Emulating GameCube and Wii games on the Nintendo Switch just got a whole lot less painful. A new release of Tico, a custom emulation frontend for the Switch, now lets you run Dolphin directly on the console’s native Horizon OS through custom firmware, cutting out the old Android or Linux dance entirely. The Tico v0.7.0 alpha dropped on 21 April 2026, and it marks the first time GameCube and Wii games have run natively on the Switch’s own operating system.

For anyone who has ever tried to get Dolphin working on a Switch, you already know what a faff it used to be. You had to install Switchroot, boot into a whole different OS, and hope the overhead did not tank your performance. Tico sidesteps all of that.

GameCube and Wii are now running on Nintendo Switch (without Android or Linux), for the first time ever.

tico alpha 0.7.0 is out. https://t.co/tpdPx7CNoK pic.twitter.com/k9JQYVVblS

— Dan (@danticoverse) April 21, 2026

What The Tico v0.7.0 Update Actually Does

Tico is not just another emulator launcher. It is a multi-platform emulation frontend built from the ground up in native C++, designed specifically for performance and portability on Switch hardware. The whole idea behind it is to strip away the configuration headaches that usually come with emulation on a handheld.

The headline change in v0.7.0 is an experimental Dolphin core, added through a new Experimental tab in the Settings menu. Dolphin has to be enabled from there before it shows up in the main Tico interface, and the core itself is distributed independently, meaning you install or update it from the Settings screen rather than bundling it with the base app.

The developers have flagged this as the most demanding core Tico has run on Horizon OS so far, which is why it is sitting in alpha. Instability is expected at this stage, and a compatibility list is being put together to track which titles behave themselves. If a game crashes on launch, the dev notes suggest simply running it again, as it often starts correctly on the second attempt once shaders start caching.

You will also need to drop your GameCube and Wii dumps into specific folders for Tico to pick them up: sdmc:/tico/roms/gc for GameCube and sdmc:/tico/roms/wii for Wii.

Boost Mode, Clock Speeds, And Why Temperature Matters

To keep things running during heavier scenes, the Dolphin core automatically flips on boost mode, pushing the Tegra X1 chip to 1,785 MHz on the CPU and 768 MHz on the GPU. The developers say these limits are within safe territory, but they are also clear that they will not be held responsible for hardware damage, so keeping an eye on your device temperature during longer sessions is a good shout.

If you would rather run at lower clocks, you can override the default values using sys-clk. The trade-off is that some games will not behave properly at reduced speeds. Luigi’s Mansion, for instance, reportedly will not boot past the first cutscene unless the clocks are cranked back up.

How Tico Differs From Previous Switch Emulation Methods

There is an important distinction to make here. When people say GameCube and Wii games are running “natively” on the Switch, they do not mean the Switch hardware is running GameCube code as if it were a first-party title. The games are still being emulated. The word “natively” refers to the operating system.

Previously, getting Dolphin onto a Switch meant installing Switchroot to run Android or Linux, then launching the emulator from there. That extra OS layer ate into performance and meant rebooting your console every time you wanted to switch between a Switch game and a GameCube one.

With Tico, Dolphin runs straight on Horizon OS via custom firmware. No second operating system, no reboots, no overhead from running a whole Android environment in the background. It is a much cleaner setup, and that alone should translate to better real-world performance even in an alpha build.

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The Features That Make Tico Worth Using

Beyond the Dolphin support, Tico has a few quality-of-life touches that matter for handheld use. The interface is controller-first, so you can navigate the whole thing with a Joy-Con or Pro Controller in either handheld or docked mode. You are not fighting with a mouse-driven UI that was never meant to live on a console.

It also handles automatic game library management, so you do not need to sit there renaming ROM files to get them recognised. Drop your files in and Tico sorts them out. The developers describe it as a “zero configuration” setup, and for anyone who has wrestled with other emulation frontends, that is a genuinely appealing pitch.

What You Need To Run Tico On Your Switch

Tico will not run on a stock Nintendo Switch. You need custom firmware (CFW) installed, which is what lets you run homebrew apps, custom themes, and anything else outside Nintendo’s walled garden. Whether you can install CFW depends on which Switch model you own.

