Some kind of neat stuff in there, but it looks like the only really big deal is Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
Although I did find it interesting that instead of making a new Mario Kart they are just releasing dlc for it instead. 5 years after it came out, and it was a port of a Wii U version. Insane. I guess it sells so well they have no need to make a new version.
Nintendo still hasn't done a big E3 sized Direct for the games coming out within the next year, but they did have a 20 minute deep dive into the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
After months of fans being obsessed over when a new Nintendo Direct might reveal itself, Nintendo finally released one a few days ago focused on the games coming out in the next 6 or so months.
Full Version:
Highlights:
Fire Emblem Engage was announced. This was leaked a few months ago and is made in collaboration with jrpg makers Gust (apparent in the art and character design). The central hook seems to be equipping characters from previous games as accessories in battle. The main character also has an awful red+blue hair/eye color scheme that is supposedly meant to invoke the red and blue haired main characters from previous games.
The sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild got a new trailer and finally revealed it's subtitle: Tears of the Kingdom. It also gets a release date in May of next year.
Octopath Traveler 2 announced.
Pikmin 4 announced but not shown.
Updates on things we already knew about. Bayonetta 3, Splatoon 3, Mario+Rabbids, Front Mission remakes, DLC for games already out, etc etc.
While not big news, there were an amusing amount of farm sims shown off. A remake of an old Harvest Moon game, a port of a Rune Factory game, and at least two other new games from other companies made in that same style.
First big Nintendo Direct of 2023, showing some of the games coming out in the first half of 2023. No huge bombshells but they showed a decent amount of stuff. Not going to list everything.
Full Version:
Nintendo Stuff:
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Just another teaser trailer. It has a few extra glimpses on what is new with the game without going into detail on anything. The big news about this wasn't even talked about in the Direct, but pre-orders are now open and it has been revealed that this game will be $70. No specific reason was given. Other companies have begun charging this much, using new hardware as an excuse. So far this is the only game from Nintendo with this increased price.
Pikmin 4 - Short gameplay trailer. Adds an ice pikmin that can freeze things and a dog character that helps in various ways. They also teased gameplay taking place at night, when the monsters are more active.
Bayonetta Origins - Showed a bit more gameplay. You apparently control two characters at once, with only one doing the actual attacking.
Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp - Remakes of old strategy games, delayed after Russia invaded Ukraine. Nintendo has just been sitting on it and finally decided to release it. New release date is in April.
Metroid Prime Remastered - Remake of the first person Metroid from the Gamecube. Looks good. $40. Best of all, it was released (digitally) the same day as a surprise.
Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 Remastered - An updated re-release of popular jrpgs from the Gamecube. Apparently the gameplay is based on a card system, and cards evolve and gain (or lose) abilities in real time. Like a food item being a healing effect but then spoiling and becoming an attack card instead.
Third Party Stuff:
Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection - Re-releases of the first three games from a dungeon crawling rpg series from the DS era. The pricing for this one is insane. $80 for the pack, or $40 per game.
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie - A visual novel style adventure game from the makers of Life is Strange. Strong emphasis on choices and branching paths with you choosing various deities that represent different concepts.
Disney Illusion Island - 4 player sidescrolling platformer visually based on one of the newer incarnations of Mickey Mouse and friends.
They also announced Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games coming to Nintendo Switch Online (GBA is in the more expensive tier). They talked about DLC and Season Passes for Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Fire Emblem Engage, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 3. Various games (Octopath, Sea of Stars) got demos, etc etc.
While not a Direct, they did release a gameplay demonstration video for Tears of the Kingdom today. It's not much but I feel like it was sorely needed after a long line of teaser trailers that went into depth on basically nothing.
If you don't want to watch the video, they essentially showed three new abilities.
1) A rewind ability on objects, to send them back to their point of origin.
2) A fuse ability that lets you combine objects together, allowing you to create new types of effects for shields and weapons, as well as traversal.
3) An ability that lets you go through ceilings to the floor above.
Last edited by Wool; March 28th, 2023 at 09:12 PM.
Nintendo had another Direct today, showing things for the last half of the year. There were a couple cool things but pretty underwhelming in general. A lot of people keep hoping for a Switch successor announcement, but there is no word of one yet.
Full Version:
Highlights:
Super Mario Bros. Wonder - A new 2D Mario game. The gimmick seems to be flowers that make the world change in hallucinogenic ways. It's very weird. I wouldn't be surprised if Ubisoft is making this game for Nintendo (it reminds me of Rayman). There have been a lot of rumors about a follow-up to Mario Odyssey, so I was kind of disappointed to see this as their big reveal.
Super Mario RPG - A remake of a classic SNES Squaresoft RPG.
