As the Nintendo fanbase goes into its gazillionth day without a Direct presentation (we may have exaggerated that slightly for effect), a slip up from UK retailer GAME might give us reason to believe that a show is just around the corner. Might.
Earlier today, Nintendo and LEGO teased a collaboration for the Super Mario franchise, and while details are extremely thin on the ground at the time of writing, GAME was one of the first retailers to set up a webpage for fans to register their interest. When the page first appeared, it said that "the latest Nintendo Direct announced their exciting collaboration", despite the fact that the announcement was actually made in a simple social media post (screenshot via @Nibellion).
It didn't take long before GAME realised its mistake and quickly edited the text to remove all mention of the Direct. Here's what it looks like now:
This could mean one of two things. The first option is that the mention of a Direct was just a complete mistake, and that no presentation has ever been involved with the announcement whatsoever. The second option, though, is that the LEGO collaboration was originally intended to be revealed in a Direct and that GAME knew about it ahead of time.
If this second option is true, that would suggest that Nintendo may have delayed a Direct presentation and decided to go ahead with the LEGO reveal as planned, with GAME simply running with pre-agreed text and not realising that it needed to be changed. Potentially, then, a Direct could be pretty much ready to go, with Nintendo waiting for the perfect timing.
Of course, this is all just speculation on our part; as soon as a Direct gets officially confirmed, we'll make sure to let you know.
But what do you think? A simple, innocent error? Or do you think that a Direct was more than likely involved at some stage? We'll let you ponder that one over in the comments.
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[source twitter.com]
Comments 106
All aboard the hype train!!!
OH MY GOD! FINALLY HOPE FOR A FULL DIRECT! I've been waiting ages for a full Nintendo Direct. I mean, this could be nothing, but it actually gives me hope that a Direct will come out soon.
This is very interesting...
It does kind of point to a direct happening soon, another possibly unrelated thing is the Panzer Dragoon remake, which the makers are still pretty adamant is launching this winter (which ends in 10 days) yet still no announcement. All they keep saying is an announcement is coming soon, maybe in a direct?
Once a Direct is finally confirmed, it'll be like lighting a match in a room full of methane. Fans will go nuts.
Thursday then?? 🤷♂️🤷♂️😱😱
For gods sake. This poo has to stop, Ninty will announce one when they announce one. Where's the surprise and excitement in the world? Everyone wants to know their presents before they unwrap them. Humanity has gone to absolute poo in the last decade. Just live your lives and be happy with what you have!
You think Nintendo delayed the direct due to the Coronavirus?
@Palico_extremeru You're free to leave if you're not having fun.
I think it is very unlikely for Nintendo to hold a direct amidst the COVID-19 coronavirus problems.
The last time there was a natural disaster (like a hurricane or something?) the also delayed their direct.
It’s disappointing, but at least tasteful and thoughtful.
Lego + Mario = no more money
Calling it now, announcement tomorrow, direct Thursday, prime 4 update, pikmin 4 announcement, and slightly riskier prediction, second botw sequel trailer, taking place right where the first left off.
I mean, I'm sure a Direct is ready to go, I'm guessing they film these quite ahead of time. Whether or not we will see it soon....?
@carlos82 The guy whose profile picture is the Saturn logo brings up th Panzer Dragoon remake. So perfect!
@Palico_extremeru the "surprise" of a new Direct is exactly what people are clamoring for! A new Nintendo Direct IS like opening a present, as it excites Nintendo fans all around the world and gets them hyped for things to come. Get a clue.
so there's hope after all
@Ryan_Again I think it depends on the nature of the issue. A natural disaster disrupts many events in general whereas an epidemic, whilst still bad, isn't as impactful on a digital event.
Dont think it will be a direct until june. Maybe a lego direct.
Please baby it's been soooooo long
Isn't this an Indirect at the monent?
You have a secret, don't you ?
I hope a direct is coming soon. We’re nearing Wii U territory
@Ryan_Again Especially when people are forced to stay home they use the internet much more. I am not working these days, only a little from home. And it would be a very welcome present from Nintendo...
C'mon, give us a Direct! I want Mario Kart 9!
Here's another error they didn't fix:
"The first time that the two big brands have worked together!"
