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mercredi 3 mars 2021

The best Nintendo Switch games to play with the whole family in March 2021

You’ve unwrapped your presents and surprise! There’s a Nintendo Switch under the tree just for you! Nintendo has managed to figure out their popular console’s stock issues just in time for the holiday shopping season, so many gamers will be happy. But you know, if you live with your family, you might want to consider some Switch family games — some titles that everyone can enjoy together. We all might love games like Breath of the Wild, but it’s always great to have some multiplayer titles everyone can enjoy. Of course, you’ll also need to make sure you have some Switch controllers to go around!

We’ve rounded up the 10 most family-friendly Switch games you can pick up. From games suited for the youngest to party titles for an overall older crowd, there’s a great game in here for every household.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe key art

Of all the games on this list, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is sure to please everyone in the family, no matter their age. A port of the Wii U game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe includes all the characters and tracks from the Wii U DLC, all in one package on a console people are more likely to own. The gameplay is also solid and very refined, making the racing title easy to learn, but more difficult to master when you’re playing on higher difficulties. For those that may not know their way around a controller, options exist to help players stay on the roads and still be able to race against the more gaming-savvy family members. Items that can change the outcome of the race with one well-timed use help too!

You can pick up Mario Kart 8 on its own, or head to Target for an exclusive pack with the racer and the next game on our list!

    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most polished and feature-complete Mario Kart yet! With all sorts of tracks to race on and characters to unlock, everyone will have a great time playing this fun and beautiful racing game.
    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Super Mario Party
    If you're looking for more than one party game, then head over to Target! They have an exclusive bundle of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Party for just $100. You save $10 on each title!

Super Mario Party

Super Mario Party Key Art

Who doesn’t love a good game of Mario Party? The Switch entry to the long-running multiplayer series is as good as ever. With a variety of maps and modes to choose from, you’re not likely to get bored of the title anytime soon. While the main mode is a board game-like setup where luck plays a factor, you can also employ some strategy with characters and allies having different types of dice to roll. There’s also an interesting co-op mode and modes that let you focus more on the mini-games for fun competitions.

If you’re interested in both Super Mario Party and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, you can pick up an exclusive double-pack from Target and save. Otherwise, you can pick up this Switch title from Amazon!

    Super Mario Party
    Super Mario Party is one of the best entries to the series yet. Enjoy competitive and co-op modes that rely on luck and skill in this board-game like title!
    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Super Mario Party
    If you're looking for more than one party game, then head over to Target! They have an exclusive bundle of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Party for just $100. You save $10 on each title!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

animal crossing new horizons winter update key art

What would make the relaxing island life even better? Sharing it with family! Up to four people can move onto one island and start living their best island life on one save file. Teach the kids the value of sharing while you work to get that final fossil you need for the museum. Not only that, but you can go online easier than ever before in New Horizons, and enjoy up to eight players’ company on one island with local or online multiplayer. There’s nothing better than whacking your friends and family on the head with your bug net.

While there’s a special Animal Crossing Switch console, it mysteriously doesn’t come with the game itself. You’ll have to pick it up separately from Amazon.

    Animal Crossing: New Horizons
    Enjoy the relaxing island life with your family in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Catch bugs and fish, talk with villagers, and build the island of your dreams, together!

Clubhouse Games

Clubhouse Games key art

Round-ups of classic board games in a video game isn’t the most uncommon thing in the world. However, Clubhouse Games does it all really well. Bringing 51 classic games in one package, Clubhouse Games makes it easy to start up a game with family without having to try and find and set up the physical board themselves. These Switch family games can be played locally in handheld mode with the touch screen, or in docked mode with controllers. Best of all, if another person owns the collection, you can quickly and easily hook up for online multiplayer!

Do you know what else is great about Clubhouse games? It forgoes the typical $60 Switch game price point and has a $40 MSRP. With so many games on offer, that’s a great value!

