Nintendo Switch has now surpassed the Wii’s lifetime sales in just under five years, making it the fastest home console to hit the 100 million sales mark.
Nintendo announced that the Switch had shipped 10.67 million units between October and December 2021, despite ongoing complications due to the global semiconductor shortage. It means the Switch has now shipped 103.54 million units, overtaking the Wii’s impressive tally of 101.63 million.
Nintendo recently launched the Nintendo Switch OLED model, which the company says has “got off to a good start”, but also poured cold water over a successor being announced anytime soon.
“Switch is just in the middle of its lifecycle and the momentum going into this year is good,” Furukawa said on a call after the company’s earnings report (thanks, Bloomberg ). “The Switch is ready to break a pattern of our past consoles that saw momentum weakening in their sixth year on the market and grow further.”
With the Switch selling so handsomely, it’s hard to see why Nintendo would choose to release a new piece of hardware, particularly if it negatively impacted the Switch’s success. It means that a Nintendo Switch 2 releasing in the near future is unlikely.
Analysis: the biggest comeback of all time?
After the catastrophic sales of the Wii U , which only managed to shift 13.56 million during its lifespan, the Switch has probably surpassed even Nintendo’s most lofty expectations. The console has been incredibly popular since its March 2017 release, and demand shows no sign of waning.
Like the Wii, the Switch is a product that consumers can immediately understand. Its appeal is also more widespread, too, as its hybrid nature complements most people’s busy lifestyles. Having a console that can be played at home or on the go is still very much a novelty, and Nintendo has comfortably established itself as the market leader.
The Kyoto-based company has also delivered a stellar lineup of software during the Nintendo Switch’s lifespan, and also ported a number of Wii U titles to the system which were largely overlooked. We’ve also seen Nintendo experiment with more casual experiences, like Nintendo Labo and Ring Fit Adventure to great success.
However, with Valve’s Steam Deck set to release on February 25, the house of Mario will finally have a like-for-like product to compete with, and one that already has thousands of games available. Depending on how much of the market Valve’s portable PC can take, we may see Nintendo react sooner than expected.
For now, though, Nintendo is clearly content to keep supporting the Switch for many years to come. And with sales maintaining a record-breaking pace, it’s hard to argue why it would consider doing anything else.
You don't need Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's DLC to race the new tracks
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass was released earlier this month, with wave one adding new eight tracks to Nintendo's wacky racing game. But even if you haven't picked up the new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC yet, or simply have no intention to, you can still race the tracks.
Nintendo has confirmed in the patch notes (via Destructoid ) for its recent Ver. 2.0.0 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update that those without the DLC will still have the opportunity to race the new tracks as they've now been added to the online-play course rotation. That means you have the chance for a new track to randomly come up in Worldwide, Regional, and Tournament modes.
But the in-game rotation isn't the only way for those without the DLC to access these new courses, with Nintendo also confirming that those without the Booster Course Pass can access its new tracks by playing multiplayer with someone who does. This applies to Friends, Wireless Play and LAN Play.
In other words, as long as one player in your lobby has the DLC, the new tracks will be available to select for everyone (regardless of whether you have the Booster Course Pass or not). Of course, this does mean that everyone in the lobby has to vote for one of the new tracks, so you're somewhat at the mercy of other players.
Opinion: keeping things fresh
While these methods mean you won't be able to access new Booster Course Pass tracks at your leisure, they're certainly a great means of testing out these new tracks before you commit to purchasing the DLC.
It's worth keeping in mind, though, that this is simply the first wave of the new Booster Course Pass tracks, with a whopping 48 in total to release gradually until the end of 2023.
While it's all well and good riding on someone else's coat tails for now, and as more tracks release they'll become more common in the rotation, but if you want to keep Mario Kart 8 Deluxe fresh for yourself (without relying on the rotation or others) then it's worth considering picking up the DLC.
HBO Max: movies, shows and everything about the streaming service explained
What is HBO Max? The still-young streaming service, which launched in the US back in May 2020, is essentially Warner Bros' attempt to take on Netflix and Disney in the streaming space.
Unlike previously existing services HBO Now and HBO Go, though, HBO Max has a broader range of content, which includes the complete roster of classic HBO-produced shows (like The Sopranos and The Wire) alongside newer HBO originals (like Succession and Euphoria ) and a vast movie library.
New HBO shows land on HBO Max the same time as they air, too – so it really is a far-reaching service. And it should be, for the $14.99 per month price.
Below, then, we're going to give you a primer on HBO Max: what it is, what it costs, what's available on the service and whether you should subscribe in 2022.
UK audiences, though, will have to wait a while longer to access HBO Max. HBO signed a four-year contract with UK broadcaster Sky in 2019 allowing the latter to air certain HBO-produced movies and TV shows, so HBO Max isn’t likely to arrive across the pond until that partnership has concluded in 2024.
That being said, the absence of HBO Max in the UK doesn’t altogether deprive British viewers of HBO-produced content. As above, many of the studio’s biggest properties are available to watch through a compatible Sky (or Now TV) subscription, with only a few movies and TV shows – like The Fallout and South Side – exceptions to the rule.
