Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@skywake At the same time though, if they were trying to save games for new hardware, why are they so eager to push out Splatoon 3 and BotW2 right now? If new hardware was imminent, why would they be so gung ho on pushing them out on the Switch's twilight years instead of saving them for the launch of the new hardware? Doubly so when they're doing the opposite with Mario Kart and some people think they're doing the same with 3D Mario? There's definitely something weird with their strategy where it feels like the Switch is wrapping up in the next year or 2 and yet they're releasing big games that could keep it going for another 3 or 4.

I already do avoid the majority of games and sequels that do little to change things up, so don't worry about me. But like... we're at a point where the kinds of "improvements" they make in sequels can just be done as DLC and the sequels themselves just feel like DLC of the last game, so I don't understand why people are okay with safe sequels like that. Feels like gamers should be pushing for more innovation and evolution in completely new games.

@Bolt_Strike
At the same time the games left on the Switch's schedule are either games that have been in development for a long while OR are built on an existing engine. Often both. So if anything new hardware being just around the corner would be a good reason to push these titles out the door quickly

Also I know I just said I expect the Switch -> next thing transition to be much harder than I did a couple of years ago. But I still think it'll be a smoother transition than most new hardware releases. That is to say even if we get a Switch 2 I don't think they'll be selling two versions of BotW 2. It'll be one version that plays on both. It's just that now I expect we're at the point where there would be some games creeping in that won't be able to run on the OG Switch. And it's those games that are part of the bigger lineup we don't know about

Has there been any word if Nintendo Life will hold a live chat party during today's Direct here on the site like they usually do?

@Tremblucay Well, if they don't want to cover it, i doubt there will be a live chat party

@Solaine
The one doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the other though.
Alex, Zion and Felix make YT videos. There's plenty of other NL staff that might host the chat.

@Tremblucay maybe, but there hasn't been any post on the livechat so far and it is only a little more than 2 hours away... but if you interpret the video like that, i guess there has been no definite answer
Edit. Nvm, its online and here after all

check out the Nintendo Direct focused on Xenoblade Chonicles 3

Absolutely loved the Xenoblade 3 Direct. OMG!

I didn't watch xenoblade 3 direct as I have zero interest with that game, but I got very good news from Horse Tales trailer by Microids. 😄
One trailer by Microids that made me happy.

now the next Nintendo Direct will be focused on Splatoon 3, followed by a Nintendo Direct focused on Bayonetta 3.

@skywake Yeah, but if they blow their load at the end of the Switch's lifespan, they'll stunt the growth of the new console at the expense of higher immediate sales for the Switch. Which isn't a very smart plan. Part of the reason the Switch was so wildly successful is because they saved big games for its launch year, if they want the new console to be similarly successful they'll want to repeat that strategy. Games like BotW2 and Splatoon 3 would've been better saved for that launch year to get people to buy the new console.

So you expect the Switch's transition to the new console to be kind of like the 3DS -> Switch transition or Microsoft and Sony's last two hardware transitions? Yeah, I fully expect that as well. That's the best way to handle it when the Switch is so wildly successful, you don't want to drop that momentum all at once, you want the Switch to be gradually phased out while the new console picks up steam.

@skywake @Bolt_Strike I think it comes down to Metroid Prime 4. Given they didn't cancel the Wii U version of BotW, I don't see them cancelling the Switch version of Metroid Prime 4 so I think the release timing of it will give an idea about when the crossgen period will end (I still think the hardware will launch with BotW 2 so there would be some sort of crossgen period).

Both the MK8 Deluxe and XC3 DLC is complete by the end of 2023 so a Metroid Prime 4 2023 release would suggest to me that 2024 would be when the new hardware only releases begin for example.

As for the online focused titles recently (Switch Sports, Mario Strikers, Splatoon 3), I think it's do with the subscription side of things. It's important to remember that March 3rd 2017 - September 17th 2018 was free online (the vast majority of Splatoon 2's content was released before NSO went live), when the next Nintendo hardware releases paid online will be a thing from the start so releasing online focused games just for the new system early on in the system's lifespan will hurt the playerbase unless they go the FTP route.

@Tremblucay @Giancarlothomaz The website will still be covering any major news that comes out of the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct, this was only on the Youtube side of things

@korosanbo To be fair though it isn't impossible. They did have a Monster Hunter Direct when Rise came out iirc

@korosanbo There was a Bayonetta 2 Direct in September 2014 (the game launched in October 2014):

So Bayonetta 3 Direct is actually rather likely (same with Splatoon 3).

I thought it was rather amazing yesterday. On the Switch, Nintendo put out a news tile touting MK8D Booster Pass Wave1 like it was new, while people are watching & expecting Wave 2 to reveal, or drop.

I think I don't really need Nintendo Direct on this month as I got covered a lot from separated trailers of upcoming multi console 3rd party games.
I don't think there will be interesting new 1st party games by Nintendo from the Direct as I have no interest with the separated Nintendo games Direct recently.

@DreamlandGem
Btw, could you provide more trailers of upcoming multi console 3rd party games for kids on Nintendolife articles just like last time you tagged my name on PAW Patrol Grand Prix article ?
Love the trailer of Horse Tales by Microids from the article I watched just now as I like kind of games like that and the game will get physical release in the future. 🥰
I have zero interest with bigger games that a lot of peoples here keep talking about such as xenoblade 3, splatoon 3, BOTW 2, etc so the individual trailers of upcoming multi console 3rd party games and Wholesome Direct 2022 are really impressed me.

@DreamlandGem
Thank you for clearing that up.
Like I said previously on this thread, I apologize for my reaction.