Untitled Princess Peach game - Just a teaser. The gameplay gimmick seems to involve Peach transforming into different outfits as part of a stage play.
Pikmin - They showed more gameplay for Pikmin 4 and announced versions of Pikmin 1 and 2 for the Switch available now on the eShop.
Nintendo had their (seemingly traditional) September Direct about a week ago, showcasing their next six month of game releases. There have been pretty strong indications that next year they will reveal their Switch successor. Nothing official yet, but this Direct did feel like a last batch of support for an outgoing platform. While Nintendo does still have new games in development, they seem relatively subdued in comparison to their bigger releases and most of them are remakes. Still, it's a fair amount of stuff.
Highlights:
Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door - Remake of a beloved Gamecube rpg, their biggest announcement in this showcase.
Super Mario RPG - Previously announced remake of a SNES rpg. Shows some of the new features this version will have.
Princess Peach Showtime - Previously announced, they showed gameplay of it. Princess Peach wears different stage costumes to get different powers.
F-Zero 99 - New free multiplayer game for Nintendo Online subscribers. It's a nostalgia racer + battle royale.
Mario vs Donkey Kong - A remake of a GBA puzzle game.
Another Code Recollection - Remakes of old DS adventure games.
Unicorn Overlord - New game from Vanillaware (Odin Sphere, 13 Sentinels). Looks like an Ogre Battle style strategy rpg.
I'm not going to list it all, but the rest was decent too. I'll also point out that the upcoming Mario Wonder wasn't shown because it had it's own Direct a few weeks before this one that showed off a lot of gameplay.
Nintendo had a direct the other day showing off the games they will be releasing in the last half of 2024. It was pretty decent overall, considering they are clearly winding down support for the Switch with the successor coming sometime next year.
Highlights:
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - This game was infamous announced before they had anything to show before falling into development hell. They ended up rebooting the entire project and this is the first we've seen of it since. They actually show gameplay this time too. This is easily the biggest thing they showed, arguably the only big thing they showed. I was a little weirded out at first, as it looked like they were turning it into a standard sci-fi shooter, but it was pointed out to me that the third game in the series had already done just that. Note that this is not a 2024 game, they showed it as a hype machine at the end of the presentation.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - This is a Zelda game made in the classic top-down style, using the same art style as the Link's Awakening remake (toy-like). The primary hook to this particular entry is the fact that it finally features Zelda herself as a playable (main) character. There's a catch though, as it's kind of a puzzle game. Zelda doesn't fight herself but rather summons things to solve problems for her. Like, chairs and beds and stuff. It's weird, but will probably still be fun.
Mario and Luigi: Brothership - This is a new entry in the Mario and Luigi rpg series. This was largely a handheld series known for quirky game exploration mechanics, as well as the same turn-based combat with timed inputs that many of the other Mario rpgs have. While Paper Mario often has Mario gathering a party, these games tend to be about the two brothers, with mechanics having them alternate button presses. I'm a little surprised at this one, as I'm pretty sure Nintendo shut down the original studio that makes these and put the series on hiatus a while back.
Super Mario Party Jamboree - Another entry in the popular Mario competitive board game series. The unique thing about this one seems to be online support, as well as a large roster of playable characters. Whereas a normal game can have up to 4 players, this version has an online mode with 20 players competing.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD - A remake/port of a Wii/3DS game. This one is a bit strange. Of the two recent Donkey Kong games, they had already ported what was supposedly the superior game (Tropical Freeze) a long time ago. To go back to the well so late rather than make something new is very strange to me. Probably a result of teams switching over to the next console, but still weird.
The third party games weren't as interesting but there were still a few worth mentioning:
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection - This is a spinoff series for Ace Attorney released back on the Nintendo DS and (as far as I'm aware) never released again, until now. Where the main games have you playing as a defense attorney trying to prove clients innocent, these games have you play as the prosecutor trying to find proof of guilt. I think investigation phase might be different as well but I haven't played them to know for sure.
Dragon Quest I, II, and III HD-2D remakes - Exactly what it sounds like. Square Enix is remaking the first few Dragon Quest games in Octopath Traveler's style. III was already known, I and II were a surprise announcement and coming next year.
Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game - A social/farming sim taking place in Middle Earth.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero - A new strategy rpg from the makers of Disgaea.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure - I'm going to be honest. I completely ignored this, but I heard later it's actually good so might as well mention it. Its very similar to Animal Crossing, but apparently has exploration inspired by the recent Zelda games.
Lego Horizon Adventures - A new Lego game based on Sony's Horizon series. This was actually shown (announced?) at Summer Game Fest but I haven't gotten around to posting about it yet, so might as well mention it here too.