    Clubhouse Games
    If you're looking for classic board games on the Switch, you really can't do better than Clubhouse Games. At $40 for 51 games, this is the best valoue on the list.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

I hate to have such a Mario-heavy list, but you can’t deny that Mario titles are great for kids and adults alike. The recently ported Super Mario 3D World is a fantastic title in general–the previous star of the Wii U console, even. It’s also family-friend because up to 4 players can drop in and out whenever and just have a blast running through the world! The addition of Bowser’s Fury also gives the game’s veterans more content to enjoy and justification for another purchase.

    Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
    Enjoy the Wii U title on Switch! Super Mario 3D World is a great game for the whole family, and Bowser's Fury offers new content for those that played the original.

Kirby Star Allies

kirby star allies key art

Looking for something that even the youngest in your family can enjoy? Then you can’t go wrong with Kirby Star Allies. Every Kirby game has a little gimmick to go with it, and this Switch title’s gimmick is having up to three former enemies or allies accompany Kirby on his quest to save Popstar and the universe (again). The title is built for drop-in multiplayer, and the mix-and-match style of the power-ups is delightful. In addition, you don’t lose a life unless Kirby himself dies, meaning that younger children can take control of one of the allies and simply have fun without worrying about failing.

    Kirby Star Allies
    Who doesn't love Kirby? You and up to three others can enjoy running through this platformer. Mix and match powers, and even the youngest can have fun controlling allies without worrying about losing lives.

LEGO City Undercover

LEGO games are a blast to play. They simply are! I’ve enjoyed the goofy humor and low-stress gameplay of the LEGO games for years now. Even if they sometimes feel same-y at times, it really doesn’t hurt to add at least one LEGO title to your collection. LEGO City Undercover is one of the titles that isn’t based on a popular franchise, so everyone can have fun with this title without needing to get the references. Really, though, any LEGO game you pick up with be a hit with children and adults alike.

    LEGO City Undercover
    You can't go rong with LEGO! No matter which title you choose, you'll be in for a low-stress, silly time.

Minecraft

Sometimes you just can’t beat one of the most popular games around. Minecraft lets everyone explore their creativity with the ability to build anything you can dream up, if you have the resources for it. Those more into exploring can set off into the randomly generated world, looking for treasure and Creepers as they work through the minimalist story. Set up a multiplayer server and your whole family can share, build, and explore the same world together. You don’t even need to all be online at the same time to join in on the Switch family game fun!

Minecraft is available on every modern console, and most of them are cross-play too. No need for everyone to own a Switch to enjoy this one.

    Minecraft
    Minecraft is one of the most popular games around for a reason. Build, explore, and more together, and even enjoy multiplayer with friends and family on other consoles!

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

If you’re looking for a title so that your family can duke it out, you can’t go wrong with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The fighting game has simple inputs that anyone can get the hang of, and the ever-growing roster of characters ensures that you will find a character that matches your playstyle. You can also introduce handicaps into the match so that more experienced players won’t trounce the competition constantly, making it fun for the whole family.

    Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
    Everyone is here, and everyone wants to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Choose from over 70 fighters and duke it out with up to eight players.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2

Puzzle games are timeless, and SEGA has managed to smush two popular titles to make a fun multiplayer title! While there is a Story Mode, you won’t miss much by jumping to the second title in this mash-up series. With a bunch of crazy modes and choosing whether you want to use Tetris blocks, Puyo blobs, or both, everyone’s sure to have a great time.

    Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
    Tetris and Puyo Puyo come together in this wild puzzle title! With plenty of multi-player modes and ways to play, this will be a great Switch family game.

Unsure of which Switch family game to pick up after browsing our list? At $40, Clubhouse Games provides amazing value and features classic board games that everyone will recognize. If you’re looking for something a little more action-packed, then Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is sure to make everyone happy!

What games do you like playing with your family? Let us know in the comments!

The post The best Nintendo Switch games to play with the whole family in March 2021 appeared first on xda-developers.



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Jio’s MyJio app sends fullscreen ads to homescreen, violating Google Play policy

Unless you’ve been living under a rock in India, you’ve probably heard of Reliance Jio — the carrier that practically transformed the country’s 4G landscape overnight and now has its eyes set on 5G. Jio has found a concrete space for itself as India’s leading telecom service provider, amassing over 400 million subscribers by the end of 2020. Based on the smartphone landscape in the country, it would be safe to assume that a good many of these users access Jio’s services on an Android smartphone. If you’re one such user, you may have had to contend with fullscreen banner ads on your homescreen in the recent past. As it turns out, they’re delivered straight by the companion MyJio app, in direct violation of Google Play’s policies.

