Every Nintendo Direct Presentation - Full Broadcast History List

Nintendo started its series of Nintendo Direct presentations back in 2011, delivering Nintendo hardware and software reveals, updates, and release dates direct *does the famous Iwata 'direct to you' gesture* to you in a video broadcast that has come in a variety of forms over the years.

In this Nintendo Direct guide, we cover all the different varieties of Nintendo Direct, when the last one was, and when the next Nintendo Direct might be. We also have a full list of Nintendo Directs since their inception, including the original Nintendo Direct broadcast day and date, a link to our archived coverage, and the duration of the broadcast.

Nintendo Direct Full List - Every Presentation Ever

Below is a full list of every Nintendo Direct presentation broadcast in the West since the beginning of the series in 2011. We will update this list as new Nintendo Directs are announced and broadcast.

Click on the title in the Type column to watch any of the presentations again, or see a round-up of the announcements. Click on the headers to sort by Type or Duration.

Note. We've excluded Pokémon Presents showcases from this list.

2024

The first Nintendo Direct of 2024 was broadcast on 21st February, followed by an Indie World Showcase on 17th April. We'll update this guide when further announcements are made.

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the next Nintendo Direct?

Ha, good one.

Oh, you really want to know? Well, analysis of the date-based data above suggests that Nintendo will likely stick to a similar cadence from past years when it comes to 'full-fat' Nintendo Direct presentations.

Over the past few years, the schedule has one early in the year (around February), one in June (typically to coincide with the now-defunct E3), and another in September in the run-up to the lucrative holiday season.

There's no reason to think Nintendo won't stick to a similar timetable with future Directs. It's an established formula that works with/around scheduling for other major events in the gaming and business calendars. While the company enjoys playing with and subverting people's expectations, there's no reason to give up on a marketing strategy and timetable that, historically, has been a winner.

Bearing all this in mind, the smart money says to expect the next Nintendo Direct sometime in June 2024. Just don't bet the house on it.

And remember, while the real blow-outs tend to some two or three times a year, a smaller broadcast could be announced at pretty much any time.

When was the last Nintendo Direct?

At the time of writing, the last Nintendo Direct was the Partner Showcase February 2024, broadcast on 21st February.

What is Nintendo Direct?

Nintendo Directs are videos created by Nintendo to announce and showcase upcoming video games and hardware, directly to fans via broadcasts presented by Nintendo employees.

Starting in October 2011, Nintendo has put out regular Direct presentations of different types — some focusing on a specific game or system, with others featuring third-party publishers or indie games. Other Direct showcases cover non-gaming, Nintendo-related products, such as The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Nintendo Direct Types

Nintendo Direct

The flagship 'full-fat' format, typically showcasing a mix of first- and third-party titles and hardware or peripherals. Before 2017, these could include system-specific Nintendo Directs for the 3DS or Wii U, until the company converged its handheld and home console hardware into a single system, the Switch.

Nintendo E3 Direct presentations took place for several years before halting in 2020 when E3 was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Nintendo Direct Mini / Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase

As per the name, a shorter version of the Direct format. Narrators introduce and discuss the game in segments, with headline-style inserts before gameplay is shown. Partner Showcases feature no first-party Nintendo software, highlighting third-party games only.

Indie World

A format that highlights games from smaller developers and publishers. Preceded by Nindies Showcases and Indie Highlights presentation.

One-Off Nintendo Direct Specials

On occasion, Nintendo will produce a game or series-specific Direct to showcase a single game. Examples of this include the 'Mr Sakurai Presents' Super Smash Bros. Direct DLC presentations, the Super Mario Bros. 35th Anniversary Nintendo Direct, and the Super Nintendo World Direct.

Pokémon Direct / Pokémon Presents

A broadcast devoted to, as the name suggests, all things Pokémon. These are presented by employees of The Pokémon Company rather than Nintendo staff and often cover non-gaming Pokémon events and products, in addition to software news.

As a recurrent, series-specific presentation, we haven't included Pokémon Presents in the lists above.

Hopefully this Nintendo Direct guide has been useful. We'll be updating it with new information, direct to you, as and when it drops — this will remain the place for all your past Nintendo Direct needs.