Daily Dip – April 2, 2026: Video Game News Done Right

Welcome back to the Daily Dip, your no-nonsense rundown of everything that matters in gaming today. April 2nd came in hot with a blockbuster movie dominating the box office, a notable patent rejection for Nintendo, a major studio acquisition, juicy handheld rumors, and a handful of new releases worth your attention. Let's get into it.

Super Mario Galaxy Movie Blasts Off at the Box Office

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — the latest collaboration between Nintendo and Illumination — opened on April 1st to a stunning estimated $34–34.5 million domestic opening day, making it the biggest opening day of 2026 so far and the strongest Wednesday opening in April on record. Early tracking suggests the five-day domestic haul will be massive, and global interest is building fast. Nintendo and Illumination clearly have lightning in a bottle again, and this time they're taking audiences to the stars — literally. If you loved the charm of the 2023 film, this one leans even deeper into Nintendo's beloved universe. (Source: Nintendo Everything, Box Office Mojo)

Nintendo Patent Rejected by USPTO

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a non-final rejection of a Nintendo patent titled "summon sub-character and let it fight," with all 26 claims deemed obvious based on prior art. The patent describes a gameplay mechanic where players summon AI-controlled sub-characters to battle on their behalf — a concept that has obvious parallels to Pokémon-style auto-battling and has drawn significant attention given Nintendo's ongoing legal disputes with Palworld developer Pocketpair. This is a non-final rejection, meaning Nintendo has the opportunity to respond, amend claims, or appeal. Don't count them out — Nintendo's legal team is nothing if not persistent. (Source: USPTO filing, Game File)

Shift Up Acquires Unbound

In a move that has the industry buzzing, Shift Up — the South Korean studio behind the hit action title Stellar Blade — has fully acquired Unbound, the Tokyo-based studio founded by legendary developer Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil, The Evil Within). Shift Up will handle publishing duties for Unbound's upcoming projects, pairing Mikami's decades of survival horror expertise with Shift Up's growing momentum and resources. This is a power move that signals Shift Up's ambition to become a major global player. For fans who appreciate studios that prioritize gameplay and bold creative vision, this partnership has serious potential. (Source: IGN, Famitsu)

PlayStation Handheld Rumors Heat Up

Leaked specs circulating online for a rumored future PlayStation handheld suggest it could outperform the Xbox Series S in both rasterization and ray tracing performance, with advanced upscaling technology that may even surpass what Nintendo's Switch 2 offers. These remain unconfirmed insider claims for now, but if even partially accurate, Sony could be gearing up to make a serious play in the handheld space. We'll keep an eye on this one — take it with a grain of salt until something official drops. (Source: Insider Gaming)

PS Plus Essential – April Lineup

Sony revealed the PlayStation Plus Essential games for April, available to claim starting April 7th: Lords of the Fallen, Tomb Raider I–III Remastered, and Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream. The Tomb Raider collection alone makes this a solid month — those remasters are a faithful love letter to the originals with modernized visuals. Not a bad haul at all. (Source: PlayStation Blog)

Today's Releases

Darwin's Paradox! — This tactical stealth platformer puts you in control of an octopus navigating dangerous environments using camouflage, suction arms, and ink-based abilities. It's a creative concept with tight mechanics, available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Physical editions are available through Limited Run Games — collectors, take note. (Source: Limited Run Games, developer press release)

Fishbowl — A narrative-driven experience that explores life through the lens of intimate, everyday moments. Available digitally on PC and consoles.

Temtem: Swarm — A roguelike creature collector spin-off from the Temtem universe. If you enjoy the monster-taming loop with some run-based chaos layered on top, this one's worth a look. Available digitally.

Morkull: Ascend to the Gods — An action platformer with old-school sensibilities and a mythological twist. Available digitally on multiple platforms.

That's today's Daily Dip. Which headline caught your eye today — the Galaxy movie's massive opening, that Nintendo patent drama, or the Shift Up acquisition? Drop your thoughts below. Honest takes only.