However, back in 2013, they released (alongside WB and TT games) Lego City games exclusively for the Wii U and the 3DS, with the Wii U game having Mario themed easter eggs.
Nah, as much as I’d love to be wrong, I think GAME’s initial post was no more than a genuine mistake. The very fact that we’re all so desperate for the merest whiff of a Direct shows just how overdue we are for one.
@illmatic20xx yes. The fact that Nintendo Direct results in a lot of hype and people willing to buy a switch, but that the stock currently already has shortages, results in a delay I think until production is back on track (at least a bit).
Wouldn't be a week in the Nintendo fandom without Direct talks. Or should I say "wouldn't be a day"?
Hype can be troublesome, abstinence syndrome always is. Hype abstinence syndrome sounds like something out of a horror movie. When a Direct finally happens, I suspect even announcing Persona 6 and GTA 6 as Switch exclusives will not prevent pails of intricately verbose disappointment.
...then again, that's nothing Directs don't attract by default regardless of frequency.
To be fair, the Mario X LEGO collaboration was more of a tease rather than an official announcement.
Not news. Just like those Gamestop preorder holdings. Create some actual content to post and not this crap that lets people down in the long run.
LEGO direct incoming😎
I would be a little more concerned if it indeed was part of the direct. Why would Nintendo pull this out? It could also be observed (albeit shrewdly) that Nintendo has cancelled its spring direct - it's been so long!
@Mgene15 - Uhhh, we are nowhere near Wii U territory. Unless we pretend this is the only year that counts and Nintendo games are the only games that count.
Literally the Switch backlog is immense of options.
Here we go again...
Oh snapple! AC and direct in the same month mmmmmmm the wait was worth it!
There’s a LEGO sale going on in the eShop
@RPGamer Fieri 4evr
The wait for this Direct is painful on 2 fronts:
1. Byleth aftermath / FP2
2. The otherwise lack of games in 2020 (or so it would seem, seeing as they haven't been announced)
About a week or two after animal crossing we’ll see a direct
I would say to people waiting for new games to check the back catalogue. You all must have a game at least that you have not played but own. Go play that! But yeah new is more exciting x x x x x
Half Life 3 confirmed
@Dragonslacker1 On that note, fans of TWEWY should definitely play Final Remix if they haven't in a while. The tail end of A New Day/Expert Mode makes grinding for money and select materials (not Shadow or Dark Matter, sadly) a relative breeze, the story is a sobering pick-me-up if you're feeling a little EMO PHASE, and A New Day also has new story.
@Mgene15 no we’re not. A massive animal crossing game comes out next week. Why would they plop a bunch of new announcements this close to a major AAA? Timing is a little different this year, but their marketing cycles are always the same. And if you are a switch owner and starved for content, are you sure you have a switch?
Tbh, lego collaboration doesn't seem direct worthy if it is just playsets, but if it is LEGO Mario game, that's something direct worthy
@Palico_extremeru we just want to know there are presents coming
Stuff like this has happened before from big companies. I’d be surprised if one isn’t coming on Thursday the 12th.
I think it was a mistake on their part i am starting to think there will not be a Direct until E3 if E3 is still happening this year
@kenyowa thank you someone had to say it
@Savino lemme guess your old friend d works at Nintendo
@Crockin Well nothing has a specific release date after Animal Crossing and Nintendo always has at least 1 upcoming game with a specific release date. It's possible that Nintendo randomly releases a release date trailer for something like Xenoblade before Animal Crossing and then do a Direct sometime after Animal Crossing but I doubt they'd do nothing before Animal Crossing.
Direct this Friday. They'll begin the direct by addressing the Mario Lego announcement in further detail
@Grumblevolcano if there’s a direct before animal crossing I’ll eat my hat
I think a Direct has been ready for a while they just want Crossing out of the way first.
This Friday or bust.
What are they waiting for, I wonder? It's been ages!
Nintendo starting to become like Sony, making only one good game a year. Give us more games Nintendo.
Calling it now, no direct both Wednesday and Thursday.
@illmatic20xx @Ryan_Again It's clear the virus isn't going away for a while at least so it's not like Nintendo can just wait some more unless the virus is affecting production
@nhSnork if the wait wasnt so long, the future disappointment wouldnt be as bad. And I am ready to be disappointed, because nothing can really cover such a long wait.
