With December finally upon us, our minds have been drifting to the past 12 months, recalling what has been a surprisingly packed year of gaming. We've had surprise drops, indie hits and more than a few big names to tide over the Switch in its twilight year, but we can't help but feel that something has been missing: where were the Directs?
Okay, we understand that, behind the scenes, Nintendo's big guns have likely been full-steam ahead on 'Switch 2' for the majority of the year (something confirmed by a glance at the list of developers for this year's first-party line-up), but the showcase scarcity has been... noticeable.
Take this final third of the year, for example. Nintendo has given us a September Direct every year since 2017 without fail, but 2024 broke the chain. October was busy with surprise Alarmo, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition and Nintendo Music announcements, but these were only a faint whiff of a showcase that never materialised. Even November, a month where a Direct or even an Indie World felt like a no-brainer, came up empty-handed.
In fact, Nintendo has kept uncharacteristically schtum all year. 2024 brought us just one full-blown Direct in June, with a Partner Showcase grabbing the usual full-fat February slot and a standard April Indie World cropping up before the pair would team up for a back-to-back presentation in August. We've also had a couple of generously labelled "Directs" in the shape of the August Nintendo Museum tour and November's Super Nintendo World highlight, but nobody's really counting them, right?
Compare that to last year's three Nintendo Directs, two Indie Worlds and two special presentations for The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and things certainly start to feel a little more thinly spread.
And so, like Leia Organa to Obi-Wan Kenobi, we're looking to December as our only hope. Some kind of announcement isn't a complete pipe dream. A December Indie World was a mainstay of the calendar year from 2019 to 2021, and we've even had less formally structured announcements like 'Inside the House of Indies' in the past, too. Sure, 2023 didn't cough up anything substantial in its final month, but that's not enough for us to turn our backs on 2024 completely.
Naturally, the 'Switch 2' announcement is the biggie that we're all expecting in early 2025 (by 31st March, at least), but there's still room for the 'Switch 1' game line-up to be padded out a little before that. So far, Nintendo is bringing us Donkey Kong Country Returns HD in January and Xenoblade in March, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A cropping up at some point in the year too.
A hardware announcement will beef things up — though surely that's waiting until next year — but it'd be nice to have another couple of things to look forward to as we head into the opening months, no?
But what do you think? Are we finally going to get a Direct this month, or are we barking up the wrong Christmas tree? You can share your gut reaction in the following poll and then take to the comments to elaborate on your prediction.
What did you vote for? Let us know in the comments.
Comments 84
No. The final nail was slammed into the coffin a couple of weeks ago.
Unlikely, but it would be hilarious if one came out and everyone watched that instead of The Game Awards.
Nope or at most an Indie World, more than a regular Direct I expected a short video announcing the successor like they did for Switch, but even that isn't particularly likely considering we're now in December - at this point I expect a Direct in February as usual or in January which will hopefully include that announcement (as much as I'm still enjoying Switch myself it's time also considering we're getting closer and closer to the end of March deadline)!
With the exception of 2017, every year with an August Indie presentation had a December Indie presentation so I'm going to predict Indie World for December 16th or 17th. I don't think it would be next week because if Sony repeats what they did with Playstation 25th anniversary celebrations, there'll be a State of Play/PS Showcase on the 10th.
No. We will get a Switch 2 reveal w/ a lot of new games and a few dual releases and some DX DX ports but not in December, there's no point. January yes. February yes. Maybe as late as March. I just don't see the point in confusing everyone this focused on holiday shopping, promoting stuff they can't buy yet.
I would have bene ok w/ an early reveal in Oct or Nov like they did w/ Switch but it's too late now. Unless they are launching it in January, but they aren't. Looking like a summer launch to me. Which is weird, new consoles never launch in summer, but Nintnedo can do what they want. And it may make a nice graduation gift for some high school and college grads.
nope...you will not. Nintendo just announced bankruptcy. All the IPs are being sold off.
Definitely not going to see anything this month. They're raking in the final holiday sales for the Nintendo Switch, and I just don't think there is enough in the pipeline to have another Nintendo Direct focused exclusively on the current hardware.
A Nintendo Direct this month? Not likely unless it's for the amusement park or the museum again but there may be something Switch related announce at the Game Award. Something that's probably not as big or important though. Of course, Nintendo could still stealth announce another remaster for next year at any time just like how they did the Xenoblade Chronicles X Remastered. We just never know.