There was a lot more but this is about as long a post as I can stand to make. full presentation
Last week of March had another Nintendo Direct. This one was focused on highlighting some upcoming Switch games ahead of the Switch 2 launch. A Nintendo Direct focused entirely on the Switch 2 itself will be available on April 2nd.
As you might expect from a console on the way out, they didn't really have all that much big news to share. They showed off the next Pokemon game, which I think is being considered a mainline title despite carrying the Legends moniker. This new title will have real time combat and takes place entirely within a city from one of the past games.
They also showed some gameplay for Metroid Prime 4 and announced a new Tomodachi Life game, which I presume is some kind of Nintendo branded Sims style game. Most of the rest consisted of a lot of small, niche titles that probably aren't going to be exclusive to the Switch. I think the one I saw the most excitement for was a new side scrolling beat'em up starring Marvel characters.
Release Date - June 05, 2025
Price - $450 (read more about this in the next post)
Bundle - $500 with Mario Kart World included
Hardware:
1080p screen with support for up to 120 fps
Slightly larger screen, LCD with HDR support
The new dock has a larger fan for cooling and supports 4K at 60fps
Comes with 256GB of storage
Expanded storage uses MicroSD Express instead of the old MicroSD format
The detachable Joycon controllers are now held in place with magnets
The controllers, when detached, can be used like a computer mouse
Misc other improvements, like button/stick size changes, new audio, new stand, etc
New Features:
Controllers have a new C button. This button is used for their new voice chat functionality. You can now join group chats with friends whether you are playing the same games or not. You can also see streamed video of what they are playing and if you buy the new camera addon you can facetime each other as well. Some games will use this camera to show your face in game as well.
GameShare - Multiplayer games can be shared locally, such that only one person playing has to own a copy of the game. Not exactly a new feature in the world of gaming, but maybe new for Nintendo.
Nintendo Switch Online: Gamecube games. I'm not sure if they are paywalling this or if the old Switch just can't handle Gamecube emulation.
Backwards Compatibility
They list three types of games that can be played on Switch 2.
1) Switch 2 exclusive games.
2) Switch games that are compatible with Switch 2. They have a list of games that currently do not run or do not run correctly.
3) Enhanced versions of Switch games playable on Switch 2. They are basically updated re-releases. If you want a better frame rate in Breath of the Wild, pay up.
It's worth noting that if you already own the original version, you are only paying to upgrade it. Not fully rebuy the entire game again. They will probably also sell these versions separately for those that do not have the original. I haven't seen any official prices yet.
The features you get in these enhanced versions seem to be a combination of better visuals (resolution, frame rate, HDR), and Switch 2 hardware support (mouse functionality, camera). Kirby and the Forgotten Land seems to be getting new content as well, with a new story being included.
Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Games:
Mario Kart World - Their big launch title. There was a lot going on in the trailer and I don't think I caught all of it. It looks pretty expansive compared to Mario Kart 8. The most obvious new gameplay feature is a mode in which you actually drive to the next race on a world map. The player count also seems pretty high. There are also weather affects and a free roam mode exploration mode.
Donkey Kong Bananza - Looks like a new 3D platform adventure game. Seems to feature destructible terrain. This is their second big game. Coming in July.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - In collaboration with Koei Tecmo. Much like the other Hyrule Warriors games, these are Zelda versions of KT's semi-popular Dynasty Warriors games. With the player picking a character and then wiping out hordes of enemy units on a battlefield with special attacks. The story for this spinoff is based on Zelda's arc from Tears of the Kingdom, with her discovering the origins of the ancient civilization that Hyrule was built off of. Coming winter of this year.
Kirby Air Riders - Just an announcement teaser. I think these were party game/racing games. The notable thing is that it is being made by Masahiro Sakurai, the lead on the Smash Brothers series.
The Duskbloods - A new game from From Software, kind of using Bloodborne's aesthetic. Except this time it's vampires! It gets very weird. It also looks pretty low budget. I've also seen it suggested that it's a multiplayer game. I would keep expectations low, but From Software fans got pretty excited when it was announced.
Drag X Drive - A wheelchair basketball game meant to show off the Joycon's mouse abilities. Sort of looks like a low budget tech demo.
Switch 2 Welcome Tour - Another tech demo meant to show off the Switch 2's new features and capabilities. It looks even more low budget. And you have to pay for it! Maybe it's only $10 or something, but I don't see many people paying for this.
Third Party Game Support:
This might be the closest Nintendo has ever come to console parity. Their own Nintendo launch lineup is basically two big games, two collaborations, and a few things that no one will care about. But the third party support was exhaustive and took forever to get through.