I just have a weird feeling that the only reason that the direct isn't ready to is because one of the "and you can download it straight after this direct" games isn't ready. Something like Panzer Dragoon or (dare I dream this big) Metroid Prime Trilogy.
@mesome713 Just 14 hours ago you were saying how great Nintendo was because it uses less magic windmill electricity as opposed to Sony, haha
@HobbitGamer It's true, PS4 uses a lot of electricity compared to Switch. Switch is amazing on the environment.
@kopaka sigh, I rest my case.
To be honest I think someone just assumed. Probably some web editor who doesn't even know the games industry, they're just working at an online retailers HQ as far as they're concerned. Accidentally slipped in a Nintendo Direct as the info source because they just assume that's where Nintendo's news always comes from.
@Palico_extremeru Hey, it's been 6 months with no proper general Direct and this year is looking like 2018 in terms of games. Im sure there are people like me with nothing to look forward to right now
Don't care when it happens but I'm desperate to hear that lovely "And it's available after this presentation" on something completely surprising. Love me a shadow drop. My window of opportunity has gone for watching it anyway due to work. Was lucky enough to watch the AC direct on my annual leave.
@Palico_extremeru Directs are like a drug to some people.
The original wording makes it sound like this would have been announced in a Direct, if it wasn't a mistake. I can't take anything hopeful from this, because we have it announced. The only thing I can take from this is that IF it wasn't a mistake, then something happened with the Direct that it was going to be announced in. It doesn't help point toward a future Direct at all either way.
@MuhBael April to July was a lot more promising in 2018 than it looks like at the moment for the same timeframe in 2020.
This might sound stupid, but I think Nintendo not having a big direct so far this year might have something to do with the caronavirus. Due to the manufacturing of electronics being behind, maybe many of their games have been delayed?
With the affect that the Coronavirus is having on various industries, it’s not unreasonable to think that it’s affected the availability of parts and production for a range of unannounced Nintendo games. The reason we haven’t had a direct yet is probably down to them having to rearrange their schedule due to internal delays and difficulties. With the way things are at the minute they might not actually know when they can distribute their upcoming products.
Seriously, I think we all might be grasping at straws with this one.
I would love to see a new direct, with something other than AC:H and something pointing toward the Future for the Switch and possibly MP4.
Maybe they are having a lot to talk about like New smash DLC or something New for the Switch console and/or a lot of games.
It'll probably happen on April 1st just like last year. Unlike most company Nintendo wants to be real on the fake day.
@NinjaWaddleDee @Kasma88 I doubt it's having that big of an effect. If anything, it might be a shortage than no products actually being made.
There's no way there isn't a Direct around the corner now. I don't doubt that blurb was an accident, I mean accidentally it was posted early yes, but it's contents aren't an accident, they reflect a Direct that should happen soon one would think.
So you're telling me they could have potentially wasted some time talking about Legos instead of games in a direct? Well I'm glad they, at least, got it out of the way now
My guess is there is a new direct March 26th, 2020....
After Animal crossing launches not before.
My mind us focused on AC, so I am not even concerned with impatience for a Direct.
10 Days!!
@Palico_extremeru ok boomer.
I would like to see a new Direct even though the general Directs for the past few years haven't announced anything that got my hype levels going through the roof.
@MasterJay In my opinion, Pikmin 4 and Prime 4 are far riskier predictions. If they do end up airing it the day after they announce it though, that'd be pretty dope.
@Anti-Matter how do you post images in a comment?
@Juga no, just one copy.
the megaman battle network inspired game, one step from eden, had it's creator say they wanted to time the release with a direct, the game comes march 26. just feeding the rumor.
@Chomp I thought that they always announce it two days prior, but https://mobile.twitter.com/LoruleLegend/status/1237374698809409536 shows that this isn't as common as I thought
Isn't the important part of this that Lego is apparently doing something with the Mario theme? Oh, I see now, it's buried deeper on the site.
I’m guessing somebody that doesn’t know what a Nintendo Direct is made the page
Why would a Nintendo Direct air on Tuesday? And without previous announcement, only a Mini Direct could've aired without surprise.