@Grumblevolcano " Indie World "
I'll accept an Indie World in December if, and only if, Silksong has a release date.😎 Are there really Indie Directs every December? Why? 🤷♂️
At most maybe an Indie World.
not until February and even then I doubt it there wasn't a general February Direct this year and no September Direct why would there be one next year
Absolutely! It will be a combined Nintendo Direct/Indie Word/Partner Showcase/Switch 2 reveal/Zelda Movie Direct/Pokemon Presents. The Indie World will end with Silksong. This will also be where Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are finally revealed for Switch. It will be announced December 11th and air at the same time as the Game Awards.
@Grumblevolcano that’s some good reasoning. I voted that there wouldn’t be anything until switch 2 announcement but you may have convinced me.
Pessimists Unite! It probably won’t go well if we did!
I'm guessing either:
1. Nothing
2. Some random game or news drop
3. Indie or Partner Direct Mini
I highly doubt we'll hear anything on the next system until after the holidays. Nintendo won't wanna hamstring Switch sales.
Lol, I wouldn't bet on it.
If we did though, that'd be great for me since it would mean I could 100% ignore the TGA this year.
Would have to be. I mean, basically ever expert, analyst, and media outlet has ensured us that the Switch successor will be released by the end of the year.
They can't ALL be wrong?
Right?
I think it’s possible there’s a Direct this month. It could by why it’s been quiet for longer than usual. Possibly a new console reveal or just surprise game announcements for Jan/Feb/March.
I’d say it’s possible only because Nintendo always does what we least expect.
We will get holiday adverts. Umm...that's it. I reckon we get a Feb Direct*. With DK in Jan and Xenoblade in March, whatever they have cooking for Feb will get shadow dropped during it. Hmm...Metroid Prime 2/3 maybe?
(As usual, I am always wrong.)
*That will not have the usual "Switch 2 will not be mentioned" tweet. But don't get excited, it's just the date for the March reveal and Youtubers, after creating an inordinate amount of hype, will feel like they were trolled.
I feel like it would be silly to not take advantage of a holiday partner showcase but I don't know what game Nintendo is playing right now so who knows
Nintendo has done Indie World events in December, so I wouldn't be surprised if that happens. But that's it. And no Silksong until 2025 (it's gonna be part of the Feb Direct/Switch 2 reveal).
Absolutely not. What they've been doing in recent months is something like a Twitter Direct, which is close enough.
Firmly in the no way camp. Wouldn’t want to detract from those last min Xmas sales. Most likely we’ll get something in Jan / Feb possibly Mar at latest.
I think Nintendo will have a February game announced at the game awards (Metroid Prime 2/3 or another short notice remaster). Either that or it just comes as a social media post like Xenoblade X.
Beyond that I wouldn't expect more than an Indie showcase.
I doubt it but is possible I suppose
With the Christmas shopping coming? Nope. Except if they have a shadow drop game, but that will not have anything about Switch 2.
@fawful-7 Anything is possible ofc.
People unironically expect "Switch 2" month after month, and Directs are a lot more down-to-earth.😆 On the other hand, the proximity of holiday sales does make a full Direct seem less likely, especially since we've had January ones before IIRC. IWs, though, have been a December occurrence as well, and a Partner showcase feels equally probable because TGA mostly endorses and consequently attracts trailers for the TV-chained stuff anyway. Freemiums can get releases (including Direct-fueling shadowdrops) with little concern for the holiday sales, too... and remind me, have there been any Switchbound ones, maybe even four years in the making?😜
@rjejr 2018 - 2021 were the years there was an August Indie presentation followed by a December one. 2022 and 2023 didn't have either, there was one in November instead. 2024 brought back the August Indie World so December Indie World would bring back the old pattern.
As for Silksong, if it reappears this year I think it would be more likely to be at the Game Awards.
Probably don’t plan on saying anything until next summer because we all will sit patiently and wait!
😂🤣🤦♂️🤦♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
If they do it'll be a small one to show off some indie or 3rd party games. It would be dumb to reveal Switch 2 when holiday shopping is in full swing and the thing you're revealing isn't available to purchase yet.
We didn't get our usual November Indie World, and given how third-parties are already somewhat winding down on Switch and Nintendo's also preparing to focus on their next system, upcoming indies are probably the main thing they have left to show by now. So I can definitely see there being an Indie World at some point this month, though not a repeat of Inside the House of Indies because that format did not take off in 2022.
