Update: Thankfully this article has aged horribly, and Nintendo has finally revealed its E3 Direct plans. All the details you need are right here.
We'd like to think Nintendo saw this and thought, 'hey, we better give those there Nintendo Lifers the info they so very much deserve'. But that's almost definitely not the case.
Original Article: It might not exactly feel like it, but we're just days away from the grand return of gaming's biggest annual event. Following a one-off break last year, E3 is set to return next week with the celebrations officially getting underway on Saturday 12th June. The thing is, Nintendo's been oddly quiet about its plans.
We know that Nintendo's attending the event – the Entertainment Software Association confirmed this in its initial E3 2021 date reveal back in April – but we still don't have any dates, times, or real details on its virtual appearance. That news will come soon enough, we're sure, but it's hard to ignore the current radio silence when we'd usually be well aware of Nintendo's plans at this stage.
Take the last E3 in 2019, for example. Nintendo confirmed that we'd be getting a Direct in April of that year, gave a concrete date and time for the show on 9th May, and then followed up with details of an E3 Mario Maker event just a week later, all well ahead of the show in June.
This year, all we've had so far is a tweet from Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser back in April, when he said, "We’ll make the virtual format fun and engaging."
Don't worry, we're not suggesting that there's anything to worry about or that Nintendo will end up skipping the event last minute, it's just noteworthy that the company appears to be going for a different tactic this time around. Knowing our luck, Nintendo will drop the news later today and make us sound very silly indeed – if that does happen, you're welcome!
Are you excited about E3, or would you say it all feels a little flat at the moment? Eleven days and counting!
Comments 100
At this rate, the Nintendo E3 event will be announced two minutes before it happens.
They're obviously gearing up for Switch Pro revea- oops, don't tell me I just accidentally ninja'd half the commenters here. Sorry!😅
@HotGoomba as a full upload on YouTube like a few of the previous Directs were. Granted, I personally find it more convenient.😆
Things are very up in the air I imagine with the pandemic still massively affecting Japan so that could be holding things up regarding announcements. On the other hand, if this reveal for new hardware is true and it does happen this week, that too could be a factor for the lack of details around E3.
I expect them to drop a date for the New Nintendo Switch announcement first (June 3?). Then, they can openly announce their E3 schedule, in which Nintendo Treehouse will demo the first NNS titles.
There's no real need to announce everything well ahead of time for a digital event. Even just a few days for the word to spread around is more than enough.
I hope they prepare something
My body ( and wallet ) is ready! Bring on the new switch pro 🙏
@elias84631 No, they just make a video where Doug Bowser says "Sorry, we forgot to make a Direct" and that's it
Nintendo at E3 2016: Here's Breath of the Wild, bye suckers.
Nintendo at E3 2021: Here's Breath of the Wild 2, bye suckers.
Are they really though? We know they’ll be a presentation at E3, and it’s free to everyone to watch online- they aren’t selling tickets to people so they turn up in California to play games anywhere. How much preparation do we need for an announcement about announcements?
Rumour has it they are dropping something Thursday that could be about the new Switch, or just about their E3 times.
I genuinely forgot E3 was just around the corner. In my head it was still inflexibly scheduled for ‘the future’. E3 is a thing. E3 is happening. E3 still exists. That’s quite exciting, in a small way.
I'm getting tired of the tactic "shut up about it so we build anticipation on social media"
I think we will hear something in the next 3 days with most likely the announcement of the announcement today, and then on Wed or Thur we will hear about the actually new Switch. Then at E3 we will hear about a lot of games they have been holding news on, BOTW 2 and Metroid being two of them.
After I woke up and found out that was just a dream... LOL
I’m eagerly awaiting BOTW2 news
E3 ain't what it used to be.
puffs pipe, leans on walking stick
Maybe they forgot about it? Someone should give them a nudge and remind them! Obviously preoccupied with something else lol.
They're being quiet on purpose, clearly.
If the rumours are true, they will show the Switch Pro (or New, or Plus, or X) first, this week, and then create the hype for the games to show in the E3.
