Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@IceClimbers Also true, it seems like Partner Showcases will be monthly through the end of the year. And if BD II really is coming this year, there's no better time to announce it.

I don't think it is but

@Link3710 Oh yeah! I forgot about that! You’re probably right then, there’s no way they’ll do something next week because of TGS. Unless they reveal the character as an additional thing at TGS as well...

The reason I suggested a Pokémon rep was because I know that’s been a rumor floating around that seems slightly plausible, though I haven’t looked into it much. I’m personally impartial to them adding another one because while I think they’re all cool and work well in smash, I also really like seeing how Sakurai incorporates new franchises. Keep in mind dlc characters are chosen by Nintendo though (hence Byleth, who Sakurai himself didn’t want) so we’ll see.

So I guess we’ll either see a Pokémon presents announced tomorrow, (which is highly unlikely for several reasons,) some smash news at TGS next week, or the Mr Sakurai Presents will be its own thing the week after. Though this is Nintendo we’re talking about, so it’s also entirely possible they’ll now break the long running amiibo pattern.

Regarding Smash, I think Nintendo will save Character Pack 7 for a more traditional Direct (general or Mini that isn't a Partner Showcase). But yeah, we still have a lot of unknowns at the moment such as:

• Character Pack 7 for Smash Ultimate
• Crown Tundra DLC for Pokemon Sword/Shield
• Bowser's Fury in 3D World
• Is Bravely Default II delayed to 2021?
• Is Nintendo doing anything else to convince people to subscribe to NSO or is SMB 35 and Super Mario All Stars it?
• Is DOOM Eternal for Switch still happening?
• By now last year we knew of some 2021 games (TMS#FE Encore, Animal Crossing, Xenoblade)

Age of Calamity info on September 26th is Koei Tecmo's TGS event.

I'm assuming we'll see CP7 in January, around the time they actually reveal details on Bowser's Fury. That, or at TGA (assuming those aren't cancelled entirely)

@Northwind The last financials implied 2020s lineup was in fact affected. And since rumor has it 3D World was meant to come out this year it seems likely that was the case. Plus, FP7 was likely meant to have been announced by now.

I'm guessing at least 1 or 2 more 2021 titles were intended for 2020, so I don't think it'll end up that bare bones in the first half. Especially since we don't have a Golden Week game yet, and Nintendo always used that slot.

@link3710 There's no way it'll be that long before we see the next fighter. That's an entire 6 months since Min Min.

We'll get one before the end of the year, that much I'm sure of.

I have a small feeling that in order to make up for the lack of a Direct all year around Nintendo might actually do one for November/December like they used to do during the Wii U days.

I still think we'll probably see Challenger 7 for Smash before the year ends.

We'll know when Nintendo is out of Partner Showcase mode when a Partner Showcase doesn't say to look forward to more Partner Showcases in the future.

IE, never ....

@Grumblevolcano I feel like Partner Showcases can exist to compliment main Directs just to fill in the gap going forward. It's why there's been one for each month thus far. I doubt they're discarding them post-pandemic since main Directs are definitely more first-party focused

I reckon Directs are done. They said they were looking at other options. Let's face it, everyone and their uncle have started copying their Directs. They will lose their magic being cynically mimicked. Nintendo like to be different.

Since some people seem to consider "Mr. Sakurai Presents" showcases Directs, by that reasoning, I think we're getting one before mid-October. I think what happened with the character presentation in March did not mean things fell through - they probably figured out some kind of remote way of doing it, as Sakurai only said it was delayed, not that it meant an entire character fell through. Planning began a year ago this month with the confirmation of more DLC, so any third party characters would've been accounted for within those 6 months. Plus, a new character always releases close to an amiibo wave (when there is one), and actual development of DLC content has been stated to be going well, and Sakurai even said things would be slower if he was working on a brand new game. I don't get why people are assuming Challenger Pack 7 is still really far off, or that the whole pass has to be first-party now, or anything like that - if there are any delays, they'd probably be minor. I'm fully expecting to see a reveal handled like Byleth's, or potentially a reveal elsewhere, and after the reception of all the third party characters in the first pass, Nintendo would be stupid to not include any more.

@IceClimbers Why not? Samurai said they're facing serious delays with Smash DLC.

I forsee something like this:

Next week: Age of Calamity full reveal, partner showcase (will contain BD II if it's coming this year)

Week after: Animal Crossing Halloween event

Early October: Mario Kart Live full reveal

Late October: Partner showcase

November: Full reveal of Isle of Armor for a December release

Late November: Final partner showcase of the year. Features BD II if it's coming Q1 instead. Animal Crossing Winter Update

Early December: Additional details on Bowser's Fury. Something Pokemon related, probably for March

December/January FP7. Sakurai reaffirms delays and says the date the final fighter will be ready has been pushed back.

Early January: Bowser's Fury full reveal

Late January Final Animal Crossing major update, covering Valentines.

February - suddenly deathly quiet outside of 3D World launch

Early March: A random third party showcase and Indie world drop on separate weeks

Late March: Everyone is panicking cause Nintendo's gone silent. They finally drop a mini direct, with games for May and June.

June: FP8 and the July game are revealed, but that's all as E3 doesn't happen again.

July: Nintendo starts releasing weekly updates again, both big and small, and starts up the monthly 3rd party showcases again.

@TheFrenchiestFry I think ideally they'd coexist (in a year you'd have around 8 Partner Showcases and 3 general Directs) but in reality you'd probably get a case of general Direct expectations devaluing the Partner Showcases. So like "nothing big is going to be announced in the Partner Showcase because it would be saved for the general Direct".

So I think Partner Showcases are a temporary thing until Nintendo can start returning to general Directs and Direct Minis with 1st party content.

As for the next general Direct, I'd say October at the latest. All the mess surrounding 3D All Stars preorder cancellations makes me think the collection is intended to be a really limited item like Super Mario All Stars for Wii rather than a reason to buy a Switch this holiday.

It's Nintendo's investors mystery meeting tommorow.

Is that the meeting where investors mysteriously discuss money? I wonder what it means.

@link3710 there is almost no way that FP7 is announced in December it’s gotta be before then. I’m expecting the character to release in November at the latest.

rest of month:Smash pack 7,animal crossing fall update and the warriors game
Oct.smash pack 7 release and pokemon direct and a mini direct for some of next year
nov.pokemon dlc release

@DannyBoi it’s actually a management meeting, it’s nothing to do with investors and it’s nothing to do announcements or directs.

@jump What do they have a management meeting for?

Sometimes i wonder why there are some upcoming games that didn't mentioned from the Direct?
Like i found the upcoming games from playasia without Direct.