Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@FragRed Sure, I think so too, but you only need so many sets of joy cons... I have 3 sets, I definitely don't need 2 more sets in a row even if one set might be fancier.

@FishyS It's possible that the Switch 2 Joy-Con are pretty much identical to the current Joy-Con. Like how the Series X|S controller is literally the XB1 controller with a share button.

Double-figures is too much then?

@FishyS You clearly haven’t met the vast number of gamers who buy all new variants of joy cons and controllers? It’s why Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft produce so much.

Oops, forgot about the tournaments. Nintendo Live Tokyo 2024 was going to have the worldwide finals for Splatoon 3 and MK8 Deluxe so today's Side Order release date trailer was probably going to be the tease at the end of the Splatoon 3 tournament.

Everything this week so far from Nintendo except the 3DS/Wii U shutdown has been connected in some way to the cancelled Nintendo Live Tokyo 2024 event:

• Princess Peach Showtime trailer (the game was going to be playable at the event)
• Rescheduled dates for the Zelda and Splatoon concerts (both concerts were going to happen at the event)
• Side Order release date trailer (there was going to be a Splatoon 3 tournament at the event)

So it's still possible that the next Direct is focused on the current Switch. Now if say for example they announced a TTYD release date tomorrow, that would be a much bigger sign of the next Direct being about Switch 2.

I'm going out on a limb and saying there's no February direct. The only direct we'll get is a pokemon presents on the week of the 27th.

None of the news as of late has been enough to signal a Direct isn't happening. Both Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Splatoon 3: Side Order are set to release shortly after a presumed Direct. In the case of the former, it'd be odd to not announce 2 brand new worlds, time attack, and other modes until just before launch. In the case of the latter, the trailer today had no new gameplay footage - only cinematics, some of which likely were made for the trailer. It's possible the announcement was planned for Nintendo Live, but even if it wasn't, there's still a distinct lack of actual gameplay for Side Order, which is something a Direct could likely address.
Princess Peach: Showtime is in a very similar boat to Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Both got new trailers in January showing some notable new features, but that didn't keep us from getting a Direct in the case of Kirby, and Forgotten Land even had its main new mechanic, Mouthful Mode, revealed in its February trailer.
Additionally, it is standard procedure for Nintendo to drop websites for specific games or additional details, either on the eShop or online, without a Direct being the reason why.

If we got a trailer drop for TTYD or Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, then yeah, that'd make a Direct very unlikely. But there's always a need for a Direct in the first 3 months of the year in order to start filling out the release schedule. The Switch 2 is not going to be releasing soon enough for there to be nothing else slated for Switch. Odds are we have one more Switch era Direct before the next system is announced.

I mean.... this is one year where I really don't know what nintendo will do. Almost always a jan/Feb direct but this year who knows.

Depends on if the first digit is a 1 or a 9. 😝

That sounds like an impressive collection though.. I thought my 3 joycons, pro, and 8bitdo was already kind of a lot considering I've never actually played with more than 3 total people at once.

@PikaPhantom ehh, but the situation here is that these are the "big releases" for 2024. Princess Peach Showtime and TTYD are the only two "big" games that are slated for this year, and with one of them already getting a trailer, I just doubt we're getting much any time soon.

I don't think Nintendo is going to reveal the next big console in February either. Probably March or April if I had to guess. We didn't get a February direct in 2020, only getting a small scale one in May instead, so it might be a repeat of that.

I mean, we did get a 30 minute 2020 February Nintendo direct, it was just animal crossing specific rather than a general direct. As for the 2020 Spring one... safe to say almost none of the schedule post-February was anything close to as planned in 2020. The February direct pattern has really only been consistent since 2019 so they could break it, but the schedule is pretty sparse right now so a direct makes sense still even if there aren't too many new Nintendo games announced.

@VoidofLight Close inspection of the outside of the Sparkle Theater indicates there are another 4 Peach transformations in Showtime that haven't been formally revealed, and odds are they'll want to show off at least 2 of them before launch. Another possible counterpoint: Metroid Prime 4 appears to be close to finished, and in a solid enough state to show off, with Retro being listed as a client on a trailer production company's website. There's a decent chance we'd be seeing it in a February Direct, as opposed to a presentation for the next system.

@VoidofLight The Mini was in March, not May:

@Grumblevolcano Ahh. Thought it was May. Either way, wouldn't be surprised if they skip and do a direct mini in March. I just don't think they have a lot to showcase this year, and given three of their larger scale announcements are getting trailers outside of a direct, I doubt they'll have one so soon.

I am not sure I agree with the whole "Peach Showtime and Splatoon 3 video proves no February Direct" train of thought.... Not only could a Direct show more info on PPS and some unrevealed transformations, but Fresh Season for Splatoon 3 could also be shown. Plus TTYD, MP4, the ever-rumored LoZ remakes.... There are a lot of candidates for Direct showings.

I'd love an arceus sequel.

@CaleBoi25 I agree with you, I think they are clearing out the stuff we already know about and getting ready for new stuff.
They have done this before and I think they will do it again.

@BookhouseBoy Pokemon games are usually showcased in their own presentation. Never announced in General Nintendo Directs.

@GalaxicGlobe I mean, the past years that they've done this were different from this year. We're in the last few years of the Switch's lifespan. I doubt there's many "Big new things" that they have left to show for the console.

@VoidofLight There was a full Direct on March 3rd, 2016. There is precedent for Nintendo still putting together a presentation not long before the reveal of a successor system. And arguably, the Switch's lineup for this year is already leaps and bounds above the dire 2016 the Wii U had - but they still had stuff to show us.