@Hapless The timing of it allegedly being on Friday, which is almost never the case for Directs, screams that it's going to have content tied to the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. on September 13th (this Saturday). It would place the presentation on that day in Japan as well. So it's definitely a general Direct, since we also need news on Nintendo's 2025 releases and what they have in store for early 2026.
@PikaPhantom This too. If it's true that the Direct is on a Friday, it's most likely going to have 40th anniversary content of some kind. Either specifically a 40th anniversary Direct or a full blown general are the most likely scenarios if this rumor is true.
@Croctopus IDK, I could see them holding off on 2026 announcements aside from previously announced games like Rhythm Heaven, Tomodachi, or delays/confirmations of games like Prime 4, Age of Imprisonment, or Splatoon Raiders. Nintendo seems to be shortening marketing periods this gen and only focusing on games that are 1-3 months out as opposed from within the next 6 months or so. We might see an exception for the 3D Mario game if they want to assure us that yes, a flagship 3D Mario for Switch 2 is coming soon (something like this is usually the only time they announce games further out, when it's something to placate the fanbase when they're getting antsy). I could see this Direct focusing more on giving us more details on previously announced games as opposed to announcing a wave of new games (with the exception of whatever Mario stuff they want to announce now). I suspect for the most part we're waiting until February/March for the next wave of new game announcements.
@Bolt_Strike 3rd party support on the other hand is rather quiet after October in both a specific release date and vague release window territory. Just already announced games isn't going to fill the 3rd party gaps unless MH Stories 3 and Elliot are Early 2026 (Elden Ring and FFVII Remake could fill the November gap).
@Hapless Leaning towards general Direct at this point (like 80% chance of general Direct, 20% chance of partner showcase Friday + small Mario anniversary video Saturday). The potential signs of 3rd party reveals rules out Mario only but it would be odd if Nintendo didn't have at the very least a MK World update on the Mario game side of things which if there is Mario game news, the 2 combined means general Direct.
@VoidofLight Nintendo started gearing the opening slot of the Direct towards upcoming games or DLC a lot in the second half of the Switch's life (I think the only exceptions were Fire Emblem games and Brothership), so we can't rule out them opening on a game like Metroid Prime 4 or Splatoon Raiders, but I'm hoping they give us a new announcement to start - especially because they have a lot of already announced games that they need to follow up on before too long
I'd think that Hades II is basically ready. The early access version had its last big update in June and it's been three months of polishing, bug fixing and balancing since then.
Supergiant are perfectionists though, so I can't see them rushing to hit anyone else's deadlines.
@PikaPhantom Usually though, weren't the games at the opening of the direct games which we didn't see much on before the direct aired? It could be Splatoon raiders if that's the case (although I feel pretty eh on the idea of more Splatoon personally).
"It is fate. Many have tried, yet none have ever managed to escape it's flow."
@VoidofLight@PikaPhantom I think that we're probably getting a game already announced as our opener. Sure, it's stronger to start with something new, but I think there's too many announced games not to open with one of them. I could see it being Prime 4 (although if it comes out in 2 or so weeks, that could just be in the middle), or Kirby Air Riders, since Smash Bros. often was a Direct-opener.
@Hapless It'll be announced on Thursday for Friday. Nintendo will avoid 9/11. They didn't even want last year's June Direct on the U.S. holiday of Juneteenth.
Nintendo of America is closed Juneteenth as it is for almost all US Federal holidays. They tend to avoid directs when either Nintendo of Japan or Nintendo of America is closed, presumably because those are the largest regional locations so they have more direct-related logistics.
No clue if Nintendo still actively avoids 9/11; there haven't been any directs on that day but the original Mario Maker came out on Sep 11, 10 years ago.
Yeah, there has surely been far too much time and money that's gone into MP4 to waste it on a shadow drop. On the other hand, if they want to drop remasters of 2&3 on us and give a date for 4, I'm game.