No but I wouldn’t be mad if there was!
I would hardly call them quiet months. A steady stream of trailers have been added to the youtube channel for months now.
Probably yes when switch 2 will be released in june what i heard
I hope there is one and it's for something like a new Game and Watch or Nintendo Music. The twilight Switch months have been fantastic for stringing along the people who apparently hinge their enjoyment of life on Nintendo making the successor announcement.
Definitely not, it would upend a lot of things… many people have already completed Christmas shopping, or are in the process of it now, and showcasing new games or systems this late would likely make a lot of people angry or cause them to return games or systems to wait for new releases instead. From a business standpoint this would be very bad to do a direct now. I would expect one in February, after the Christmas season has settled down. And of course that will showcase the switch successor and release day games.
There is no way for a Direct.
My guess is that we will have the Switch 2 review early January.
No. As said in june/july/august/september poll there’s no reason to have a nintendo direct. They’re already promoting the january game. We will get Metroid 4 trailer at the game awards with a metroid 2 and 3 possibly shadow drops but february physical release, and xenoblade x in March.
And in January there will be a switch 2 reveal and a lineup of games that will be enhanced by switch 2 from april onwards. I bet there’s a late April or May release of the system.
Who’s with me?
Maybe we will see something at the game awards?
Y'all stop pretending. I already reported you all to Nintendo and exposed you as the Palworld devs you are. NONE OF YOU ARE GETTING A NINTENDO DIRECT. A Nintendo Indirect from their lawyers, however...
Has there ever been a Nintendo Direct in December? It would be like Nintendo telling their customers: "Hey don't spend your Christmas money on us, because we have better things coming up in the near future!"
Nintendo will have a big SWITCH 2 reveal event in January. Announcing a Spring/Summer 2025 release with a new 3D Mario title launching alongside it. Maybe we will get a MP4 Direct soon with a release date.
I'm not expecting it in December, but I'd love to get one final Switch-focused Direct before the big "Switch 2" presentation that gives us the last handful of first-party games we've been hoping for. Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD, Metroid Prime 2 and 3, a new Mario Baseball, Kid Icarus Uprising remastered, Yoshi's Woolly World maybe a new Wario Land or Rythm Heaven. Mostly ports and basic remasters, as well as some more niche budget titles.
Maybe we could get a Switch Direct in February and a Switch 2 reveal in March? I'm not counting on it, but that would be my ideal scenario.
That subheading could be a Rush reference, but I doubt it, sadly...
If Nintendo had more to show they'd have done it before Black Friday. They've shown us what they've got for this year, and anything else to show for next year would cut into Christmas sales.
Very small chance of a dec direct, it’s going to be switch 2 related, but it really doesn’t make sense if they want to ensure Xmas sales of the switch 1. So for me it’s jan or feb announcement.
File me under "doubtful." January, after the holiday rush, is more likely, especially leading up to Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and a rundown of what's coming out for Switch leading up to the Switch Successor, which I'm trying to avoid calling Switch 2, just in case they wanna avoid the PlayStation thing of just going 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc., and seem like they're imitating. I've been calling it the Switch Neo, personally!
No, but there doesn't need to be. These past three months might have been quiet in terms of Directs, but not in terms of game releases(getting Echoes of Wisdom, Jamboree and Brothership) and even the announcement of Xenoblade X.
Their next move is the Switch 2 reveal within the first 3 months of the new year.
Maybe we'll see something at TGA (MP4, MP2 and MP3 Remastered), but I doubt we'll see a full direct. But honestly, anything can happen at this point.
No. Not a chance. Things like the music app and Xeno remaster very much would have been in a direct. Instead they where just announced online.
Was Miyamoto playing the DK Bongos not enough for you?!
The direct will be on the 30th December.
It will announce the new console release date and preorder dates.
And maybe a couple of game titles that will be released for both the new address old console.
Next update will be early next year with the Switch 2 reveal, hopefully in January. I'm sure they have more games in the pipeline other than what we know of for 2025, but Switch is past it now and it's time to move on.
I doubt we'll get a Direct or console reveal. About the only time that would come close to making sense is between Christmas and New Year's Eve, and unless they plan on dropping a massive marketing campaign tied into the latter, it'd be easier to just scout out a quiet week early next year so they can dominate the spotlight.
Not this month so I can focus of playing my current games.
