Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@CaleBoi25 Wonder did get a patch for Switch 2, just not a major one. That said, I do agree S2 edition seems fairly likely. I thought it was weird it never got DLC on Switch 1, but saving it for Switch 2 is a perfect excuse.

Mario Wonder and Pikmin 4 I think are the two that are right at the front of the queue for a Switch 2 edition.
The former I could see coming very soon especially with the 40th anniversary and the fact that we don't have any Mario related titles releasing during the October/November period yet.

Ideally every 1st party game should get some kind of Switch 2 enhancement but one I'd really like sooner rather than later is Smash Ultimate.

They also rolled out the free update Splatoon 3 after the first batch. I don't think we can read that much into which games have free updates already and which ones don't. Personally I think Wonder gets a free update that makes it 120Hz. It's not a very demanding game and they did literally use the Wonder Sprite to announce 120Hz

People are doing this same thing with Animal Crossing. No free update therefore there must be a new Animal Crossing next year. Seriously. We're not even a month after launch, they're not going to send out updates for everything all at once. By this logic we must be getting Pikmin 5 soon because 4 hasn't got a performance update. Same deal with Luigi's Mansion 3

@Dev-N lwk i agree with the thought of Mario Maker 3. its been six years, its marios big 40, we need another holiday title, it sells well, no 3d mario…i think we will get a big reveal of it soon honestly. i hope for 3d level making but doing that would be rather difficult 😥 i need to put more hours in 2, i beat the story mode but theres so much to do!!!

@OctolingKing13 Even though I literally made a thread begging for mario maker 3, I'm pessimistic we'll get it soon. Fundamentally that would be a fairly major game and 2025 is already kind of flooded with games. And it's not that long since Wonder. I'm hoping for 2026. I have around 400 hours in mario maker 2 and would love mario maker 3 to death.

As for 3D level making, I doubt it would be the only mode because it's a higher maker difficulty, but I think game builder garage have shown us it's definitely possible to have a 3D level maker.

I love the concept of MM games, but sadly in practice, they tend to be half enemy-spamming slop and half kaizo, neither of which are fun for me personally. That said... I would buy a 3D version in a heartbeat!!

Anyone else wanna guess what will happen with new Switch software going forward now that Switch 2 is out? I'll post my predictions later when I'm not as busy.

@ShieldHero Do you mean Switch 1 Nintendo games?

I guess we know:

2025:

• Metroid Prime 4
• Pokemon Legends Z-A

2026:

• Rhythm Heaven Groove
• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

I think there is a decent chance Switch 1 will get something for the Mario anniversary either in 2025 or early 2026. For example if there was a Galaxy 2 port, it could easily come to both consoles.

I Also think we will get Nintendo World Championships: SNES edition at some point, maybe 2026.

2027+ - not much if anything.

Of course indies will keep coming to Switch 1 for a long time.

@FishyS, I was talking more speculation than fact, I apologize for not being clear enough. I do agree with you that the Switch 1 will probably get something for Mario's 40th anniversary, especially if it's a HD rerelease of an older Mario game like Galaxy 2. I also believe that Metroid Prime 2 and 3 will be shadowdropped for both Switch and Switch 2 shortly before 4. I can even list something that I don't think will happen but I wouldn't mind happening since I'm still undecided about Switch 2: I REALLY hope that Pokémon Gen 10 also releases on Switch 1. The Teraleak did mention that possibly happening a while back. If it does happen, there will be absolutely no reason for me to spend $450-500 on a Switch 2 yet! 😃

@ShieldHero I also think the Switch 1 will continue getting support for a while honestly. It still has an absolutely massive install base after all, it feels like it would be silly to ignore it entirely. I do believe most "bigger" releases will end up confined to Switch 2, for the extra power if nothing else. (Like there is no way something like DK Bananza could run on the original Switch at all.) But yeah, I'd be shocked if most remasters, easy to run titles, and Pokemon titles (especially since Pokemon has a history of releasing on older hardware) don't come to Switch 1 for the next two or three years at least.

