Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

Maybe yes.
We will never know Nintendo's plan.

I think next week is our last chance for a Direct / partner showcase for the next weeks.
2 weeks before and 1 week after the release of 3D World Nintendo would not do a Direct (to not overshadow the release of 3D World).

So it's either next week, or end of February (or even later).

@dionysos283 no, a Pokémon or Legend of Zelda focused Direct in february is more likely to happen.

This week was never really possible with the Capcom one also happening.

@dionysos283 I never did lol. Just hold tight, we'll get one late March / early April

At least we have the Capcom event today. Really looking forward to it even though it's geared towards Re8 which isn't a switch game. Hoping we at least get SOME switch related RE stuff.

@NintendoByNature the rumored Switch focused Resident Evil game?

@Giancarlothomaz who knows. Well find out in a couple of hours though!

@Slowdive If the rumour is true it suggests Nintendo's upcoming lineup is so messed up that 2021 will be very much like 2020 after March in terms of lineup where Nintendo has very little other than a few ports here and there so massive reliance on 3rd party support and already existing games like Animal Crossing.

Honestly don't care at this point

As long as SMT V comes out this year I'm good. I'm also too busy with PS5 hunting so when I get that I have some games to catch up on

I hate to say it, but I think u are right. I am sure we might get a surprise like Paper Mario. But it is going to be a weak year for long time Switch owners.

@rockodoodle I never thought we were going to get a strong year anyway.... now this is all theoretical but if people are right and Nintendo has games finished and sit on them (Metroid Prime trilogy, Pikmin 4, did it really need to take this long to release a 3d world port) then as long as the system is selling they are going to slow roll their releases until there's a dip in their sales. At least that's how I have explained the last few years when everyone thought every year was going to be the BIG year. Its either that or Nintendo is beyond slow making sequels. Wheres Kart 9 (MK8 2014)? (ODYSSEY 1 2017) Odyssey 2? (PIKMIN 2 2013) Pikmin 4? (NSMBU 2012) NSMBU2? 3Dworld2? (DKTF 214) DKTF2?

It never took this long to make sequels before....
DKCR 2012- DKTF 2014 - 2Years
NSMBW 2009 - NSMBU - 2012 - 3 Years
Super Mario Galaxy 2007 - Super Mario Galaxy 2 2010 - 3 Years
Metroid Prime 2002 - Metroid Prime 2 2004 - Metroid Prime 3 2007 - Metroid Other M 2010 - AVG 2.5 Years
TLOZTP 2006 - TLOZSS 2011 5 Years
Pikmin 2001 - Pikmin 2 2004 - Pikmin 3 2013 - AVG 6 Years
Mario Kart Wii 2008 - MK8 2014 - 6 Years

Ill skip writing earlier titles because it was easier to make sequels quicker when they were less intensive.

So 3 weeks into 2021 and people already writing off this year’s line up as weak. NINTENDOOM!

So what are the most likely surprises 1st party wise, except Zelda 35th related?

@jump they aren't doomed... they are making money... that's what matters to a company... but im skeptical of these huge lists people have recently been putting out.

@sixrings The releases of 2019 were strong, not as strong as 2017 though had the quantity been more consistent (instead of droughts before June and insanely packed from June) it would've been a competitor. So it was reasonable to think odd years strong, even years have large reliance on 1 game.

I don't think Nintendo's sitting on completed new releases but perhaps there's ports they've kept as backup. I do think however this year we're getting into "save new games for the Switch's successor" territory as Nintendo abandoning the Wii U for 2 years gave the Switch its insane 2017 lineup.

I doubt they're even close to starting anything for the next console. The Switch is doing too well and is, based on recent trends, probably only about halfway through its life cycle. The Wii U was an anomaly because it performed so poorly - Nintendo had to jump ship to increase their chances with the next system.

@jump They wont release anything other than Pokemon, ports, and a sports / party game and still rake in the big bucks. Who's doomed?

@timleon Nintendo said in May 2020 that the Switch was barely halfway through its lifespan which exactly halfway would be if the Switch's successor launched in July 2023 so that suggests Switch's successor will launch before then but not too far before otherwise "barely" wouldn't be accurate. March 2023 is when I think the successor will launch based on those comments and when Nintendo releases systems.

@timleon They almost certainly should be developing for the next system by now. Nintendo's biggest games have a 3-4 year development cycle, so the next system would have to be launching in 2025 or later for them to not have started anything.