Gaming Nexus has been invaded with all kinds of coverage of WWE 2K26, and...The Show Never Stops. (See what I did there?) At this point, entrances, the full roster, and certain elements of the game have trickled out this week, as we prepare for the impending release of the wrasslin game. And now, you'll get the new different match types, from three different content creators. 

Bashworld presents the I quit match, where you have to wear your opponent down to a point where you play a mini game instead of pinning or submitting your opponent. Bashworld went up against 2k's own Lynell Jinks. The fix was in. 

Three stages of hell lets you pick any match type, and you have to win 2 out of three matches. Please note that if you pick a normal match, and you get counted out, submitted, or DQ'd, you lose the match. Smallafro is on the coverage with this. Not sure who his opponent was. 

The Inferno match works as follows. The more damage you do to your opponent, the higher the inferno gage rises. Once it reaches maximum capacity and the flames are high, you have to toss your opponent over the top rope, and into the flames. Note that you can throw your opponent over the top rope before this happens, but it just shuts down the ring surrounding flames until you get back in. This is no DQ, so use everything at your disposal. Jaeleeon defeated me and went on to win the World Heavyweight championship, signed by CM Punk himself. I was a worthy opponent. I think. 

March 2020 was such a time for my household. We was gearing up for the release of 2 pieces of media; The Weeknd’s After Hours and Animal Crossing New Horizons. The build up was so anticipated that we named the island after the aforementioned Weeknd album. (and honestly, it sticks perfectly) Animal Crossing was the perfect escape when getting out the house was not an ideal move. It kept lockdown somewhat fun.

Then the world opened back up. And visiting a digital island seemed less appealing than going to a real one. 6 years has came and went in a flash. I bring that up because Animal Crossing just released a Switch 2 update to the best selling game. Coming with multiple quality-of-life features, a new room building mechanic in the guise
of building hotel rooms, and sneaking in NES emulators in the game again, which is what they did with the original Gamecube/N64 version of the game. There is a lot to revisit on your little slice of paradise.

Needless to say, I have fell back in love with the game. Paying off my loan to the strong arm of Tom Nook has made this revisited experience more relaxing. Not selling multiple pieces of fruit and furniture has made me pace this game down. And it’s been better. It is what I think that people wanted from the initial release. This is, after all, a cozy game. One of the best in the genre mind you. The initial release was very “do all of this our way” when it came to seeing other people’s islands. That was the gameplay loop. With the building rooms and creating stuff to turn in for extra points, it puts you more in a place of peace. Weird to say but Animal Crossing does it.

Animal Crossing New Horizons is like going back to your high school as an alumni. That’s truly how I feel. And you know what, with all the nostalgia its good to go back and appreciate the things that made you happy in a slower time. You’ll find me retired on my island making log furniture for the residents of After Hours.

Quincy Howard is an outside contributor to Gaming Nexus. You have probably seen him with me on many of my Games N Moorer streams, an most notably, our coverage of EVO Vegas. I would like to thank Quincy for his contribution to Gaming Nexus.

So you still haven't played Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons. Perhaps you're waiting on a good sale. Or you're waiting on the perfect Friday night to play one of my favorite games. I don't want to assume the hesitation. I just want to know why. 

Regardless of your reason behind your hating of fun, Rise of the Dragons keeps the game going, and now has added four more characters. The update titled "Bimmy and Friends". Okada, who is already in the game, now has armor, and is named "Armored Okada". Jackson is a boxer and wants to throw hands with everyone. Machine Gun Willy has a brother named Jim Mackey. He uses a shotgun, and S.G. Mackey was right there. Rounding out the DLC, is Bimmy Lee, who is a secret third student of the Sosetsuken. 

The DLC is free, and yes, you have to play through the game and unlock each character, like we used to. It is live as you're reading this, and you're wasting time. Go go! It's $7 for PS4 and PS5 right now. 

"The Show Never Stops" is the slogan that's being used to hook you to the game. The developers at 2K and the WWE turned everything up to a nice 10 count. They tell you up front that there are no new modes, and that stands true, but with all the updates, both graphical, and technical, this year's edition may very well set a new standard. WWE 2K26 has no new game modes, and that's totally ok. 

Before we get into all that, WWE Games and Xbox put on one hell of a presentation. Creator Fest brought press and content creators from around the world in to not only play the game, but also to interview and rub shoulders with WWE Superstars. Even more, they brought us to WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. I was told by Beanz at the NBA 2K Community Day to always "Act like you've been here before", but he wasn't there, so I freaked out a little. Ok, I freaked out a lot. I mean, Mark Henry was in my hotel lobby. Just sitting there. Chillin'. 

As the press and content creators were getting a rundown of the day, our host, (and amazing story teller) Al Stavola was interrupted by Paul Heyman, and Paul Heyman did what he does best. He hyped up the game, he insulted the host, and he got us all ready to have an amazing time, even with a broken microphone. We were off and running. Sent to our creator stations full with video capture cards, and stations where we could take pictures with the one and only Andre The Giant. 