@Bigmanfan, I do agree with you about bigger games like Bananza mostly being exclusively on Switch 2 going forward. I made up a theory a while back that Nintendo is keeping the Switch and Switch 2 going at the same time, at least for a few more years, so that people who like smaller games at a cheaper price can get a Switch 1 and people who like bigger games and are willing to spend more money on them can get a Switch 2.

@ShieldHero I think we'll see a Switch 1 game on an average of about 1 game every 2 months so including the 2 already released 2025 games you have something like:

• January 2025 - DKC Returns HD
• March 2025 - XCX Definitive Edition
• July 2025 - Metroid Prime 2+3 HD (prepare people for Prime 4)
• September 2025 - Metroid Prime 4
• October 2025 - Pokemon Legends Z-A
• January 2026 - Rhythm Heaven Groove (present in the March 2025 Direct)
• March 2026 - Tomodachi Life Living the Dream (present in the March 2025 Direct)
• May 2026 - Fire Emblem Genealogy of the Holy War (the game's 30th anniversary and 3DS got a FE remake in the Switch era)
• July 2026 - Yoshi's Woolly World (I'd guess Yoshi is in the new Mario movie)
• October 2026 - Metroid 6 (Metroid's 40th anniversary is in August though Dread during the 35th anniversary was positioned as an October release)
• March 2027 - Kirby Triple Deluxe or Planet Robobot (Kirby ended the 3DS)

Not really sure where to put Pokemon Champions, it has no release window which makes me think it's further away like later in 2026/2027 but on the other hand if a release date was teased back in February it would've leaked when the Switch 2 was coming out by so could be a July Pokemon Presents shadow drop for example.

@Grumblevolcano, nice list! The only things I would add to the list are Super Mario Galaxy 2 HD for Mario's 40th anniversary and (wishful thinking on my part) Pokémon Gen 10!

'Nash Weedle' claims there will be a direct this week. He seems to be somewhat reliable - got some Switch 2 launch details correct. Also claims there will be a Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition (begging this means DLC content).

While a July Direct would be pretty nice, it would be kind an odd Direct schedule for this year. Normally, the Direct schedule (not counting Mini Directs) is:
February
June
September
But this year, if the schedule was like this:
March
April
???

It's different then usual, but I suppose it works.

I want to believe Nash Weedle is right about this, because obviously I would love a direct this week, but I don't know if I trust it just yet.I will say it does feel like everything is pointing to it, but I just don't want to get my hopes up.

The most I see happening this week is Partner Showcase, it fills in 3rd party gaps (it's looking very barren regarding the future of Switch 2 3rd party support) while not distracting from DK Bananza.

I do question where Prime 4 fits in all of this though, I thought Prime 4 Direct last week would've fit best but with that not the case so maybe Prime 4 Direct the last week of July with a late September release date? Unless the game's releasing in November, time is running out to announce a release date.

i really hope we get a direct this week (would be such a good news) but i lwk dont think we will get a big one until late july, after mario party dlc and DK. maybe the 31st? and as grumblevolcano mentioned above, the prime 4 situation is rather confusing. but heres hoping nash weedle and all the other rumours are right’

There’s a rumor going around that we’re getting a Direct this week with Pikmin 4 - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, so here’s my Direct lineup prediction:

• Prime 4 September release date
• Kirby Air Riders November release date
• Age of Imprisonment December or maybe late-ish November Release date
• Kirby Star-Crossed World trailer
• Mario Kart World update/Bananza reminder
• Elden Ring Switch 2 release date
• Silksong
• Final Fantasy VII 365th Port release date
• Pikmin 4 Switch 2 Edition announcement
• Splatoon Raiders release window
• Reminder for Drag X Drive
• 1 new 1st party Switch 2 game for 2025, another for 2026
• NSO update, specifically something for GameCube

There’s certainly enough for a Direct, it’s a matter of Nintendo being willing to do one or not

@PikminMarioKirby It would be similar to the post-Switch 1 direct where they reminded everyone what was coming up but had very little new.

I would have thought that was likely, but with some announcements coming via the Nintendo app recently, it feels hard to predict.