Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@NintendoByNature Probably gotta live with that itch until early February. Too bad we can't make a poll to see how many people believe February direct will be Switch 2 versus a zelda port versus... buncha random indies and a highlight on Peach game and mario vs DK.

@FishyS yep. I'm thinking general direct in Feb focusing on some switch titles.

Yep, Feb. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the hardware announcement but I'm going to assume it isn't because I want to set lower expectations. It'll either be new hardware with heaps of stuff to go along with it or late generation breadcrumbs that'll be a bit mid I feel

I'd want it to be a Switch 1 general Direct but I'm leaning towards Switch 2 reveal. This holiday season's Switch promotion has been rather subdued despite the strong software lineup so it feels like get the holiday season refund period out of the way and then do the Switch 2 reveal. I brought up my timeline prediction in the lead up to launch in one of the other threads:

• Mid January - Princess Peach Showtime Direct (while Nintendo Live 2024 is cancelled, the game was going to playable there so I figure a Direct will show off the game before when Nintendo Live 2024 was going to be)
• Late January/Early February - General Direct which reveals Switch 2 where the structure is something like 1st half being Switch 1, 2nd half being Switch 2 reveal + Switch 2 only 3rd party games + end with something like 3D Mario
• Late February - Pokemon Direct for Pokemon Day reveals something like Gen 5 remakes for the current Switch, Gen 5 Legends game for Switch 2 and a Switch 2 patch for Scarlet/Violet alongside the usual mobile game stuff
• April - Indie World
• May/June - General Direct which reveals more about Switch 2 lineup
• Summer 2024 - A setup similar to Early 2017 where there are lots of events to check out the Switch 2 for yourself in person
• September 2024 - Switch 2 releases

I hope the Next Nintendo Direct comes in February, but I want a separate one for Side Order in March or something

The next Nintendo Direct will most likely be in February. Unless Nintendo decides to pull something and do a January or March Direct.
And yes, I did research for this.

I will say, the 1st half of 2024 does make me think of the 2nd half of 2022. Back at the end of May when everyone was getting hyped for Direct season the only things which needed to be revealed for that time period were a few release dates (Sparks of Hope, Bayonetta 3, Scarlet/Violet, Booster Course Pass waves 2+3, Switch Sports Golf) and 1 game (Kirby's Dream Buffet) which resulted in no June general Direct.

Scarlet/Violet release date was just a random tweet in June, Sparks of Hope release date was in a June Partner Showcase, Bayonetta 3 release date was a standalone trailer in July, Booster Course Pass had the approach of release date being 1-2 weeks before launch, Switch Sports Golf appeared in the September general Direct and Kirby's Dream Buffet coincided with Kirby anniversary celebrations. For presentations over the summer we got game specific Directs for XC3 and Splatoon 3, a 3rd party Partner Showcase and a Pokemon Presents.

Compared to now, while it is possible there's unannounced stuff there is enough announced that we could already know everything except release dates for the 1st half of the year:

• January 19th - Another Code Recollection
• February 16th - Mario vs. Donkey Kong
• March 22nd - Princess Peach Showtime
• Spring 2024 - Splatoon 3 Side Order
• Summer 2024 - Luigi's Mansion 2 HD
• 2024 - Paper Mario The Thousand-Year Door

Given the recent ratings for LM2 and TTYD, I get the impression the 1st half of 2024 will be:

• January - Another Code Recollection
• February - Mario vs. Donkey Kong
• March - Princess Peach Showtime
• April - Paper Mario The Thousand-Year Door
• May - Splatoon 3 Side Order DLC
• June - Luigi's Mansion 2 HD

So I'm leaning towards no Direct if they decide they'll announce Switch 2 later on in the year.

The second half of 2022 led to another year of great Switch games and no new console announcement the following year.

Zippos’ blogspot has been removed:
zippospeaks.blogspot.com

Interpret this as you will, though I’m so glad this finally happened, he constantly lies.

@DiamondCore evil has been defeated

I expect a Partner Direct in February, because as the Switch fades away with NG Switch on the horizon, Nintendo will lean on third party games harder than in any previous year. I'm incredibly eager for June as I assume that's when Nintendo will drop the curtain on NG Switch for a November release. Do any of us expect the known first party games to get their own specific Direct between now and June? Probably not, none of the inbound games are "big" enough to warrant it.

