Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@PikminMarioKirby I just meant that Japanese daytime meeting May 7 probably means evening/night May 6 for a lot of the world. In the February meeting there was tons of news about it in the morning, but not sure precisely when they started (I was probably asleep). I am sure on May 7th daytime for NA/EU there will be plenty of articles about it.

@FishyS Oh wait that makes sense, not sure exactly how the meetings work but that makes more sense. I feel like usually articles appear around the morning for the meetings in most time zones, so I’d assume that’s likely the case this time as well. I’ll just have to check that day when I’m able!

@FishyS @PikminMarioKirby
I find it amusing when Americans are discussing timezones for Nintendo stuff that's Japan focused. Usually most announcements are centred around the US which means Japan and Australia get shafted. These days I seem to get Directs at either 10PM or 6AM which, given I'm an hour behind Japan, means they're getting it at 11PM or 7AM. Which is ok. But back in the day the number of E3 press conferences that were at like 1AM Perth time

Anyways, just an observation. Must me nice for timezone shenanigans to be the exception rather than the rule

@skywake Ironically, I would love it if directs were 11 pm or even 1 am.. Instead, they are usually smack dab during the work day and I typically don't get to watch them until 6-8 hours later. Note that for the younger folk in my time zone they are of course at school so also can't watch it.

I would prefer a little sleep deprivation to not getting to watch it live at all which has been the case almost every time in recent years.

Latest vid from Nintendo Forecast on the potential announcement strategy for Switch 2. This guy's generally pretty good. I would guess that he's some sort of business major, not sure. But he's certainly better than the average talking head who rambles on for an hour about some post they saw on Reddit:

Anyways, to save you the watch he's putting an announcement of new hardware before the end of June at 30%. With the justification being that the Switch is still traveling relatively well and Nintendo is generally in a good spot. Meaning they don't really need to pull out the stops to calm investors. And also that this new hardware, as it is rumoured, seems fairly iterative and self explanatory. And if that's the case there's less need to have a long lead in to get consumers used to a wild and wacky concept

His view is that the main factors for the timing of an announcement is more to do with how it relates to contract negotiation. Nintendo would want to keep their cards close to their chest so they can better negotiate contracts for component acquisition. But inevitably talking risks leaks and they want to control messaging. So the deadline is more to do with when contracts are signed and things start to ramp up more than it is keeping investors happy.....

Basically, wiser people than me seem to think that the AGM more probably than not won't be the opening of the floodgates for Switch 2. So I'm more than happy to buy into that theory at this time

@skywake Thanks for the link. It's refreshing to hear a Youtuber creating actual content instead of turning a tweet or a post into a 12 minute ramble about nothing. He doesn't purport himself to be an authority on Switch 2 speculation or anything, but at least his research carries more weight than the opinion of someone sat down all day reading gossip. I'm not expecting an announcement soon (and by God has the word 'soon' lost all meaning in the Switch 2 speculation bubble lol) but like usual, if they have a tact or a strategy to do so (e.g. promote Switch software sales or something in the lead up) then as usual with Nintendo, I'll have to doff my cap to them. All I know is, the Switch 2 will be Nintendo's flagship console and it's announcement needs to shift everyone over to that and and kill Switch 1 sales lol (I don't believe manufacturing 4+ different consoles going forward is particularly desirable lol) I've said it before, I'll happily say it again, I'm bloody glad I'm not the CEO. If it's a smooth transition, then that fella has earned his money!

Y’all see a Nintendo World Championship game got rated right after the Pyoro tease?? My guess is it’ll be randomly revealed on its own before the investor meeting similar to Everybody 1-2 Switch last year, then we’ll get a late June direct also like last year to reveal the (still relatively quiet) remainder of the 2024 slate followed by the switch 2 reveal later this year.

@GrailUK
I'm still of the view that people put too much emphasis on the importance of the OG Switch sales through this transition. In particular the idea that Nintendo needs to somehow be concerned about how a Switch 2 reveal will hurt their immediate bottom line

Of course, logically, a decline in Switch sales on its own will hurt Nintendo and the Switch 2 will be the biggest source of that decline. But platform decline is, generally, as a result of people moving on from a platform. Generally to some other platform. If that other platform is the Switch 2 then there isn't a problem

So the real question isn't how the timing of the announcement will impact Switch sales. The question should be what is Nintendo going to do to convince existing Switch owners that their next platform is the Switch 2. And the way a lot of platforms do that is by saying "look at all this stuff you have built up! If you move you'll lose it!"

I know I'm a bit of a broken record on this thought but I do generally think that the most important thing Nintendo needs to get right is cross-generational releases, backwards compatibility and the handling of NSO. Switch 2 shouldn't feel like a new platform. It should feel like a better version of the existing platform that you just seamlessly move into and all of your favourite games are right where you left them

@skywake Yeah, I get ya. I dare say the day one Switch folk will be there day one for Switch 2. If their first year output is anywhere near Switch's then the console will sell itself lol.

@skywake So are they suggesting that the 3DS reveal in March 2010 was a result of DS/Wii decline rather than needing to tell shareholders that it was releasing by the end of March 2011?

I can't wait for the Switch 2 reveal in June when we see it has dual screens!!!!!
mwahahaah

@Grumblevolcano
I think the argument was more that the 3DS reveal being as early as it was due to the 3D being an odd concept. Which I don't really agree with. But also that the global financial situation at the time meant they wanted to calm investors which is why they did it before the end of their financial year. Which makes sense

Fairly sure he also mentioned that the gaming media cycle wasn't nearly as fast as it is now. Which is probably a fair call also. I think these days you could announce a game and have it out that day and nobody would bat an eye. Ten years ago we obviously had social media and YouTube but the gaming new cycle was still fairly slow compared to now

I think the missing piece of the puzzle is that there were also leaks about it starting to flow at that time. Which is probably the actual reason that triggered the announcement in that way at that time

So it looks like @Bolt_Strike was both right AND wrong. Nintendo confirmed they will announce the Switch successor this fiscal year, and that there will be a general Direct in June focused on Switch 1 software (no Switch 2 games).

He was wrong about there being no Direct anytime soon, but it looks like he's right about the Switch 2 reveal likely being this fall. I think he has the general timeline pretty spot on.

Absolutely over the moon that we have the confirmation of a June Direct, though I'm also absolutely terrified it'll arrive during the middle of my summer exams. Please be after the 21st, I'm begging ya!!! XD

I think I was pretty damn close

I think I will be more satisfied by Wholesome Direct 2024 than Nintendo Direct June 2024 as there are a lot of cute indie games announcement from Wholesome Direct.
And I'm more 3rd party games centric than 1st party games.

I'm not sure what you posted there Anti but I'm sure there will be more than enough titles to fill out the tail end of 2023 that satisfy your requirements. For the sake of the rest of us though lets hope that there is more than just anti-fare for the Switch 2 launch

Definitely curious to see what games they have lined up for the 2nd half of the year to show off in the Direct.

And here we are! It's coming in June, and my guess is early/mid June. However at least we don't have to worry about there not being a Direct like we do almost every June, right?

Switch's successor wasn't necessarily revealed, but we do have it confirmed that it's gonna be revealed this fiscal year, which is enough for me!

I'm super pumped about this! I still love my Switch, and I'm in the camp that March 2025 for a Switch 2 launch is the EARLIEST I'd be ok with - people need to learn some chill and actually play the games they own. The Switch has the best gaming catalog of all time, aside from PC, and I'm gonna be more than busy trying to experience as much of it as I can.