On Android smartphones, you can just insert a Jio sim card and begin using the telecom’s services right away. But if you use other services from Jio such as the JioFiber connection, or perhaps you want to check how much of the daily data allowance you have consumed so far, or you want to top-up your data pack, then you do need to install the MyJio companion app on your phone. The MyJio app serves as a “one-stop destination for recharges, UPI and payments, managing Jio devices, Movies, Music, News, Games, Quizzes” and more. Needless to say, if you have dipped your toe into the Jio ecosystem (and I’d be surprised if you haven’t so far while residing in India), you have this app installed on your device.

Unfortunately, the MyJio app has a rather annoying habit of sending fullscreen ad banners straight to the user’s homescreen.

Reliance Jio's MyJio app displaying popup ad banner and hijacking the homescreen

This ad banner was initiated by the MyJio app on my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and that was the only Jio app on the phone at the time. The app had not been in the foreground for a few days at that point, but this banner notification hijacked the homescreen irrespective. Looking around, I found that this has been happening for a fair few months now, with many users complaining about the homescreen hijacking. Clicking on the banner leads you to this pre-generated WhatsApp message to text the number mentioned.

It’s difficult to trigger the popup banner consciously on our end. We’ve examined the app, and there are hints that the banner is triggered upon toggling flight mode and when unplugging the device from charge. But those common actions do not trigger the banner every time, and it appears rather infrequently. We presume that there are more triggers set up on the Firebase notification receiver as well, whose conditions may not have been met during our testing.

Prima facie, this hijacking behavior is caused by a fullscreen activity that the app is launching from the background. This directly contravenes Google Play’s policies on Ads:

Interfering with Apps, Third-party Ads, or Device Functionality

Ads associated with your app must not interfere with other apps, ads, or the operation of the device, including system or device buttons and ports. This includes overlays, companion functionality, and widgetized ad units. Ads must only be displayed within the app serving them.

The example that Google talks about is pretty much the same behavior that the MyJio app demonstrates. We can conclude that the MyJio app directly contravenes Google Play policies by pushing out ads that are displayed outside of its app by hijacking the homescreen.

Curiously, the app is able to push this hijacking ad without having been granted permission to “Display Over Apps”/”Appear on Top”. The MyJio app does not even request this permission, so I was very curious about how the app could push an ad over the homescreen.

With Zachary’s help, I dug in deeper. We found out that the app integrates the MADME SDK, and there are activities titled “OverlayAdActivity”, which leaves little room for doubt on its intention.

Visiting Madme’s website corroborates our finding, as they proudly display solutions to telecoms that bring out these popup ad banners with hijacking intent.

Madme SDK for hijacking overlays Madme SDK for hijacking overlays Madme SDK for hijacking overlays

The MyJio app integrates a whole host of Activities, Services, and Receivers from Madme, and there’s way too many of them.

How do I stop these hijacking popups on my homescreen from Jio’s MyJio app?

There are a few ways you can get rid of these hijacking popups. The first and most obvious solution is to simply uninstall the MyJio app. A lot of users use the app very infrequently, and you can reinstall it back when you do need it. In the intervening cycles, you can at least not be annoyed out of your homescreen.

The second solution, widely suggested by the Internet, is to disable all permissions for the app. Much like the first solution, this is a very wide solution that will cause certain functions of the app to not work properly.

The third solution takes a more precise approach, but it also requires root. You can use an app like Root Activity Launcher to disable all Activities, Services, and Receivers related to the Madme SDK in the Jio app.

Root Activity Launcher ($0.99, Google Play) →

And here are all the related Activities, Services, and Receivers. Note that you may not need to disable all of them, and I am just listing all the ones that I could spot. It is difficult to force-trigger the fullscreen popup on our end, so we’d still have to go with a blanket approach here.