That main $14.99 price puts HBO Max at the more expensive end of the streaming service spectrum, though it's also the same price as HBO Now (and the former offers a decidedly better entertainment package for the money).
By comparison, as of 2022, Disney Plus costs $7.99 / £7.99 / AU$11.99 per month, while Netflix's standard tier costs $13.99 / £9.99 / AU$16.99 per month. To learn more and compare to the competition, check out our dedicated HBO Max price guide.
It's also worth noting that all existing direct HBO subscribers will get HBO Max for free, as well as those subscribed to the channel via the following:
Incidentally, if you're also subscribed to HBO Now through a third-party app or service (see the following list), the HBO Max help site says subscribers get HBO Max for nothing: Apple, Google Play, Samsung TV, Hulu, Verizon, Optimum, Consolidated Communications and Liberty.
As above, those subscribed to HBO through AT&T-related services can also watch all the HBO Max content they want for no additional cost. AT&T now has a dedicated page on deals that include access to the streamer.
HBO Max movies: what's worth watching?
Pricey as it is, HBO Max is pretty phenomenal when it comes to movie selection. While Netflix's movie library always has a bunch of highlights from other studios, the base HBO Max is working from comprises many amazing movies from Warner Bros' history – meaning you get a massive range of DC Comics movies, from Batman (1989) to Joker, The Dark Knight and Aquaman, straight out of the box.
Genre movies generally are very well-repped on HBO Max, too, with The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix trilogies currently available to stream. Take a look at our dedicated guide to the best HBO Max movies for the latest additions.
One of HBO Max's bespoke channels is Studio Ghibli movies, which gives subscribers access to every animated film from the legendary studio behind Spirited Away (with the exception of Grave of the Fireflies). Another channel is TCM (Turner Classic Movies) – the latter might not be as specialist as The Criterion Channel, but you won't be short of classics to enjoy, from Citizen Kane to All The President's Men.
Basically, you'll never run out of things to watch on HBO Max. While subscribers in 2022 will no longer get access to day-and-date movie releases (which saw the likes of Dune and The Matrix Resurrections released directly to the streamer), HBO Max still gives Netflix and Disney Plus more than a run for their money when it comes to blockbusters.
HBO Max shows: what's streaming?
Check out our best HBO Max shows list for recommendations on the platform's TV highlights. Obviously, HBO's original series are at the core of the offering, here. Everything from The Wire to The Sopranos to miniseries like Show Me A Hero and The Night Of are available to stream – but HBO isn't just known for dramas, of course. Comedies like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep are here, too, along with documentaries like McMillions and The Case Against Adnan Sayed. HBO's rich history of stand-up specials is also here to enjoy, with some of the biggest American comedians represented.
What's more, older shows on the platform from Warner's archive (and beyond) help supplement HBO's TV offering. Rick and Morty's first four seasons can be streamed, for instance, and HBO Max has the exclusive rights to show Friends and South Park in the US. The Big Bang Theory, The Middle, Young Sheldon, The Nanny and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air are among the sitcoms you can enjoy on the service.
You'll find loads of great animated shows in here, too. Batman: The Animated Series is a classic from the '90s, and it's joined by the Superman show, as well as the more futuristic Batman Beyond. If you're craving anime, Crunchyroll has a channel on HBO Max that offers a broad selection to enjoy, while access to Cartoon Network encompasses shows like Steven Universe and Dexter's Laboratory.
Import shows include the newer seasons of Doctor Who, The Office (UK) and crime drama Gomorrah.
And finally, HBO Max has a suite of original series that's set to grow massively over the coming years. Succession , Euphoria , Raised By Wolves, The Flight Attendant and Search Party count among just some of the streamer's up-and-coming gems.
HBO Max devices and apps: how can you stream it?
Here is the list of officially supported devices you can use with HBO Max. There's no limit to how many devices you can use with the streaming service, but for security reasons, the number of simultaneous streams permitted is capped at three.
HBO Max app features: downloads and recommendations explained
HBO Max lets you download content for offline viewing. It also has a PIN system for parental control, personalized profiles and brand-based content hubs similar to how Disney Plus categorizes Star Wars and Marvel – as mentioned earlier, these include TCM, Studio Ghibli, DC, Crunchyroll, Looney Tunes and Sesame Workshop.
Subscribers also have the option of 'co-viewing' homepages that represent the tastes of multiple people in your home. The homepage has themed selections of content to enjoy, too, if you're a little sick of Netflix's algorithmic recommendations.
Could HBO Max win the streaming wars?
HBO is a name synonymous with prestige TV, from shows like Oz and The Sopranos through to Game of Thrones and Chernobyl. With HBO Max, it'll likely come to mean something else entirely – but that association is still a massive asset. In the 'Peak TV' age, HBO has more than held its own, producing the likes of Succession and Watchmen and remaining the center of the TV conversation while a streaming arms race occurred around it.
That is what HBO Max is building upon: the best TV of the last two decades, coupled with every major brand Warner can throw at it. Not all streaming services will survive this content war, but HBO Max has a lot in its corner, especially with its big investment in blockbuster movies throughout 2021.
It's already a great streaming service – the question is whether its originals will make it stand out in an overpopulated US streaming landscape, especially when the price of entry is relatively high.