Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

Pikmin 1 + 2 came out a few months after pikmin 4. So prime 2+3 may still be coming in the future.

@FishyS That was solely the physical version. Digital Pikmin 1+2 was June 21st 2023, Pikmin 4 was July 21st 2023 and physical Pikmin 1+2 was September 22nd 2023.

Pikmin is like Nintendo's favorite child. The games always get ported to new hardware and it's never entirely skipped a generation.

In contrast, everything else seems very hit and miss. Even some very popular Mario and Zelda games are still missing from the Switch lineup. In that context, I don't think we can be too surprised that a strategy for re-releasing the Metroid Prime games hasn't formed.

I think I'm already done to watch Nintendo Direct as almost every 3rd party games (even 1st party games) for Switch 2 are game key card.
Nintendo Switch 2 become more and more unappealing to me with this current situation.

Sony had that State of Play Japan event and Xbox is rumoured to have a Partner Preview event (Xbox's equivalent of Partner Showcase) in November which makes me think about the Direct situation.

Nintendo usually has an Indie World in November/December but I wonder if there ends up being a double Direct this time considering the setup the last 2 times Indie World happened. August 2024 was Indie World + Partner Showcase and in July/August 2025 there was Partner Showcase followed by Indie World a week later.

@Grumblevolcano When do you think it would be? We already have a different direct this week and next week is Air Riders release. Last week of November? Or after Prime 4? I had kind of assumed the last week of November would focus on a Prime 4 advertising blitz.

@FishyS I'm torn on when. Normal timing would suggest the week after the Game Awards (e.g. December 16th) and give some more spotlight to Switch 2 if the Game Awards has very little Switch 2 presence like the previous 2 Geoff events. But the week beginning December 1st is big for 3rd party support between Marvel Cosmic Invasion, AC Shadows, Octopath 0 and the Switch 2 Edition of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds so if a double Direct perhaps something like November 25th/26th would be more fitting.

As for Prime 4, it honestly feels like an Age of Imprisonment type scenario. We know we're getting previews on the 14th and I could see overview trailer that day as well but it feels like general marketing is going to more tame.

@Grumblevolcano

It wont be Thanksgiving eve on Nov 26th. The viewership would be way down in the US, as most have the day off or a half day.

@RobLife1 Or alternatively, it would be the opposite. I have absolutely nothing to do that week before Thursday.

Well, I mean, except my usual therapy appointment.

Prime trailer just dropped on the today app.

Nintendo currently has a Direct almost every month this year and the streak of consecutive months is at 6 months (June, July, August, September, October, November):

• February - Pokemon Presents
• March - General Direct
• April - Switch 2 Direct, MK World Direct
• June - DK Bananza Direct
• July - Pokemon Presents, Partner Showcase
• August - Indie World, Kirby Air Riders Direct
• September - General Direct
• October - Kirby Air Riders Direct
• November - Mario Galaxy movie Direct

An Indie World in the normal December slot could continue the streak.

@Grumblevolcano Are you expecting anything at Game Awards next week? Or do we next hear from Nintendo/Pokemon in Feb (non-Indie)?

@RobLife1 I think if they do something at the Game Awards, it'll be centred around the Galaxy movie. Like for example revealing Yoshi as a character including who is playing him and then revealing a release date for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book or SMB Wonder Switch 2 Edition for late March. They have waited until early January to announce March release dates before though.

If nothing else, I could definitely see Duskbloods showing up at TGA in order to get Fromsoft Fans interested in it, and by extension, Switch 2.

Edit: Far less likely, but I could also see Splatoon Raiders getting a trailer at TGA.

I don't think we get any first party gaming news until next year. I'd have to guess the next big presentation would be the Pokemon Day Presents and then a mainline Direct in March.

@Grumblevolcano Game Awards does not feel like the right audience for Yoshi. But I do agree about Galaxy movie since they need to hit a lot of different marketing for it.

I'm pretty sure that we can expect the usual early February Direct, since there are quite a few upcoming things labeled with a "Spring 2026" release date right now.

Or maybe I'm completely wrong 😛.

@Nep-Nep-Freak I am somewhat skeptical about February for a direct, since it's already a packed month between Mario Tennis Fever, NSO Virtual Boy, and the all but confirmed Pokemon Presents. I'm not saying it's impossible---technically speaking there is still a free week in February---but I find March more plausible. Maybe in the same way the September direct sort of coincided with the anniversary of Super Mario Bros., the March direct could come around MAR10 Day. Release date updates can also come about without a Direct, and rather just a Nintendo Today drop.

@UpsideDownRowlet @Bolt_Strike I think it all comes down to 3rd party support, while Nintendo could get away with waiting until March to do a Direct when looking at the 1st party side of things I don't think they'd want to give the impression that 3rd party support is already drying up less than a year after launch. January - March has some games (e.g. FFVII Remake, DQ7 Reimagined, RE7-9, Yakuza Kiwami 3, MH Stories 3, 007 First Light) but beyond that at the moment is pretty much almost complete silence.

So I think the Direct timing strategy for early 2026 (outside of the inevitable February Pokemon Presents) will depend on how much Switch 2 is present at the Game Awards, particularly from a 3rd party perspective.

@Grumblevolcano I was about to make a post questioning a few of those release dates, but after doing some research, I found out some fun news lol

On a different note, I do like the idea of a direct around MAR10. That would be fun. Although I could see them saving that day for the Switch 2 version of Mario Wonder. And hopefully some sales (PLEASE put Mario Party Superstars and/or Super Mario Party Jamboree on sale this time!)