Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

If there isn’t a Direct I’ll explode

Microsoft is set to discuss their future plans for Xbox next week. Hi-Fi Rush is likely going to be what kicks off their wider multiplatform push that's essentially an open secret, it's likely notable enough to be a Direct reveal, and there's a real possibility they'll want their business plan event to coincide either with an announcement coming shortly before or after. Maybe they really will do a Direct next week, even with the marketing push for Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Or it could happen this week...or Hi-Fi Rush could just be announced independently.

I struggle to see a Direct happening next week when they've got a 1st party title coming out as there's usually quite a marketing push on the direct for at least a week after it's aired (social media, eshop etc.) and I would imagine they wouldn't want to get tangled in Mario Vs. Donkey Kong promotion as well so if it's gonna happen I reckon it will be either this week, or a little later down the line.

If there really is a Direct coming soon, then not only will we get some more info on the remake of Paper Mario 2, but an actual release date (so I can preorder on Amazon).

Apparently Phil Spencer has said on his Twitter that a Microsoft presentation is coming next week so an announcement tomorrow for a Direct either Wednesday or Thursday sounds possible. Unless they hold off until the week after the MS presentation, thus possibly bringing MS game reveals to the Switch Direct as well.

@acuphoria Xbox is about to pull a sega

I know most leakers are full of bologna, but it does feel weird how little smoke there’s been if a direct really is happening this week. Could mean there isn’t one or it will be a rather unexciting one that basically confirms og switch is slowing down for good, but also there is a small chance they reveal the new hardware at the event. On one hand they revealed every pre-switch console in a direct, and the switch’s independent reveal can easily be justified by the fact Nintendo was desperate to end the disastrous Wii U era. Then again the lite and oled’s reveals suggest that they have now adapted independent reveals for hardware from now on so you never know.

@PikaPhantom Companies usually reveal news that'll upset their fanbase on Fridays (e.g. the Xbox Live Gold price hike in January 2021 was announced on a Friday) so I'd guess the business event is on February 16th. Hence if Nintendo were to wait for the multiplatform strategy to be announced before doing a Direct, it would have to be the week after the event (e.g. February 21st).

That's too close to Side Order though so it feels like either Hi-Fi Rush gets announced ahead of the business event given it's kind of comparable to Ori on Switch or it's not in the Direct at all and gets announced at the business event.

There’s some prominent leakers saying the Direct is on the 15th… I guess next week does feel more likely but isn’t it cutting it too close with whatever Xbox is doing and Mario vs DK? All of the February Directs have been on Wednesdays too if I’m remembering correctly. I wish it could be this week but a Valentine’s Direct would be one of the greatest Valentine’s gifts ever, guess we’ll have to wait and see so I don’t get my hopes up for this week

The next direct is this week for sure! Am leaker. Real.

If it doesn't happen this week, I think @VoidofLight's prediction will turn out right where all February gets is a Pokemon Presents.

Huh, surprised I haven't seen anyone talk about this yet: Nintendo's financial updates are tomorrow (presumably around about the time a Direct would typically be announced).

@luckyseven It's only one backing the 15th specifically. All other rumors either boil down to "one's happening" in general, this week, or just sometime next week. I doubt Nintendo cares that much about avoiding anything on Valentine's Day, which is the only reason I can see the 15th being feasible - I personally think they've been pushing Mario vs. Donkey Kong too hard in advertising to let it get lost in the shuffle, but Nintendo makes weird decisions all the time.

Well it is now February 5, 2024 and it seems not much is happening on the Nintendo front so far. I don’t even know if a direct is needed unless they are uncovering something big like the long fabled Switch 2.

@Atomic77 It's like the first week of February, and a Monday at that. Give them until Wednesday. I feel as if its likely we won't get another direct until March or so, but I'm still willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I feel like the indies are a bit slow right now. A couple shadow drops / dates in the next 2 months would make sense.

If they do announce a direct Tuesday I wonder if they'll go with the usual 'focused on software in the first half of the year' type language. If they don't specify, people will go berserk about Switch 2 for a day.

Here’s hoping the direct gets announced in 6 hours and 51 minutes 🤞

Well, the financial report didn't say too much but the quote about Switch being the main thing into April or later / will get updates on rest of the year next meeting heavily implies any possible February direct won't talk about Switch 2.

Just over 30 minutes until 3pm UK time.

@Croctopus Depends on your time zone. I'm in the Central Time Zone, so Directs are usually announced at 9 AM. For reference, it's 8:38 for me right now.