Once CFW is sorted, you grab the Tico v0.7.0 alpha release from GitHub, install it, and add your own legally obtained GameCube and Wii ROMs. From there, everything runs through Tico’s frontend without needing to reboot or juggle operating systems.

GameCube Games Tested On Tico v0.7.0

The dev has put out a proper compatibility list for this release, and the GameCube side is looking healthier than you might expect for a first alpha. Shader compilation causes early stutter in most titles, which is normal for Dolphin and smooths out once cached.

Wii Games Tested On Tico v0.7.0

The Wii compatibility list is shorter but cleaner, with most tested titles running without major issues. Only one outright failure has been logged so far.

Other Changes In The v0.7.0 Release

Dolphin is the main event, but it is not the only thing in this update. The Sega Saturn core (Yabasanshiro) has picked up a simulated BIOS option, which lets you skip the Saturn BIOS entirely if you would rather not deal with it. The dev has also flagged that fixes and updates for other cores will be rolling out throughout the week, pullable from the Updater in the Settings screen whenever you are ready.

Where Switch Emulation Goes From Here

If you have not upgraded to a Switch 2 yet, this is a solid reason to hang onto your original console. The original Switch was already a capable emulation machine for older systems, and pulling GameCube and Wii into the mix through Horizon OS turns it into something much closer to a proper retro handheld, without the performance hit of running Android in the background.

There is still work to be done before Tico’s Dolphin core hits the polish of running the same games on PC or a Steam Deck, but the direction is clear. As the alpha matures and the compatibility list fills out, the Switch is shaping up to be one of the most convenient ways to play through your GameCube and Wii libraries on the go.

The post Now You Can Run GameCube and Wii Games on Switch Without Android appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Ubisoft announced that Just Dance 2019 will be available on October 25th, 2018 in Australia and New Zealand on most gaming platforms, including Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Wii, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4. Ubisoft also announced that the Just Dance World Cup will return with its 5th Annual competition, this time heading to Brazil for the Grand Finals in early 2019.

Just Dance 2019 brings the party to players with 40 new songs ranging from chart-toppers like “Finesse (Remix)” by Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B and k-pop classic “Bang Bang Bang” by BIGBANG. Plus, keep the party going with one-month access to over 400 more songs through Just Dance^® Unlimited, the dance-on-demand streaming service, included with every copy of Just Dance 2019! New for this year, Just Dance partnered with creative experts from around the world, like French street artist Chanoir and Spanish stop-motion studio Clay Animation to creating stunning universes for the game. More partnerships are to be announced alongside new songs soon.

Just Dance 2019’s new interface algorithm learns players’ dancing preferences and habits and curates pre-made playlists and song suggestions, making the Just Dance experience more intuitive and personalised than ever before. Players can also stay up-to-date on community news and Just Dance Unlimited events all year long with the dynamic new home screen.

Fan-favourite modes  also make their return, such as World Dance Floor (available on all current gen platforms), bringing more online multiplayer challenges to its 120 million players worldwide, the calorie-tracking Sweat Mode, and the Kids Mode, bringing eight new choreographies developed alongside childhood development experts.

Available on PS4 and Xbox One, the Just Dance Controller App makes the game more accessible for current-gen owners with its phone scoring technology that allows players to dance without any additional accessories like cameras, available for free on iOS and Android.

The Just Dance World Cup is also back, with the Grand Finals happening in Brazil in early 2019. Online qualifiers will be live in the Just Dance 2018 edition of the game from July the 20th to August the 26th, 2018 on Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 and will be followed by national offline qualifiers in select countries. The list of the offline qualifier events and details on the Grand Finals will be unveiled soon HERE . The competition will be fierce once again as dancers compete to get one of the 18 coveted finalist slots in Brazil, and defeat the two-time World Champion, 18-year old Umutcan Tütüncü from Turkey.

More info on further tracks being included to come soon.