  • Activities:
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.AdActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.AdListActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.BrowserActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.MadmeCmClickActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.MadmePermissionActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.MyOffersHistoryActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.OverlayAdActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.OverlaySurveyActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.ChangeProfileActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.SavedAdActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.SurveyActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.ThankYouActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.WebViewActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.LegalInformationActivityResources
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.TermsActivity
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.activity.BenefitsActivity
  • Services:
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.ad.ShowAdService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.AdAlarmHelperService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.AdReminderHelperService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.AdTriggerEventsService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.CampaignHelperService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.CdnCampaignJobService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.CdnCampaignService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.cloudmessaging.CloudMessagingRegistrationService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.DbUpdateService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.DownloadService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.location.GeofenceService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.LoginService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.LSFService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.LSJobService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.LSJobService2
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.LSService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.MFAService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.SBSTService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.SurveySubmissionJobService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.SurveySubmissionService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.TrackingService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.TrackingSubmissionJobService
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.service.TrackingSubmissionService
  • Receivers:
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.AdAlarmReceiver
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.AdReminderReceiver
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.adtriggers.AirplaneModeChangedAdTrigger
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.adtriggers.PowerConnectionAdTrigger
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.adtriggers.RoamingAdTrigger
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.adtriggers.WiFiAdTrigger
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.adtriggers.WiFiAvailableTrigger
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.BootReceiver
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.DailyTaskReceiver
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.EOCTrigger
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.GeofenceReceiver
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.IdSnsReceiver
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.MadmeSmsTrigger
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.NotificationActionTrigger
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.PackageRemovalReceiver
    • com.madme.mobile.sdk.broadcast.UnlockReceiver

Disabling all of these would effectively render the Madme SDK useless, and should prevent the banner from hijacking your homescreen again.

Apps on the Google Play Store have been removed for far more innocent behavior, and it does surprise me that the Madme SDK and Jio’s homescreen ad behavior have not been spotted, highlighted, and addressed before. Madme is certainly not even hiding what it does, and they proudly highlight such behavior as a selling point, leaving us to scratch our collective heads on which loophole they have figured out to get such confidence and presumed immunity. And if their website is to be believed, other telecom providers in India also make use of their services, though we have not encountered any homescreen hijacking ad banner from them just yet.

We hope Google takes cognizance of the homescreen hijacking behavior of these popups and provides clarifications on their existence alongside Google Play policies.

The post Jio’s MyJio app sends fullscreen ads to homescreen, violating Google Play policy appeared first on xda-developers.



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The best Nintendo Switch games to play with the whole family in March 2021

You’ve unwrapped your presents and surprise! There’s a Nintendo Switch under the tree just for you! Nintendo has managed to figure out their popular console’s stock issues just in time for the holiday shopping season, so many gamers will be happy. But you know, if you live with your family, you might want to consider some Switch family games — some titles that everyone can enjoy together. We all might love games like Breath of the Wild, but it’s always great to have some multiplayer titles everyone can enjoy. Of course, you’ll also need to make sure you have some Switch controllers to go around!

We’ve rounded up the 10 most family-friendly Switch games you can pick up. From games suited for the youngest to party titles for an overall older crowd, there’s a great game in here for every household.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe key art

Of all the games on this list, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is sure to please everyone in the family, no matter their age. A port of the Wii U game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe includes all the characters and tracks from the Wii U DLC, all in one package on a console people are more likely to own. The gameplay is also solid and very refined, making the racing title easy to learn, but more difficult to master when you’re playing on higher difficulties. For those that may not know their way around a controller, options exist to help players stay on the roads and still be able to race against the more gaming-savvy family members. Items that can change the outcome of the race with one well-timed use help too!

You can pick up Mario Kart 8 on its own, or head to Target for an exclusive pack with the racer and the next game on our list!

    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most polished and feature-complete Mario Kart yet! With all sorts of tracks to race on and characters to unlock, everyone will have a great time playing this fun and beautiful racing game.
    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Super Mario Party
    If you're looking for more than one party game, then head over to Target! They have an exclusive bundle of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Party for just $100. You save $10 on each title!