Since the direct seems to be this week here are my full predictions. I have two release timelines in my head which is why most games will have two different months
1st Party:
{ Direct starts with Fire Emblem. Not sure if it will be the genealogy remake or maybe a brand new game at this point. It's been almost 3 years since Engage launched and I could see them preferring to push a brand new graphically impressive game for the Switch 2 exclusively instead of a cross-platform title. Releases February or April 2026
{ Yoshi's Woolly World will get a simple port for the Switch 1 developed by Forever Entertainment. Releases February 2026
{ Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will get a new short trailer, go into the Switch 2 exclusive features and upgrades a little more, and tease more villains. Not as full of an overview trailer since we've already seen a bit. Releases late October or December 2025
{ Hyrule Warriors will also have a trailer but it will be a little more detailed, going into more characters, some small story details, and new gameplay mechanics. A method to still be able to play as Link will also be shown off. No DLC announced yet. Releases December 2025 or February 2026
{ Pokemon Legends Z-A will get a new mega evolution shown off and not much else. Maybe some more switch 2 upgrade info too
{ The first big Mario Kart World event will be announced where players can play online in a new mode with gimmicks for a limited time, kinda like a splatfest. No new main game content yet but they will announce that future updates are planned.
{ Drag X Drive will get a new update with new cosmetics and a new side mode for free, nothing crazy think something like the small Flip Wars update they did post-launch
{ Splatoon 3 and splatoon raiders will not appear instead being a focus for next year. Rhythm Heaven will also not appear yet
{ Switch 2 editions of Metroid Dread and Nintendo Switch Sports will be announced improving performance, graphics, and adding some new content. Dread will be a free update but Switch Sports will be the $20 upgrade thing theyre doing
{ The usual middle focus announcement that they tend to do will be centered around Tomodachi Life, showing off new mii making features including the entire makeup and wig customization from Mittopia. Improved online play and more will also be shown, there will be a free switch 2 upgrade path with no added features just performance upgrades. Game will release in January
{ Kirby Air Riders will get 2 more characters announced, Sakurai will come out and talk about them then say he has one more thing to show us...
{ Super Smash Bros. will come to the N64 NSO and Smash Bros. Melee will be announced to be coming at an unspecified later date
{ All 4 Switch 2 Xenoblade Games will get major performance and graphical upgrades for the Switch 2
{ One final announcement will be a brand new RPG by Monolith Soft. Not confirmed whether it will be a xenoblade series game or not (It will later be one but just not announced as one, kinda like X was at first) No specific date just a broad 2026 window
3rd Party:
{ Huge Resident Evil blowout for the Switch 2
{ Release Dates for Elden Ring, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, The Adventures Of Elliot, Hades 2, and Professor Layton
{ 007 On Switch Trailer
{ The second Final Fantasy 7 game will be announced for Switch 2
{ No Metaphor, Duskbloods, Dragon Quest, Ace Attorney, Microsoft, Indiana Jones
{ We will see one of the following: Stranger Than Heaven, Yakuza Kiwami 3, Jet Set Radio, or Crazy Taxi
{ Gravity Rush will be announced for both Switch 1 and 2
Idk whether the Mario stuff will be in this presentation or in a later Mario specific direct they announce during this one. here are some less detailed predictions for that
{ Return of Mario 35
{ First trailer for the Mario Movie 2
{ New theme park info
{ New update for Alarmo lol
{ Sunshine on GCN NSO for September and Luigi's Mansion for October
{ Super Mario Maker 3 Announcement Releases Summer 2026
1. MP4 dated
2. Some sort of Mario collection (one of New Super Mario Bros. collection, Galaxy Collection etc)
3. Red Dead 2
4. Gears of War
5. Something GTA related (4, 5 or 6)
6. A reboot or new release of an older Nintendo franchise - Star Fox or Wave Race
7. Latest NHL game
I think all 7 is impossible, 3 of them is possible, 5 would be excellent!!
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Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?
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