Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@Clammy Idk anymore, if the old march leaks are true then i guess we will see soon.

Despite the rumors, I'm still betting on 2024. If spring comes and goes with no announcement, I'll believe in the 2025 release date.

Like what @GalaxicGlobe said, there definitely is history for it, also having merged their two R&D departments it seems very likely that they have no plans of going back to handheld or TV console. That leaves hybrid, especially since hybrid is working out so well for them, and it doesn't really make sense to try any sort of new hybrid because it'll cause confusion and the Switch is already near perfect in terms of concept. I do, however, think that they'll have some sort of novel element to check off that Nintendo surprise factor box that gives each console its own unique flavor.

@skywake They haven't really "gone back" to third versions at this point. They did briefly with USUM, but since then they've taken to DLC to fill the role of third versions. And that's one pattern I don't think they'll break from for the foreseeable future since it's both developer and consumer friendly to just have an add-on to their existing game instead of trying to turn it into an extra version.

As for why they might change their mind on getting on new hardware early, one thing that the Switch has really shown is the importance of early momentum. That 2017 lineup is one of the biggest reasons why the Switch was so successful, and some of those early titles are among the best sellers on the console. And since Game Freak initially thought the Switch would be a failure, they're certainly taking notes on what the Switch did to understand why they were wrong, and I think they've probably picked up on the Switch's early lineup being a key contributing factor.

I think if you want to claim that the games aren't going to be a Switch 2 release, the main question you have to consider is "Why else is there no 2024 game?". I'm struggling to find alternative explanations that make sense. They're not the type to follow Nintendo's philosophy of delaying a game to make it better, and SV has sold insane numbers in spite of its lack of polish which discourages them from changing it. They always like to capitalize on the holiday season with something to sell. A delay from Holiday 2024 to 2025 because the Switch 2 was delayed is the only explanation I can think of that would be realistic. They'd probably only delay if it's something out of their hands, and aside from real world issues (which there haven't been any that we know of in the last 2 years that would affect this game), the only explanation that would be is a hardware delay.

@Bolt_Strike
When I said they've "gone back" I was talking about their intent during the 2010s to try and make another IP. That was their central focus during that period. It seems they're going back to a focus on their money maker since the other ventures did not pan out

In terms of Switch 2? I think you're misunderstanding me. I'm not saying they won't be on Switch 2 early. I'm not against the idea of this title being on Switch 2 at all. All that I'm saying is that Game Freak isn't usually the company to leap onto new hardware. They're slow. So this game being 2025 I don't think is a sure sign that it was 2024 and is now being delayed because Switch 2 is. It could well just be a Switch game. And if it is a Switch game it being 2025 does not mean Switch 2 is 2026

Why is it 2025 if not Switch 2? Frankly, they really do need to skip a year. Their quality has dropped significantly over the past few years. That's a great reason to skip 2024 right there. Is that the actual reason? Maybe not. We don't know. But it could be and, to be blunt, was what I was calling for in this thread a few days ago

@skywake Yeah, I feel like everyone is begging them to skip a year but they don't really want to. That's the one thing they don't seem to want to compromise on unless they have no choice. You can kind of feel that with how much they've stuck to releasing a holiday game every year. That's why I think this is more a matter of them being FORCED to delay it rather than having a change of heart and deciding quality is important.

In regards to Pokémon ZA, “Releasing simultaneously worldwide in 2025” kind of sounds like a subtle confirmation of switch 2 definitely existing and releasing in 2025 as a cross-gen title

Could just be weird wording though
And also, the NS2 could still be releasing this year and this could just be a crossgen title in the launch window, not launch lineup

@DiamondCore It could potentially just be a callback to how Pokemon X/Y was the first Pokemon game that released simultaneously worldwide. It was a very big deal back in 2013 to not have to wait months after a game had released in Japan to play it outside Japan.

Kit and Krysta have a podcast where they are talking about the creations of the Nintendo Direct and a lot of the early work they put in.

@chiiizu I like hybrid so I hope they continue doing it!

It's March tomorrow, time for a new direct next week? 😝

We should have a poll of who thinks the next direct will come in March, April, May, or June.

Ooh I bet April! Seems like some room after the partner showcase to let people hunger for a direct, but not too long. Let it the the last switch one only direct 🙂

I think we already had the last switch 1 only direct. Betting on the new system reveal next.

Indie World in March and Switch 1 general Direct in April. Indie World would be in time for PAX East meanwhile general Direct would be in such a way that the common approach of shadow dropping a 1st party game in a Direct would fill in the gap that April currently has.

Time for some quality forum speculation!

So the above is from the table on the wiki page for Nintendo Directs. I didn't split by type I just listed every single direct ever of any kind and divided them by month and year. The blue line shows the average number of Directs in each month, the red line shows the probability that a given month will have at least one Direct

It would seem that March Directs are the one of the rarer Directs. There's about a 2/3 chance of a Direct happening in March. Although it is marginally more popular in the Switch era than it was before it's still only beats January, July and December for unpopular Direct month targets. And if I filter out rows that don't immediately scream "major Direct" it looks even more bleak for March

Realistically if we want a more than 50% chance of there being a decently sized Direct? The month has to be February, June or September. Don't ever bet on January, March, July or December. Although with E3 being dead the June/July dynamic may be dead also so, that one's a bit up in the air

I'm under the assumption that the Big N are coasting through Spring and Summer. Direct in June. Hit us with that TP/WW $60 double pack, Metroid Prime 2 HD port, etc. Otherwise, radio silence until we get Nintendo confirming the existence of NG Switch, but not necessarily announcing the unveiling event date yet.

Savvy?

Imagine a shadow drop trailer that showing a Nintendo Switch logo then suddenly a number 2 appeared and it revealed Nintendo Switch 2 as the next console or any subtitle name as the logo after Nintendo Switch.

I hope Nintendo keeps up the 100% June streak even though E3 is dead.

This, but I'm not even sure Nintendo has a June Direct outside of another Partner Showcase maybe. In terms of full, mainline Directs, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't have any at all this year and the next full mainline Direct is February 2025.

@FishyS Yeah I like consistent June directs, it would be sad if they went away.

I think unless Nintendo opts for a complete left-field announcement time, the latest we'd hear about Switch 2 is May for the investor meeting followed by June direct where they announce games and any extra details. Otherwise, probably just more remasters and preparing for the long wait until the fall. (which I guess is when they'd announce it?) Either way, my bet is June.

@Bolt_Strike I mean that could happen but I don't think radio silence would fare well for them. At a minimum they have to throw together a few quick ports or something to keep some momentum at all for Switch, I have a hard time believing they're going to simply plateau after all of the Switch's exploits.