Super Mario Party

Super Mario Party Key Art

Who doesn’t love a good game of Mario Party? The Switch entry to the long-running multiplayer series is as good as ever. With a variety of maps and modes to choose from, you’re not likely to get bored of the title anytime soon. While the main mode is a board game-like setup where luck plays a factor, you can also employ some strategy with characters and allies having different types of dice to roll. There’s also an interesting co-op mode and modes that let you focus more on the mini-games for fun competitions.

If you’re interested in both Super Mario Party and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, you can pick up an exclusive double-pack from Target and save. Otherwise, you can pick up this Switch title from Amazon!

    Super Mario Party
    Super Mario Party is one of the best entries to the series yet. Enjoy competitive and co-op modes that rely on luck and skill in this board-game like title!
    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Super Mario Party
    If you're looking for more than one party game, then head over to Target! They have an exclusive bundle of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Party for just $100. You save $10 on each title!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

animal crossing new horizons winter update key art

What would make the relaxing island life even better? Sharing it with family! Up to four people can move onto one island and start living their best island life on one save file. Teach the kids the value of sharing while you work to get that final fossil you need for the museum. Not only that, but you can go online easier than ever before in New Horizons, and enjoy up to eight players’ company on one island with local or online multiplayer. There’s nothing better than whacking your friends and family on the head with your bug net.

While there’s a special Animal Crossing Switch console, it mysteriously doesn’t come with the game itself. You’ll have to pick it up separately from Amazon.

    Animal Crossing: New Horizons
    Enjoy the relaxing island life with your family in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Catch bugs and fish, talk with villagers, and build the island of your dreams, together!

Clubhouse Games

Clubhouse Games key art

Round-ups of classic board games in a video game isn’t the most uncommon thing in the world. However, Clubhouse Games does it all really well. Bringing 51 classic games in one package, Clubhouse Games makes it easy to start up a game with family without having to try and find and set up the physical board themselves. These Switch family games can be played locally in handheld mode with the touch screen, or in docked mode with controllers. Best of all, if another person owns the collection, you can quickly and easily hook up for online multiplayer!

Do you know what else is great about Clubhouse games? It forgoes the typical $60 Switch game price point and has a $40 MSRP. With so many games on offer, that’s a great value!

    Clubhouse Games
    If you're looking for classic board games on the Switch, you really can't do better than Clubhouse Games. At $40 for 51 games, this is the best valoue on the list.

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

I hate to have such a Mario-heavy list, but you can’t deny that Mario titles are great for kids and adults alike. The recently ported Super Mario 3D World is a fantastic title in general–the previous star of the Wii U console, even. It’s also family-friend because up to 4 players can drop in and out whenever and just have a blast running through the world! The addition of Bowser’s Fury also gives the game’s veterans more content to enjoy and justification for another purchase.

    Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
    Enjoy the Wii U title on Switch! Super Mario 3D World is a great game for the whole family, and Bowser's Fury offers new content for those that played the original.

Kirby Star Allies

kirby star allies key art

Looking for something that even the youngest in your family can enjoy? Then you can’t go wrong with Kirby Star Allies. Every Kirby game has a little gimmick to go with it, and this Switch title’s gimmick is having up to three former enemies or allies accompany Kirby on his quest to save Popstar and the universe (again). The title is built for drop-in multiplayer, and the mix-and-match style of the power-ups is delightful. In addition, you don’t lose a life unless Kirby himself dies, meaning that younger children can take control of one of the allies and simply have fun without worrying about failing.

    Kirby Star Allies
    Who doesn't love Kirby? You and up to three others can enjoy running through this platformer. Mix and match powers, and even the youngest can have fun controlling allies without worrying about losing lives.

LEGO City Undercover

LEGO games are a blast to play. They simply are! I’ve enjoyed the goofy humor and low-stress gameplay of the LEGO games for years now. Even if they sometimes feel same-y at times, it really doesn’t hurt to add at least one LEGO title to your collection. LEGO City Undercover is one of the titles that isn’t based on a popular franchise, so everyone can have fun with this title without needing to get the references. Really, though, any LEGO game you pick up with be a hit with children and adults alike.