I have a theory, it seems that Nintendo has internally delayed their next presentation, it was originally planned on February, but got delayed because it "wasn't ready" and also because of some... measurements related to leakers.
https://www.wired.com/story/nintendo-leaks-crack-down-animal-crossing-e3/
According to VentureBeat, Nintendo is currently on the final stages of the video presentation, and it could air as early as next week, just days before the launch of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. On Youtube, Nintendo Japan has been updating their Direct playlists lately.
Oh, well.. when it's announced, time to update this!
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/02/talking_point_what_we_expect_from_the_first_nintendo_direct_of_2020
@kalosn Can you show me when Venturebeat said that?
@HobbitGamer just ignore Mesome- they’re just a troll.
Well Sony has no direct and their fans are not complaining.
Are we actually getting a Lego Super Mario game? I mean, i guess that could be interesting, i just hope is worth it.
If and I do mean if we are getting a Direct this month then it would most likely be on the 20th when Animal Crossing and Doom Eternal releases. This way they could build up more hype for both games.
@MasterJay I think a Prime 4 announcement is honestly less likely than an announcement about BotW 2, considering that they restarted Prime 4 from scratch. I’d say we’re due for news on Silksong (although that might be saved for a Nindies video) and Bayonetta 3, though.
@illmatic20xx I’ve been thinking this for since February. In japan they have closed major theme parks and schools even. Remember when Nintendo postponed an announced direct a few years back due to an earthquake in Hokkaido? They don’t want to come across as celebrating video games while the world is freaking out about a virus. Just my guess, but it is in line with their previous moves.
There was evidence of a Direct in February too, as there was a sale and a few small announcements that seemed related to a Direct.
More than likely, Nintendo delayed or cancelled the Direct.
For one reason, they probably think it would be insensitive as people around the world are dying from the plague, markets are crashing and people aren't really thinking of video games right now, and two: they may not even be sure if they can deliver on games later this year.
To be honest, if CORONA-CHAN has her way, we would be LUCKY if we get ANY new console game releases later this year.
Remember, even if development isn't affected, they still have to manufacture and ship these games. (unless they're digital-only)
E3 is probably cancelled at this point and even the new PS5 and Series X launches will probably be delayed.
Video games aside, a lot of people seem to be sticking their heads in the sand over this.
The reality is, we could very well be under martial law situations in many areas of the nation in the coming months with serious food and supply shortages as the warehouses empty and the shipments halt.
@Entrr_username
https://venturebeat.com/2020/03/10/march-nintendo-direct-2020/
It just got updated. I won't spoil it, but it sounds like a mistake, indie presentations come the last week of March, and I don't remember the last Direct that happened around the last week of the month. I think it's the other way around
@readalie Not a full blown announcement, just an update on progress, maybe a animated trailer? Might still be to early for that.
The longer the wait the more possible large scale disappointment may be over the content. Not speaking of myself really, just this happens every time Nintendo “takes too long.” Happens when they are timely too tho, so idk.
I still doubt we'll see the Direct before Animal Crossing at this point. Maybe the week after. This close to AC launching I really don't think they want to distract people.
I think they’ll do the direct a solid week after Animal Crossing comes out. Don’t wanna overshadow that baby.
If it’s just another direct that announces a bunch of 3rd party games,then I have no more fux to give.
There are a few things people have said that may be causing no nintendo direct for a while. ,One is corona virus and one is nintendo has a weak 2020 line up. And are thinking we will let sony and microsoft have this year, let hope none of this is true and a direct is soon. Also some people have been saying we have to wait to e3 in Summer?. If that is true the earliest release date other than trails of mana and pokemon dlc won't be till August. Lets just hope we get one in March as much as i love my switch collection i could really do with you know new games. I don't want to sound like a spoilt child but it is a games system by a company who makes games surely asking for some new ones is not being childish. Anyway rant over and peace.
well I think I know why the flu and so call virus.
As someone who worked at GAME for almost 10 years, news that they fuqed something (else) up and distributed false/restricted information to generate hype/preorders/sales/interest doesn't surprise me in the slightest... they couldn't organize a piss-up in a brewery...
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