The catered event had plenty to do for the first hour or so. As people were settling in and grabbing breakfast and coffee, the LED board into the event lit up, and music hit. And here came Blake Monroe, out of nowhere, with her graphic. On the floor with us. And then she was off to do interviews. The whole presentation was brought to us by Xbox, so after she stopped there, she made her rounds with the press. It was insanely cool. Oba Femi came out next. Larger than life. 

As the day progressed, more superstars made their way through the creator bays and though the interview gauntlet. It was pretty cool watching people I see on Youtube actually living out their dreams. No longer were they interviewing three or four superstars at a Premium Live Event, they got the chance to interview a good amount of Superstars. 

NXT Champion Joe Hendry, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, Women's Tag Team Champion Iyo Sky, NXT North American Champion Ethan Page, Oba Femi, Chelsea Green, Blake Monroe, Bayley, Wade Barrett, Xavier Woods, Tyler Breeze, Jacob Fatu, Trish Stratus, Megan Morant, Penta, and Tiffany Stratton were all in attendance. 

Now, the press and content creators showed up and showed out. Along with us was Gaming Bible, Bleeding Cool, LevelUp, Complex, No Contest Wrestling (with O'Shea Jackson Jr.), Metro UK, and many, many more. On the content creator side, Bashworld, Denk Ops, BDE, SmallaFro, Smacktalks, TonyPizzaGuy, MinniePortable, Lugemania, Emily Mae, Jaeleeon, and so many more. Jaeleeon beat the breaks off of me in a WWE2K26 tournament. He won a World Heavyweight Championship signed by CM Punk himself. 

"But Joe, what about the game?" Of course, of course. So as you already know, this game is exclusively next gen, and it definitely shows. Graphically, this could be the best WWE2K has looked in a long time. Last year, I nit picked the faces of the superstars when they show their faces after their entrances. There's still a difference, but you can tell it's a little more polished. The gameplay also feels familiar, and perhaps tweaked a little. Again, the slogan says the show never stops, and they have definitely worked on the overall presentation. 

During the entrance, you can still change the camera controls, but now you can add pyro to your entrance, even in ring. You can also trigger face and heel crowd moves. And while some entrances look absolutely gorgeous, some entrances still lack that same polish. R-Truth starts on beat with his rap, but does not stay on beat during his rap. And, of course they're not saying Whoop That Trick, but whatever they're saying, it's off beat. Also, no, Booker T does NOT do the Trick Williams entrance, and that makes me sad. Nitpicky? Maybe. At least the Rock's entrance is SPOT on.

CM Punk's Showcase mode is pretty cool too. It literally takes you back through his career. I didn't spend too much time with this, because I didn't want to spoil it for myself. CM Punk narrates the entire thing, and some of his old music is back too, which is a nice touch. You also unlock different versions of CM Punk. There are 400 Superstars here, so of course 8 of them are CM Punk. 

Lastly, for now, is the Ringside Pass. This is your battle pass, that replaces the DLC. The Ringside Pass sees you earning XP in practically any mode, and while you're in these modes, the game notifies you that you've unlocked something you can redeem. From VC, to move sets, to customization parts. The Ringside Pass has a free tier, and a premium tier. To access the premium tier, you either need to pay the same price you did for the DLC, or you get Season 1 included with the Attitude Era version of the game. There are 6 Themed seasons of all. I'll have more on that later this week. And yes, the theme of Season 1 is AAA. The first superstar you unlock is El Hijo Del Vikingo.

Overall, the game felt comfortable. The new mechanics are just icing on a very nice cake. I'll withhold my final judgement on whether or not you need to run out immediately to pick this up, as I was admittedly very distracted by all the other things. Check out some of the footage we got, including the Rock VS Gunther, The Royal Rumble, now with picture in picture, and more. And stay tuned. The show never stops, remember? 

WWE 2K26 launches in just a few weeks and the latest Ringside Report details what we can expect in this years single player campaign, "My Rise".

In this years My Rise story, your created character known as "The Architect" has made their way back to the WWE after a 2 year hiatus to become WWE Champion. Your rise to the top however will be severely hindered by Paul Heyman's champions, either Jordynne Grace or Bron Breakker depending on what division you choose. From then you can choose your path of either a babyface or a heel each complete with their own stories and opponents as you make your way back to the top of the WWE to claim either the WWE Championship or Women's WWE Championship. 

One of the best additions this year is a change in the bonus matches and reward system. Last year you could play bonus matches and the stars you earn in that match accumulate and can be used to unlock a number of awards. This year those bonus matches are integrated right into the main story itself so you will be earning awards as you play normally. 

Playing through My Rise will allow you to unlock a number of rewards including arenas, championships, My Faction cards, creation parts and wrestlers like "Polka Dot" Dusty Rhodes, "Bronze" Breakker and "Burned" The Fiend. The biggest reward you can unlock in My Rise is a classic version of CM Punk from his ROH days, complete with AFI's "Miseria Cantare" as his entrance theme.