    LEGO City Undercover
    You can't go rong with LEGO! No matter which title you choose, you'll be in for a low-stress, silly time.

Minecraft

Sometimes you just can’t beat one of the most popular games around. Minecraft lets everyone explore their creativity with the ability to build anything you can dream up, if you have the resources for it. Those more into exploring can set off into the randomly generated world, looking for treasure and Creepers as they work through the minimalist story. Set up a multiplayer server and your whole family can share, build, and explore the same world together. You don’t even need to all be online at the same time to join in on the Switch family game fun!

Minecraft is available on every modern console, and most of them are cross-play too. No need for everyone to own a Switch to enjoy this one.

    Minecraft
    Minecraft is one of the most popular games around for a reason. Build, explore, and more together, and even enjoy multiplayer with friends and family on other consoles!

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

If you’re looking for a title so that your family can duke it out, you can’t go wrong with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The fighting game has simple inputs that anyone can get the hang of, and the ever-growing roster of characters ensures that you will find a character that matches your playstyle. You can also introduce handicaps into the match so that more experienced players won’t trounce the competition constantly, making it fun for the whole family.

    Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
    Everyone is here, and everyone wants to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Choose from over 70 fighters and duke it out with up to eight players.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2

Puzzle games are timeless, and SEGA has managed to smush two popular titles to make a fun multiplayer title! While there is a Story Mode, you won’t miss much by jumping to the second title in this mash-up series. With a bunch of crazy modes and choosing whether you want to use Tetris blocks, Puyo blobs, or both, everyone’s sure to have a great time.

    Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
    Tetris and Puyo Puyo come together in this wild puzzle title! With plenty of multi-player modes and ways to play, this will be a great Switch family game.

Unsure of which Switch family game to pick up after browsing our list? At $40, Clubhouse Games provides amazing value and features classic board games that everyone will recognize. If you’re looking for something a little more action-packed, then Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is sure to make everyone happy!

What games do you like playing with your family? Let us know in the comments!

The post The best Nintendo Switch games to play with the whole family in March 2021 appeared first on xda-developers.



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[Update: March 9] Apex Legends is coming to the Nintendo Switch next month

Update 1 (03/03/2021 @ 06:38 ET): Apex Legends is coming to the Nintendo Switch on March 9. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on February 5, 2021, is preserved below.

Popular battle royale game Apex Legends is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch next month. Based on the Titanfall franchise, Electronics Arts currently offers Apex Legends on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. The company had announced plans of releasing the game on the Nintendo Switch late last year. However, after a bunch of delays, we finally have a release date as announced by the company via a blog post.

“Today, I’m proud to come to you with some good news. Apex Legends is coming to Nintendo Switch on March 9th, 2021,” said Chad Grenier, Game Director at Apex Legends. Compared to all platforms, the Nintendo Switch has a smaller display with a 720p resolution, and as per EA, porting the game has apparently been a ‘major achievement.’ The game developer has worked with Panic Button for the Switch port and says that players can expect a full-featured Apex Legends experience on the go. The best part is that EA has not only managed to port Apex Legends to the Switch, but it will also support cross-platform play. This means that players on all platforms can play with each other.

Just a few days back, Apex Legends saw the arrival of its new Season 8 with a brand new legend and character, Fuse. The new season also brings back King’s Canyon in a new avatar, a new weapon, and a bunch of new skins and other cosmetic additions. The Nintendo Switch port was expected to arrive on the same date as the new season, however, players will now have to wait for another month. To make up for the delay, Switch players will be offered 30 free levels for their Season 8 Battle Pass, and for the first two weeks after launch, playing on Switch will also earn you double XP.

Notably, EA has not confirmed if the game will be free to play as it is on the existing platforms. Recently there was a certain leak from Amazon Japan that suggested the Champion Edition of the game would cost around ¥5,641 ($54).  Additionally, an Apex Legends themed Switch Pro controller has also been spotted, which is expected to hype up the launch of the game on the portable console.