Just Dance 19 Tracklist (as Revealed at E3 2018:

• Finesse (Remix) – Bruno Mars Ft. Cardi B
• Bum Bum Tam Tam – MC Fioti, Future, J Balvin, Stefflon Don, Juan Magan
• Bang Bang Bang – BIGBANG
• Mad Love – Sean Paul, David Guetta Ft. Becky G
• Shaky Shaky – Daddy Yankee
• Dame Tu Cosita – El Chombo ft. Cutty Ranks
• OMG – Arash Ft. Snoop Dogg
• Mi Mi Mi – Hit The Electro Beat 
• Mama Mia – Mayra Verónica
• Narco – Blasterjaxx & Timmy Trumpet
• Fire – LLP Ft. Mike Diamondz

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Today, Ubisoft unveiled the full tracklist for Just Dance 2016! This year, the game includes more than 40 of the hottest songs, classic favourites and quirky tracks such as “Teacher” by Nick Jonas, “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea Ft. Charli XCX, “Lights” by Ellie Goulding and “No Control” by One Direction.

“Each year we strive to provide our fans and their families with a better tracklist and interactive game features than the year before, and Just Dance 2016 is a true testament to that,” said Geoffroy Sardin, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Ubisoft Europe Middle-East Asia. “Now that next-gen players can use their smartphones to play the game with the Just Dance Controller App, more people than ever before can dance to songs from the artists they know and love.”

Just Dance 2016 is coming to all motion-control gaming platforms, including Nintendo’s Wii and Wii U systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3  on October 20th, 2015 in the US and October 22nd, 2015 in EMEA (October 23rd, 2015 in the UK). With the Just Dance Controller App, now available for Apple and Android devices and soon to be available for Windows Phone devices, players on new-gen consoles can use their smartphone to play the game without any peripherals or added console cameras.

The new tracks unveiled for Just Dance 2016 include:

• “Heartbeat Song” by Kelly Clarkson
• “Teacher” by Nick Jonas
• “Chiwawa” by Wanko Ni Mero Mero
• “Copacabana” by Frankie Bostello
• “This Is How We Do” by Katy Perry
• “Drop The Mambo” by Diva Carmina
• “Hit The Road Jack” by Charles Percy
• “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” by The Girly Team
• “Irish Meadow Dance” by O’Callaghan’s Orchestra
• “Junto a Ti” From Disney’s “Violetta”
• “Kaboom Pow” by Nikki Yanofsky
• “Kool Kontact” by Glorious Black Belts
• “You’re The One That I Want” From The Movie Grease
• “The Choice Is Yours” by Darius Dante Van Dijk
• “Under the Sea” From Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”
• “When The Rain Begins To Fall” by Sky Trucking
• “You Never Can Tell” by A. Caveman & The Backseats

Songs previously announced for the game include:

• “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars
• “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
• “Animals” by Martin Garrix
• “Hey Mama” by David Guetta Ft. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack
• “Blame” by Calvin Harris Ft. John Newman
• “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
• “Want To Want Me” by Jason Derulo
• “Gibberish” by MAX
• “Hangover (BaBaBa)” by Buraka Som Sistema
• “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
• “Ievan Polkka” by Hatsune Miku
• “Let’s Groove” by Equinox Stars
• “William Tell Overture” by Rossini
• “Balkan Blast Remix” by Angry Birds
• Rabiosa” by Shakira Ft. El Cata
• “Stuck On A Feeling” by Prince Royce
• “Boys (Summertime Love)” by The Lemon Cubes
• “Fun” by Pitbull Ft. Chris Brown
• “Circus” by Britney Spears
• “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea Ft. Charli XCX
• “Same Old Love” by Selena Gomez
• “Cool For The Summer” by Demi Lovato
• “Lights” by Ellie Goulding
• “No Control” by One Direction
• “I’m An Albatraoz” by AronChupa

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Activision is supercharging Comic-Con International: San Diego 2015 with Skylanders,Toys-to-Life and now Vehicles-to-Life videogame franchise.

Activision will reveal the new Skylanders SuperChargers Dark Edition at the convention where attendees will be among the first consumers in the world to play the game with dark versions of the Starter Pack characters, including Dark Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and his Dark Barrel Blaster land vehicle; Dark Hammer Slam Bowser and his Dark Clown Cruiser sky vehicle; and Skylanders fan-favourite Stealth Elf in a new Dark version.

Australian and New Zealand fans can pre-order the Dark Edition beginning today at EB Games while supplies last.