This includes:
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition
Hades II
Split Fiction
Hogwarts Legacy
Cyberpunk 2077
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Borderlands 4
Civilization 7
Star Wars Outlaws
Two Point Museum
Hitman World of Assassination
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
Street Fighter 6
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4
Yakuza 0
Deltarune Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
Various sports titles
+ more
Let's talk about price. The $450 price doesn't surprise me at all, but a lot of people seem to be upset. I'm not sure why people thought they would get 4K support for sub $300, but whatever.
Here's the interesting thing. Nintendo is selling a region-locked Japan only Switch 2 for $333. This trend isn't exactly new, as according to cursory internet research, the original Switch is sold for $270 in Japan and $300 in North America. That went from a 10% difference to a 35% difference. I wonder what could be causing it, hmmmm.
So yeah, people are upset.
I haven't seen any other games following suit, but Mario Kart World is also going to be $80. I've also seen it suggested that this is the digital price, and that the physical version will be $90. (no confirmation on this one, might just be a rumor) Now they aren't just upset, they are fuming!
Edit: I forgot to say, they didn't even announce the price in the Direct presentation. They knew it was bad news and didn't address it at all, letting the news leak out from third parties scraping info from the updates on the Japanese website.
Forgot to say, the pre-order date for the Switch 2 was going to be April 9th. Except it got delayed to "assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions". That's right, it can get worse!
New preorder date for the Switch 2 in the US is April 24th. Console and game prices have stayed the same, but they've increased the prices of peripherals and controllers by about $5-10.
Supposedly video game hardware does not qualify for the exemption to tariffs that smartphones and computers have apparently received, so I have no idea if this is temporary or not.
Last edited by Wool; April 18th, 2025 at 05:09 PM.
Nintendo released a Direct just for Donkey Kong Bonanza about a week ago. There's more going on than it first seemed, and people seemed pretty positive about it.
The Switch 2 has been out for a few months now, and people have been eagerly awaiting a new Direct to show what games or updates might be coming to it in the future. Nintendo finally released one about a week ago.
A large focus was on announcing the next Mario movie. It will be titled The Super Mario Galaxy movie and comes out next year. They are also re-releasing Mario Galaxy and Galaxy 2 from the Wii for the Switch. This was presented as being part of Super Mario's 40th Anniversary. While not directly related, they also announced a new Yoshi game about exploring a storybook during this section.
Their big announcement, saved for the end, was the reveal of the next Fire Emblem game, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. Not much is said at this stage, other than introducing characters and hints that this takes place in the same world as Three Houses.
Other new games include:
Mario Tennis Fever - Another Mario sports game, obviously. Rackets have special abilities, and there is a campaign mode where you play as baby characters. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined - Remake of an older game using a unique art style. It looks almost like stop-motion toys come to life, rather than the typical anime style or "2D-3D" style used in other DQ games. Pokemon Pokopia - It's a Pokemon life-sim/farming/crafting game where you play as a Ditto that is pretending to be a human and taking character of other Pokemon. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection - Actually announced a month or so ago, but also included here. This is their rpg spin-off series to Monster Hunter.
They also announced paid DLC for several games, including the recently released Donkey Kong Bananza, announced the release date for some previously announced games (Metroid, Hyrule Warriors), and announced that Virtual Boy games are coming to their Nintendo Online service. For anyone that doesn't know, Virtual Boy was an early failed attempt at mass-market 3D. They were awkward goggles that rendered all games in black and red, and the system is one of their biggest failures. Commemorating it is surprising and amusing.
You need special hardware to play these games though, so it is likely a novelty that most will ignore.
I'm not going to break them down here, but it's also worth mentioning that they are showing continued support for the old Switch hardware, with some games coming out for both it and Switch 2.
Trailers:
P.S. An annoyance I've noticed with Capcom is that the stand-alone trailers they upload tend to be different than the ones found within the presentations themselves. Very weird and very annoying for someone like me looking them up again later to post.
Last edited by Wool; September 18th, 2025 at 08:16 PM.
Nintendo arguably popularized this "direct" video format for announcing games, but have seemed to stop doing them. People keep expecting a new one that never comes. They also have just been announcing games randomly, rather than packing them all together in one collection of seasonal releases.
Once such surprise announcement was for a new Star Fox game on Switch 2. It's mostly a remake of Star Fox 64 with new graphics, cutscenes, and a new multiplayer mode. They announced this about a month ago and I just never got around to posting about it.
Nintendo arguably popularized this "direct" video format for announcing games, but have seemed to stop doing them. People keep expecting a new one that never comes. They also have just been announcing games randomly, rather than packing them all together in one collection of seasonal releases.
Once such surprise announcement was for a new Star Fox game on Switch 2. It's mostly a remake of Star Fox 64 with new graphics, cutscenes, and a new multiplayer mode. They announced this about a month ago and I just never got around to posting about it.
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