Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@ShieldHero I've had NSO since day 1 but have never quite thought expansion pack was worth the price.

It annoys me that some of the perks are DLC/upgrades. That means if I buy those separately the service is worth less. But if I subscribe for 1 year then I get Switch 2 Zelda or whatever and lose it afterwards. Downgrading a game feels worse than simply losing access to a game I never bought. Soooo... I kind of want to be subscribed for many years or not at all. And so far the benefits haven't felt worth subscribing for 8 years or whatever. Especially since I own 3D all stars and most of the sega games.

@FishyS Do you lose the upgrades once you get them on NSO? I thought that those were permanent given the nature of them?

Some frequently asked questions pages on Nintendo.com say you lose access to the mario kart, animal crossing etc DLC if expansion pack goes away. The Switch 2 editions are less clear on the Nintendo pages but I have heard people say you lose access to those as well.

@FishyS Yeah, the DLC makes sense- but the upgrades feel weird to me given that they're outright kinda baked into your ability to play the game. Especially if they do things like add more save slots.

Is it a little outlandish to think an announcement might come tomorrow? I haven’t seen too many updates lately (particularly release dates), and it makes me think there’s a lid on this info until the next Direct shows. This week seems very probable to me.

@Enriesto Tomorrow is Pokemon Presents so the focus this week is likely on that.

@Grumblevolcano Right! Then looking at next week.

I am not a Trainer myself so I forgot about PP and was about to suggest the same as Enriesto haha. Any predictions we want to throw out prior to the (presumed) Direct? My random guess is Splatoon Raiders info, but that's mainly just a hope lol

EDIT: corrected Ernesto -> Enriesto

Direct predictions:
Release dates and trailers for games we already know, including the Switch 1 ones announced back in March
Pikmin 4 Switch 2 edition with new content
Mario Wonder Switch 2 edition with new content
New content for Mario Kart World, potentially involving the Donkey Kong Series?
Smash Ultimate Switch 2 edition for spring-summer 2026?

I presume there will also be at least a Mario 40th anniversary Direct in early September.

@ShieldHero
I'm not sure Smash would be a Switch 2 edition, free update that mostly just boosts the output resolution would be my guess. A Switch 2 edition IMO would imply reworked assets or new content to justify the cost and I don't see them doing that for Smash at this point

I honestly think the most solid candidate for a Switch 2 edition is Switch Sports. Which sounds boring but it's also the kind of game that could do with an expansion. And who knows, maybe they take advantage of the camera or mouse in some way

But yes, 100% on new characters for Mario Kart from DK. The lack of DK and Pauline costumes is rather suspicious

@skywake They also found some voice actors listed in World's credits who play prominent characters in Bananza. I definitely think we're getting a free update for Bananza content- which was probably held back as to not spoil the game itself.

@VoidofLight oh really?? may i ask what these characters are? it mightve been already discussed so mb if it has 🙁

@OctolingKing13 I'm pretty sure people spotted the voice for Void Kong in the credits of World. I don't know the other character since apparently they're a spoiler and I didn't want to spoil myself on Bananza.

@CaleBoi25 Ernesto is fine too but appreciated

Grabbed this list courtesy of 9to5toys.com:

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – releases 2025
Kirby Air Riders – releases 2025
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade – releases 2025
The Duskbloods – releases 2026
James Bond 007 First Light – releases 2026
Elden Ring – Tarnished Edition – releases 2025
Borderlands 4 – releases 2025
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment – releases 2025
Hades 2 – releases 2025
Enter The Gungeon 2 – release date unknown
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam – release date unknown
Splatoon Raiders – release date unknown

Basically, anything with an unknown release date that’s slated for this year is going to be there.

Duskbloods will be shown next year I think, in the Feb Direct, as well as the Bond game if the releases time well.

Splatoon Raiders maybe? I think we might be waiting a bit on that one too.

Professor Layton, which is my most hyped aside from Prime 4, will probably show up in another showcase. I think Level 5 will unveil the date themselves, or at Tokyo Game Show.

@VoidofLight oh wow thank you! i really hope this happens, MKW needs some fresh content 🙏🏼

@skywake, Switch Sports isn't a bad guess either! 😃

@SKYWAKE yes! I have been suggesting a Switch Sports upgrade! I even have a few ideas for new sports using Mouse Controls! The main one is Foosball — Use Mouse mode to slide the sticks, then hit ZL or ZR to flick! The biggest possible issue is just… well… Nintendo Switch Sports: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is rather clunky lol!

@CaleBoi25,

"Nintendo Switch Sports: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition"

For some stupid reason, I actually thought this was funny.

So Legends Z-A is Mario Kart World's replacement over the holiday season as the Switch 2 + game bundle. I think this leans more in the direction of @IceClimbers' theory of next week being Partner Showcase followed by Prime 4 Direct in early August. There's no big unannounced 1st party game so they split the announcements up like they did in 2022.

@Grumblevolcano If it's a partner showcase i will be not happy