Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@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.

@chiiizu Oh no, I don't think there's not going to be any games period, but I think we're just getting social media drops until they're ready to announce the Switch 2. They're not going to have a Direct until they have a lot of news to show and it feels like they don't until the new generation is ready to show.

Direct on 1 April 2024 and peoples think it will be April's Fool joke but it reveals the Switch 2 teaser. The reaction is going wild.

@Bolt_Strike

No games ever again!

They aren't going to just twitter-drop unannounced Nintendo releases, even ports, but I could imagine them doing a mini direct for 2024 games if they don't have much for a while.

@FishyS
Yea, I'm thinking we get the next Direct in June. We do have Peach this month and... uh... well, yea.

(Unicorn Overlord this Friday, though, which is freakin' awesome - being strategic with my remaining demo time.)