No Nintendo Direct until 2025.
It would be nice to have one in December but I’m not holding my breath.
Unlikely until January. But nothing is impossible.
Unlikely. But I live in hope they’ll drop WW and TP as a final Christmas treat.
In December? Why should they announce games now that don't release after Christmas, when they want their current lineup to sell?
Nintendo still want to sell their switch 1 on christmas , so no, maybe early next year.
I don’t see it happening this year. I’m hoping the next direct will either be switch 2 announcement or Metroid prime 4 gameplay.
Totally expect an indie world.
No answer choice for "we're not getting a direct in December, I'm not hopeful about it, and the next direct still won't be switch successor focused" but I'd cast a vote for that if I could
@NintendoWife Why do they have an indie world literally every December right before Christmas? I'd assume the same reason would apply here.
See y'all next year for the next Direct.
Can't be this side of Christmas, with all the different variants of Switch bundles. They're going hard because everything is Switch 2 from here out.
I choose other as I think Switch 2 3rd party games will be said about at GOTY. We already had yokee layliee and the eyes I predict a update on that and that other title people are taking about with no name. If that name happens to be GTA 6 (it won't) than I be shocked.
@link3710 Does it? Many Indies are digital only, many are available immediately, and most importantly: They don't compete with first party titles in the slightest. On the contrary, it's low-key filler content for Nintendo.
Hasn't it always been the case that Nintendo's Christmas lineup is announced around late summer, sees a staggered release in fall and then Nintendo keeps quiet until after the holidays?
@Grumblevolcano " As for Silksong, if it reappears this year "
It's never reappearing. 😂 Though I wonder if my kid would watch if I told them there was a chance it would?😉
Just some NSO titles added for Christmas (announced in social media, no Direct).
If it’s for Super Switch, don’t expect that until like January
None of the options really match up for me. I think there will likely be at least 1 more direct for Switch 1, but not this month.
No chance! That is my unconditional and unequivocal answer if it were an option. So, answered "No way! Nothing until 'Switch 2' reveal now". No, I expect a Direct before a reveal, with the Direct early next year about upcoming games and an "announcement about the successor" as Nintendo promised. That announcement is likely basic information about its form and features, and when it might be revealed. It's sad to see so much media (not this site, thankfully) traffic in lies that Nintendo will reveal it by end of the fiscal year. Let's not forget all the ludicrous rumours of a reveal this year (2024), and even a release. I wish one website kept track of them all, including those way back to the "Switch Pro" hysteria.
@NintendoWife No, they have had an Indie World in November or December every year since 2018, and all but one year that had a November Indie World had a Nintendo focused direct in December instead, usually on a specific game. The chances of one occurring this year aren't exactly negligible, Switch 2 or not.
I highly doubt we'll get a 1st party direct, but no direct at all isn't the most likely option either.
They could have done one november 1st with all the weird thing. They decided not to and just dripple
Until the switch 2
Hopefully. It is downright odd we have seen so little information about 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' when reports before were it was going to be coming out in the first half of 2025. Usually by now we have some pictures, video game footage or information about the new Pokemon that are going to be in the game but with the way things are looking I am starting to doubt we will get 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' until 2026 or 2027.
@link3710 Ok Indies I don’t know, that’s kinda decoupled from any critical events. Might happen yes.
@eltomo 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' is not Nintendo Switch 2. It is going to be on Nintendo Switch 1 which is why it is really weird we have yet to get more information about it. The producers of the game have said it will be on Nintendo Switch so the fact they are taking so long to reveal more information about it makes me think Switch 2 isn't coming out anytime soon either since Pokemon is one of their big franchises.
We should have a big 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' reveal this month with game footage.
Na. That'll be Jan when Nintendo unveils the next Switch.
Schtum - an informal British English idiom that means to be silent or to not say anything about something.
On topic, no there will not be a direct this December that reveals 1st party content.
@AvianBlue Borrowed from Yiddish שטום (shtum, “mute, dumb, voiceless”), from Middle High German stum, from Old High German stum, from Proto-West Germanic *stumm. And in the Netherlands, Stom also has several meanings, the original being mute, but it's also being used when we don't like something we say it's "Stom".
On topic: There won't be a Nintendo Direct this year if you ask me. There's nothing to announce and instead, I think Nintendo will blast into 2025 with big annoucements to keep momentum going.
I say yes there definitely will be something in December.
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