The Skylanders SuperChargers Dark Edition includes unique toys that true Portal Masters will want in their collections.  All Dark Edition Starter Packs will include Dark Spitfire, Dark Hot Streak, a two-sided ultimate collector poster and the highly sought-after Kaos Trophy, which is the only way to unlock special Kaos gameplay content.
Dark Super Shot Stealth Elf and Dark Sea Shadow will be available exclusively in the Dark Edition Starter Packs for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4.

The Wii U Dark Edition Starter Pack will include Dark Turbo Charge Donkey Kong and Dark Barrel Blaster, exclusively. A different, unique adventure including Dark Hammer Slam Bowser and Dark Clown Cruiser will be made available on Nintendo’s Wii.

“This year Skylanders, the original toys-to-life franchise, gets a boost of high-octane gameplay and innovation by bringing toy vehicles to life for kids with Skylanders SuperChargers,” said John Coyne, senior vice president of consumer marketing, Activision Publishing, Inc.  “We look forward to fans checking out our Dark Edition for the first time at San Diego Comic-Con.”

Skylanders SuperChargers expands upon the franchise’s signature gameplay to introduce a brand-new play pattern to fans, vehicles-to-life.

For the first time ever, kids (and adults, of course) can explore and navigate the mountainous terrains, deep sea environments and big blue skies of Skylands like never before by going behind the wheel of powerful, tricked-out land, sea and sky vehicles – bringing them from physical world into the digital world in a high octane action-adventure videogame.

The game offers a diverse and dynamic, story-driven gameplay experience, filled with vehicle-based and on-foot adventures featuring combat, puzzles, mini games, activities and platforming, all set within a variety of new compelling environments.

Skylanders SuperChargers has 20 land, sea and sky vehicles that are fun to play in the game and in the real world. There is also a new class of heroe, 20 SuperCharger characters that feature all-new powerful attacks and moves, upgrades and personalities. Skylanders SuperChargers will be available on September 24th, 2015 in Australia and September 25th, 2015 in New Zealand.

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Today, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Ubisoft announced Just Dance  2016.

Just Dance 2016 will be released on October 22nd, 2015 in Australia and New Zealand on all motion-control gaming platforms, including Nintendo’s Wii and Wii U system, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 . Just Dance 2016 will feature tracks from artists like Jason Derulo, Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars, Meghan Trainor, Calvin Harris Ft. John Newman and Lady Gaga.

To help announce Just Dance 2016 at Ubisoft’s press conference, pop star Jason Derulo performed “Want To Want Me,” his track from the game. The song marks his fourth no.1 pop airplay single and the 11th platinum single for the hit-maker.

The free Just Dance Controller App enables players on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U to use their Apple, Android, or Windows Phone devices to play the game without any peripherals or added console cameras. The app transforms the player’s phone into a motion sensor that tracks the accuracy of their moves and allows them to navigate through the game.

“The resurgence in the music games genre has been thrilling to watch in the lead up to E3 and we’re as optimistic as ever about the future of music gaming,” said Jason Altman, Executive Producer. “Last year Just Dance franchise sales reached 54 million units, and we’re very proud to make a game that is loved by so many. We work to make the game as accessible as possible, and this year, the new Just Dance Controller App will make the game available to millions of new players.”

Introduced this year, Just Dance Unlimited is a new subscription streaming service available for new-gen owners that allows players on Just Dance 2016 to access exclusive songs and the best tracks from previous Just Dance games. By subscribing to Just Dance Unlimited, players will enjoy more than 150 songs at launch and more throughout the year.

Just Dance 2016 also brings back fan-favorite features like Sweat & Playlists, along with all-new game modes exclusive to new-gen consoles, including:

• Dance Quests Mode: Players can unlock dance quests for a chance to “beat the game” for the first time ever. In each quest, players will play a series of three songs for a chance to advance to the next set of dance quest challenges.
• Dance Party Mode: In the Dance Party mode, players can dance along with their friends and family in the classic rival mode or dance together to get the highest collective score as a group in the first ever co-op mode.
• World Video Challenge: The all-new World Video Challenge allows players to send videos of their performances to challenge friends from all around the world and dance to their scores as if they were in the same room!