Apex Legends Switch Pro controller

The best Nintendo Switch Controllers: Hori, 8bitdo, PowerA, and More!

Apex Legends is also expected to arrive on Android and iOS as EA is working with a partner in China to develop the mobile version of its popular battle royale game. While there is no concrete timeline for the launch, we last heard that we can expect the game to make its way to mobile phones, not before 2022.


Update: Apex Legends is coming to the Nintendo Switch on March 9

Apex Legends is coming to the Nintendo Switch on March 9.

Switch players will get double experience for the first two weeks, and will also get a chance to access a limited-time Legendary Pathfinder skin.

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[Update: Beta group expanded] Twitter seems to be finally testing Spaces on Android

Update 1 (03/03/2021 @ 06:28 AM ET): Twitter is expanding the beta group for the Spaces feature on Android. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on February 27, 2021, is preserved below.

Clubhouse has earned a decent amount of popularity in the last few weeks because it helped popularize a fresh new concept: live “drop-in” audio chats where anyone can drop in and talk. Clubhouse, in particular, started to become popular through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, where the internet and social media became even more prevalent in our lives than they already were in previous times. That growth accelerated exponentially since the start of 2021. It has now popularized the concept of “audio chatrooms”, and big technology companies are running to get a piece of the cake, with companies like Facebook reportedly rushing to make their own competitor. Twitter also made one of their own, which is called Twitter Spaces, and they might be testing it on Android now.

The Twitter Spaces feature has, so far, stayed only on iOS together with a host of iOS-exclusive features such as voice tweets (which have yet to make their way to Android). Still, the feature has already reached the hands of a lot of users, even if it’s only in “test mode” according to Twitter (which is fancy speak for “beta”). How do we know it’s being tested on Android right now? For one, users have started to report it works, such as in the replies for this tweet. Users have specifically reported that the feature is working for them after installing a specific beta version of the Twitter app (which you can download right here to see if it works for you).

So what’s the catch? Firstly, since a rollout for Android has not been announced yet and since the feature is not yet working on the stable version of the app, it’s pretty safe to say that it is probably still pretty rough around the edges. And indeed: captions seem fairly wonky according to Android Police’s coverage, not to mention that you can’t start your own space, only join others’ spaces. The fact that it’s currently being worked on is pretty good on its own, and we can’t wait until the final rollout comes.


Update: Spaces for Android beta expanded to more users

Twitter is expanding the Spaces for Android beta group to include more users.

We were able to join an active Space on the latest Android beta. Though as mentioned, initiating a Space is not possible at the moment from the Android app.

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Chrome 89 brings revamped profiles, Reading list, and more

Chrome 89 is now out in the stable channel, and as always it brings with it a number of improvements to make our web browsing even better. One of the main highlights of Chrome 89 is revamped profiles experience.

Chrome already lets you switch between multiple Google accounts, but this new experience makes it even easier to create and maintain personalized user profiles on a single device. Each user can customize their profile with a custom background and change the theme and color scheme. Users can sign in with their Google account to sync their bookmarks, passwords, and browsing data. Each new profile opens in a new window so that you can easily tell them apart.

When the user restarts Chrome, Google will display a prompt to switch between available profiles, create a new one or browse as a guest. The new profile experience is available on Windows, Linux, and Mac users running Chrome 89.

Reading list (via 9to5Google) is another new feature in Chrome 89. Now, when you tap the icon located in the left corner, you’ll see a new “Add to reading list” option alongside the “Add bookmark” option. The feature is pretty self-explanatory, if you find something on the web that you want to save for later reading, you can now add it to Chrome’s Reading list.

Elsewhere, support for WebHID, an API that enables web applications to interact with human interface devices (HID) such as VR controls, gamepads, joysticks, etc, has been fully implemented in the latest update.

On the mobile side, WebNFC will now let websites read and write to NFC tags on supported Android devices. Meanwhile, support for AVIF image format has also been added, which claims to offer higher image quality and more efficient image compression than JPEG.

Chrome 89 is rolling out to desktop and mobile users. Keep an eye out for the new update in the coming days.

Google Chrome: Fast & Secure (Free, Google Play) →

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