A more complete breakdown of this years My Rise mode can be found on WWE 2K's official website.

WWE 2K26 launches on March 13th for PS5, Series X, Switch 2 and PC. 

PARENTS! Stop what you're doing, major Bluey announcement, I repeat - MAJOR Bluey announcement. (Also, non-parents, because if you're not hip to the Bluey scene, get at it, mates!)

Bluey's Quest for The Gold Pen has formally been annouced to launch on May 28, 2026 on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Bluey’s Quest for The Gold Pen features the original voice actors from the beloved TV series, hand-drawn environments inspired by the ‘Dragon’ and ‘Escape’ episodes, animated cutscenes, an all-new story written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and a new soundtrack composed and produced in close collaboration with Ludo Studio and BBC Studios. 

The story begins with Bluey crafting her own story, when Bandit steals her golden pen - thus beginning the real adventure. There are 9 different levels that will take players across snowy mountains, golden beaches, lush green forests, and iconic Australian landscapes, including the Outback.

Not only will players get to enjoy their favorite characters once more, but this rendition also allows for co-play, which welcomes families and friends to gather to enjoy together as they:

• Explore lively, hand-drawn worlds

• Uncover hidden treasures, solve playful puzzles and complete delightful mini-quests

• Glide, fly and skate through each level, facing fun challenges

• Help little lost critters return to their homes

• Search near and far for collectibles that unlock new moments in the adventure

Check out the trailer and mark your calendars, this is gonna be a fun one for all ages - even if it is a bit trifficult.

Welcome to the dark, twisted, macabre side of Nintendo as Bendy and the Ink Machine releases in it's physical form for Nintendo Switch.

This cult classic horror game lures players in with it's classic 1930's monochromatic animation graphics. The music and the aesthetic set the tone for what seems to be a very eerie story to unfold.

Set within a 30's animation studio, players will see through the first-person eyes of Henry, who falls victim to the world of living ink. Players will solve puzzles, explore, and attempt to survive this unsettling adventure. 

Are you following the thread, or are you being followed? Only fans of Bendy and the Ink Machine know for sure, and now you can get your hands on the physical copy. Along with the enhanced visuals, and latest updates, the physical copies also come with a code so you can download the haunting original track, if you dare.

Anyway, if you love creepy, mind-bending games with dramatic atmopsheres that stick with you, you may want to dip your quill into this one. Check out the trailer to see just how unsettling Bendy looks... don't say I didn't warn you.

...but that is not what is important here. Yes, these are the exact versions of the Game Boy Advance versions. Yes, there are different language versions in English, French, and Spanish, as you cannot change the language in game. Yes, this is the digital version. Yes, both Pokemon Firered and LeafGreen versions are EACH $19.99 USD. And if you want to link up and trade, you can do that via local co-op without the need to use a game link cable. These are not remastered, or remade. There is no official word on if it's compatible with Pokemon Home., but again, that is not what is important here. 

Allow me to address that small pocket of the internet who swears they would rather buy the back catalogue, instead of using the Nintendo Switch Online service. This is your chance to prove yourself. This is your chance to put your literal money with your fingers are. All that complaining online has to hit a moot point. You wanted a chance to buy these games, you now have one. 

Don't Muk this up. 

While we, the gaming world, often give Nintendo a ton of criticism (and rightfully so), they know their audience. Their latest announcement looks to expand that audience, and quite frankly, it is pure genius. Nintendo has revealed the My Mario line of products, aimed at small children and toddlers, which is now available at both the Nintendo New York and San Francisco stores, as well as select retailers.

My Mario products deliver a variety of products meant to introduce children of the world of Mario long before they pick up their first controllers. Offerings include a Mario themed building block set, various board books, stop motion animation shorts, and a simple smartphone and Switch app that will keep kids occupied for hours.

No, this isn’t meant for you and me… this isn’t for gamers. This is meant for the next generation of gamers. Long-story short: this is pure marketing genius. Mario already has appeal to children, and that appeal is about to start a whole lot earlier. Making products that are accessible to kids who aren’t ready for gaming yet simply creates a queue of potential customers for their video game products. The kids will grow up to love Mario and friends early, and then when they’re old enough to realize that there is an entire gaming universe to explore, they’re already hooked!

It's here! Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. open beta is now out for the Nintendo Switch 2. You can download it straight from the Nintendo E-shop, and you will have to search for it. If it wasn't there earlier today, no worries. It's there now. And it's free. 

You get to join the open beta, and try out all the online features until February 23rd, and has full crossplay with Playstation, Xbox Series, and Steam. If you love it, you can go pre-order it now. The base version is 19.99, while the 30th anniversary version is $39.99, and includes all that beautiful DLC, and a soundtrack. There will be a physical version, for you collectors out there. 

I'll be able to fight you in a second. I have to go back and change all my posts to reflect VIRTUA fighter, instead of VIRTUAL fighter, more so my editor in chief doesn't give me the old "ring out". Sheesh.