With more than 40 new tracks ranging from Billboard hits to classic throwback favourites, everyone in the entire family will have a favourite track to dance to. Just Dance 2016 tracks revealed at E3 include:

• “Want to Want Me” by Jason Derulo
• “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson Ft. Bruno Mars
• “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor
• “Hey Mama” by David Guetta Ft. Nicki Minaj, Afrojack & Bebe Rexha
• “Animals” by Martin Garrix
• “Blame” by Calvin Harris Ft. John Newman
• “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
• “Gibberish” by MAX
• “Hangover (BaBaBa)” by Buraka Som Sistema
• “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
• “Ievan Polkka” by Hatsune Miku
• “Let’s Groove” by Equinox Stars
• “William Tell – Overture” by Rossini

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Skylanders is bringing another trailblazing innovation with the launch of Skylanders SuperChargers releasing on September 25th in New Zealand and Australia.

Activision are the leaders of the toys-to-life category it created, and are expanding upon the franchise’s signature gameplay to introduce vehicles-to-life – an entirely new way for fans to experience the magic of Skylanders.

At the helm of powerful, tricked-out land, sea and sky vehicles, Portal Masters can engage in a high-octane action-adventure videogame like never before. Kids can speed across Skylands’ roads in vehicular combat, race down roaring rapids and engage in aerial dogfights as they barrel-roll through enemy swarms for the first time.

Developed by Vicarious Visions, Skylanders SuperChargers offers a rich story-driven gameplay experience, filled with vehicle-based and on-foot adventures, combat, puzzles, mini games, activities and platforming, set within a variety of all-new compelling environments.

“We created the toys-to-life category and have continued to lead it by bringing new innovations and new magic to the genre with each and every game. First we brought action figures to life, and now we’re bringing vehicles to life with Skylanders SuperChargers,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. “We love making these games because in order to do it well, you have to constantly tap into your inner kid. What kid hasn’t imagined epic vehicles with amazing powers and dreamed about the adventures they could have with them? Skylanders SuperChargers makes those dreams real.”

Skylanders SuperChargers features a brand-new class of heroes, called SuperChargers who are distinct with fresh moves, powerful attacks and all-new weapons.  These SuperChargers also have special in-game abilities that help Portal Masters fight Kaos.  Twenty new SuperChargers character toys and 20 new vehicle toys will be available.

Players will have the ability to customize all vehicles in-game with super cool modifications and upgradeable weapons.

For the ultimate gameplay experience, players can pair a SuperCharger Skylander with its signature vehicle to create a SuperCharged combination, unlocking an exclusive mod that revs up the performance of both the vehicle and character. Not only are the vehicles playable in the game, but also many feature moving parts, making them fun to play with outside of the game.  Additionally, Skylanders SuperChargers supports all 300+ Skylanders toys from previous games, enabling all Skylanders characters to pilot land, sea or sky-based vehicles.

“Since first partnering with Activision to bring the original Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure to our stores, we have believed whole-heartedly in the magic and innovation of this brand, as well as the company’s ability to reimagine and redefine play experiences with the toys-to-life concept,” said Richard Barry, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys“R”Us, Inc. “With each new introduction, Activision never disappoints its highly loyal fans of the franchise, and we are thrilled to continue to offer the broadest assortment of all Skylanders merchandise, including the newly introduced Skylanders SuperChargers.”

The game’s storyline focuses on Kaos’ latest attempt to rule Skylands. In his efforts to take down the Skylanders, Kaos has unleashed his most sinister weapon ever – a massive “Doomstation of Ultimate Doomstruction” capable of eating the sky itself!  Fortunately, Master Eon has seen the warning signs and assembled a special team of Skylanders to pilot an unstoppable fleet of land, sea and sky vehicles with the power to travel through the reign of destruction to stop Kaos!

Fans can pre-order Skylanders SuperChargers Starter Pack beginning on June 4th, 2015 at select retail destinations worldwide, which includes two new Skylanders characters, a first-of-its kind Skylanders vehicle, newly designed Portal of Power and the full game.

Skylanders SuperChargers will be available on Xbox 360 and  Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, Nintendo’s Wii U, and a different, unique adventure will be made available on Nintendo’s Wii and the Nintendo 3DS.

Additionally, the complete Skylanders SuperChargers experience will be available on iPad.

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