships (look at Apple customers and iCloud).

This is the best way to reward them and ensure that demand and supply stay in balance and that those who deserve to buy your new product get a chance to do so at the original retail price.

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• More than $1.5bn of crypto was lost to scams and theft in Q1 2025, report says
• Most of the funds were lost in the ByBit hack
• Wallet compromise is the most common way people lose their crypto

When it comes to scams and theft, crypto hasn’t had a great year so far. Just in the first quarter of the year, hackers stole more than $1.67 billion across 197 security incidents. This is according to a new report published by blockchain cybersecurity pros CertiK.

The Q1 2025 Hack3d Report says the figure represents a 303.38% increase in value compared to the previous quarter. Across the industry, the average loss per incident was $9,549,339, CertiK further said, while the median loss per incident was $66,303.

The total value of funds returned was $6,390,698, leading to adjusted total losses of $1,662,600,186 for the quarter. Sadly enough, just 0.4% of stolen funds were returned to customers, but that’s basically how blockchain works, since most transactions are irreversible.

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Wake-up call

Without a wider context, these figures could be a bit misleading, though. Almost all of the money stolen fell on just one incident - the ByBit hack in late February 2025.

ByBit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, lost $1.5 billion in Ethereum, in an attack that was attributed to North Korea's state-sponsored Lazarus Group. The hackers infiltrated Safe{Wallet}'s infrastructure, injecting malicious JavaScript that deceived ByBit's security team into approving unauthorized transactions.

Lazarus is one of the world’s most infamous threat actors, deploying enormous state resources to steal cryptocurrencies, which are then used to fund the government’s state apparatus and its weapons program.

“Hackers are using increasingly sophisticated techniques, and it is now more important than ever for blockchain businesses and projects to proactively invest in robust security measures,” said CertiK Co-Founder Ronghui Gu. The Bybit breach is a wake-up call for the entire industry. Security is not simply a competitive edge - it is a shared responsibility.”

The most costly attack vector is wallet compromise, followed by private key compromise, code vulnerability, and phishing.

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