Unless...the rumors of an inbound Xenoblade Chronicles X port are true.

I think bringing one of the few beloved games still landlocked to the Wii U over to Switch would qualify as "big".

Lol, the Switch is hardly fading out. Everyone does realize it's selling stupidly well for a console approaching it's 8th year? They could easily do another couple of Switch One directs. We'll have to see if we get an announcement for new Nintendo hardware this year or not, but it's crazy to see the internet basically willing it into existance haha.

I still maintain the NG Switch won't arrive until 2025 or later because of how well the OG Switch continues to sell. Assuming Nintendo reaches its projection of 15m Switches sold between April 2023 and March 2024, that's almost what the GameCube sold throughout its entire seven-year lifespan (21m). But it's impossible to not get caught up in the hype for a possible 2024 release.

@GrailUK with Switch sucessor on the horizon, i dont expect a lot of big releases for the console, all this big releases, Nintendo is saving for it next console, ports, remakes/remasters of old Nintendo classics such as Kid Icarus Uprising and others, not a brand new 2D/3D Donkey Kong game on Switch, Nintendo is saving such games for Switch sucessor.

@Magician I definitely think we'll get a big info drop for Princess Peach Showtime in mid-January given it was going to be playable at Nintendo Live Tokyo 2024 (SMB Wonder had a Direct just before Nintendo Live Seattle 2023 because it was playable at the event). The event got cancelled for safety concerns but I think the timing of next info for the game will remain unchanged. Could be a Direct of its own, could be a shadow dropped overview trailer, could be part of a Mini or general Direct though leaning towards the first of the 3 options.

The other 1st party games currently scheduled for 2024 I only see reappearing in a Direct if a Mini or general Direct happens because they're all remasters/remakes and DLC.

@Giancarlothomaz "On the horizon" "Imminent" "soon" The folk you are listening to don't know the meaning of the word. When it's announced, I'll happily go with "on the horizon." When it gets a release date, I'll be ok with "soon." The Monday of that week, I'll take "imminent."

Until then, you are just willing it into existance and rumour mongers are using you for clicks / subs / patreon donations etc etc. Honestly, most Youtubers are bloody lucky the Pro became the 2 because for some reason, it has blinded everyone to just how long they have been farming clicks on new hardware (which let's be honest, the Switch wion't be Nintendo's last console lol.)

Mario Vs Donkey King is a great game. Peach Showtime will be huge for girl gamers. Paper Mario will be more popular than Mario RPG (unfortunately, but it is what it is, not even releasing originally in EU.) They are not going to stop making software with an install base on it's way to 150 million. That's why you sell the hardware in the first place. I would imagine they still have quite few games for Switch planned and by the time we hear about the Switch 2, we will more than likely know all the first party games for Switch, like Metroid Prime 4.

Are Nintendo in a position to be able to release a game a month on new hardware? I have no idea. If it's too soon, then they are going to stall. And they are certainly in no rush. Even now, it's hardly like the Wii U days.

How they transistion from something so popular to something new is (for me) really difficult.

People also really like to will Metroid Prime 4 into existence. 😝

Honestly, it's in a similar spot as the next console in that we know it is coming eventually and have lots of relatively specific but unproven rumours about it coming 'soon' and... that's about it. I could imagine either of the two coming out before the other and I could also imagine either coming out later than most people (including me) are predicting.

@FishyS Indeed. Metroid Prime 4 will come when it's good and ready. I dunno, I just wish the internet would will a Chrono Trigger remake into exitence while they are at it. Don't mind if it's this Switch the next one, or the one after that hahaha!

@GrailUK Very much agree about the Chrono Trigger Remake! Also 2D please. I've still never understood why the mobile port of Chrono Trigger wasn't ported to Switch but I like to pretend the reason is because of the remake. That would be a great surprise 2024 game...

@GrailUK I agree that they don't have to announce a successor next year but I would say their promotion strategy from the September Direct onwards has been odd if it isn't coming next year. Like dedicating a long spotlight to a 3DS remaster launching in Summer 2024 and doing a 1st party sizzle reel at the end that felt farewell-like seemed really odd.

Not complaining though, if Nintendo wants to save Switch's successor for 2025 or later and fill 2024 delving really deep into their back catalog I'll be happy.