Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@FishyS That's fair, I don't remember Kirby or Pokemon (the closer 2nd parties) ever being in partner showcases, but it'd still be possible (Robobot would fit very nicely)

Hopefully there will be more games announced soon even if not this week, preferably before our vouchers would expire. Too bad we can't use them on Switch 2 games, that'd be an even better deal.

@PikminMarioKirby Switch 1 Direct this week would give me the impression the Switch 2 Direct doesn't have game announcements.

@Grumblevolcano That would be a really dumb decision no matter what, even for Nintendo's unpredictability. There's supposed to be a nationwide demo event following the direct, why would they not announce games?

@Grumblevolcano That wouldn't mean that at all? The Switch 1 direct could either be an indie world or direct mini. It'll focus on the small limited amount of releases that Nintendo will probably bring to the original console. Just like the old 3DS directs that happened alongside Switch 1's announcements.

@Grumblevolcano Like @Megas75 said, if they're letting people try hands-on following days from the Switch 2 Direct, that implies there will be games to play at said event (which should already be announced). Personally I don't get the logic behind doing a Switch 1 Direct this week instead of February, but Switch 1 games still do need to be announced at somepoint, as they still seemingly plan to support the console.

Nintendo already said they're committed to continue support for the Switch for now even after the Switch 2 is released. Releasing a SW1 Direct a week before the SW2 is weird but Nintendo is unpredictable and I don't think it will kneecap what they have in store for the SW2

I'm kinda expecting an NSO update given they're clearly changing the reward structure with the removal of vouchers and gold coin discounts. Also it's fairly clear that GameCube is coming to NSO given other leaks

Then probably along similar lines I think there's room before the Switch 2 Direct to explain backwards compatibility and how that works. Maybe how cross-gen or enhancement pathes work to the extent that it ends up existing

Throw something like Wind Waker HD and more info on Prime 4 in there? There you go, solid Direct that doesn't tread on the toes of the Switch 2 presentation next week

@Megas75 @PikminMarioKirby If they've already shown off the games in the Switch 1 Direct, doesn't make much sense for it to reappear in the Switch 2 Direct for another trailer. Then for 3rd party support they could maybe have a situation where embargo for announcing Switch 2 games is lifted after the Switch 2 Direct ends.

So in the end you have a demo event which has something like:

• Prime 4
• Open world already released Switch 1 games like XCX
• Switch 1 1st party games announced in the Switch 1 Direct
• Fortnite
• A selection of 3rd party games that aren't on Switch 1

@Grumblevolcano What about the Switch 2 exclusive games? They would reveal those in a Switch 2 presentation, would they not? A New 3D Mario, an official reveal for Mario Kart 9. They also have the power to hold back from revealing info for games that are supposed to be a big deal for Switch 2- like Prime 4 (if it will be a big deal for Switch 2 in the first place).

They most definitely can have a Switch 1 direct that reveals games, and then a Switch 2 direct that reveals more games. Especially given it'll again- be treated as a similar situation as the 3DS directs and the Switch Directs.

@Grumblevolcano
I would guess that if there was to be a Direct this week it would be more about supporting the Switch 2 Direct. Clearing out the logistical stuff, the awkward questions, the things they want out of the way earlier. Kinda like how before E3 2006 they put out a press-release announcing the name of the Wii so the news of the name could be given some space

And as I said in the post on the previous page, Nintendo are already shaking up NSO. The vouchers won't work for Switch 2 games, the removal of Gold Points. It's changing so we can only assume they'll have some kind of new reward structure to go alongside this new generation. Good or bad, whatever it ends up being could be a bit of a distraction if it was to be part of the Switch 2 Presentation. So having that as part of a separate announcement makes sense

Or maybe it's just Switch 1 content, or some explanation of how cross-gen will play out, or something entirely different. Who knows. Maybe it's something like those old pre-E3 presentation Directs they did in the early 2010s. But what I highly doubt is that it'll be something that hollows out the Switch 2 presentation by pulling compelling Switch 2 content out of the Switch 2 presentation. Stealing its thunder. Leaving the Switch 2 presentation as something more like those old E3 Treehouse events more than the main event

With that said, predictions anyone has made with Nintendo's strategy lately have had much of a track record. Not having games in the first major presentation for a new gaming console would certainly be an interesting strategy. But I think it's fair to say that as an idea it's completely bonkers. So who knows I guess

Does it really not matter when a Direct is? Are all the fanboy theories and arm chair analysts lining stuff up to their head canon of 'perfect sense' actually...meaningless? Well I never. If there is a Direct this week and the Switch 2 flops, I dare say it would be an easy 10 minute video to assume the two are linked hahaha.

April 2nd. Mark my words.

Whatever happens this week, one thing is for certain. People will be disappointed and angry. I am now a leading analyst in the field of gaming or something.

@FragRed as steve jobs said: you can please some of the people some of the time

Pretty much. You don't put on demo events to just have people play the previous generation's games. It might just be better Switch, but there's still the mouse mode to get people used to. And whatever else the Switch 2 has up its sleeve. If I remember right, one of the games of the Switch hands-on events of 2016 allowed a transition to handheld mode. Same could happen at these for Switch 2, allowing people a feel for the new way the controllers attach.

@VoidofLight Announced later on like in June. You'd have the Switch 1 Direct focused on revealing Switch 1 games for the rest of 2025, the Switch 2 Direct all about hardware and use Switch 1 software to showcase Switch 2 features at the demo events (e.g. Prime 4/Splatoon 3/SNES NSO used to show off mouse mode).

Alternatively, Nintendo's comments about Switch 2 exclusives ages as well as Jim Ryan's infamous "We believe in generations" comment and Mario Kart appears in the Switch 1 Direct.

@Grumblevolcano If Nintendo don’t reveal Switch 2 games in the Switch 2 Direct, not only will there be significant backlash, it will also cause a flood of negative media articles. It’s literally setting themselves up for months of pure negativity and there’s one thing which has been proved time after time is that once that starts, it’s incredibly difficult to turn around. Just look at Xbox as a great example of that. They never recovered from the disastrous Xbox One launch fiasco.

@Grumblevolcano There's absolutely nothing stopping them from announcing Switch 1 software this week and then announcing Switch 2 software next week.

Them launching Switch 1 games over the next couple months also does not necessarily mean that Switch 2 is launching later either. Switch 2 could launch in late May and they could still have Planet Robobot on Switch 1 in early May.

@FragRed Xbox One launch didn’t have a Mario Kart or major in house IP. I agree that Nintendo could hurt their image if they hold back on their first party content when showcasing their new system, but they have a track record of recognizing their IP value as new hardware is close to release and will unveil at least a few to drive interest for the Switch 2 launch. They’re very likely looking back on their Switch Direct as an example of what to build on and how they can exceed even that as a launch for Switch 2. I wouldn’t worry about lack of those games showing in April Direct we should be eating well. Good stuff will be there.

@FragRed Nintendo hasn't promised games for the Switch 2 Direct yet so technically it would be no different from when some people get upset because Silksong doesn't appear in an Indie World presentation.

But to be honest, I think it's more likely the Switch 1 Direct isn't real and we see a repeat of what happened in February. They make a social media post saying more details about the Switch 2 Direct like how long it is.