When sitting in the plane. Nintendo just remembered they left the switch pro at the office. 🤣
"We hope you undertand"
Nintendo stop with this silence, and anounce already your E3 2021 plans, we need to know what games you gonna focus in your Nintendo Direct E3 Direct Presentation(problaby Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild 2 e Splatoon 3).
All they do now is fill their YouTube with videos, really no need to announce that
I have a feeling that Nintendo will announce their plans either today or tomorrow
People keep leaking the Switch Pro reveal so Nintendo is making us wait for the info on the revision and E3 info. Lol
Tuesday feels like an announcement day. I bet something happens today
@BenAV I'd like to watch it live, and I'd have to plan it ahead of time if I want an evening off.
Didn't even realise E3 was so soon.
Without the hype it's just a few hours of commercials....
Whether it’s a disappointment or a success, I hope Nintendo is holding in the reveals for E3 and that we get a presentation when Nintendo is supposed to showcase. It’s been such a quiet year for news, so E3 is looking to be exciting if only because something will be revealed for some console for the second half of the year hopefully.
@Octane Probably doesn't make much of a difference to Nintendo though if a few aren't able to watch it live. As long as everyone hears about it, most watch it and the rest either watch or hear about it later then that's probably mission accomplished. Less time between the announcement and presentation means less time for speculation and building anticipation which is probably ideal for them with how ridiculous peoples' expectations tend to get.
Because they know E3 is not important anymore and is just a pale shell of what it once was.
I still think Nintendo will pull out of E3 last minute
This is what makes Nintendo the most exciting event at E3, the surprises! #HYPE!!
Part of me kinda hopes Nintendo at E3 will announce this:
"you heard rumors of a New Nintendo Switch, or a Nintendo Switch Pro, we regret to inform you there is no such thing... please understand"
I am going to laugh super hard if that does happen! 😂
I've got a days worth of toil to take in work so need to know when it's going to be. Honestly can't wait. Hoping no "exclusive" games for the pro though as they will be rocking horse poo for the next year or so.
Past paced Direct followed by treehouse is all we need!
I may be on my own here but I missed the days when all the new reveals came from a glossy zine I picked up from the newsagents. There was something special about learning of Ocarina of Time for the first time from a magazine with a 6-page article including screenshots than there is waiting months for any new at all and then it just gets dropped on our lap.
Perhaps they are just keeping things quiet to help avoid the leaks which have been happening more and more frequently.
Also I wonder what else is even coming in 2021. If some alleged super powered switch is coming, it seems kinda weird to me that DP remakes are the November titles. Plus, legends comes out in January, so I don’t see them squeezing a bigger game into December. June and July slots go to Mario golf and SS, so I kinda doubt there will be any other Mario or Zelda games. That leaves aug-oct. I think there will be one new game, a port, and some dlc. They could rework star fox zero so maybe that. Arms is about ready for a sequel. Animal crossing could get a refresh, the last smash fighter is still out there. I hope they give some love to an underrepresented franchise like kid icarus or something, but who knows
I really hope they do a big direct, and i think they will. Maybe Thursday the announcement?
@IronMan30 Or, with all the rumours about this Nintendo Switch Revision, which might only be rumours and Nintendo got wind of it. They are now on the edge and not sure what to do. Since the only thing they will be presenting at the E3 is Mario Party DLC content and show more footage of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the Switch. lol
@xxx128 Just like all the leakers then so it must be true!
Hopefully they are in a better position than Duff Beer.😉🤞🤞
...inserts relevant simpsons clip...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqfLOJGS_7o&t=85s
I'm excited, but trying to keep my expectations in check due to covid in japan, (only 2-3% vaccinated) and nintendo's prefecture just extended it's state of emergency to the end of june. While japan's new cases have slightly dropped, their hospitalizations are still around their highest levels - nhk newsline.
Nintendo is going to end up like the monorail guy from The Simpsons if they don't do anything soon.
It’s almost like E3 is a joke
Our interest in the switch is at an all time low right now. Really hope they have a big direct with some surprises planned.
Yeah, no. E3 is still 11 days away. We know there will be Nintendo presentations. We don't need to know anything more specific for at least a week.
News: there is no news
Good. I don't want to hear ANYTHING from Nintendo UNTIL the day of their presentation. Knowing the time of it would be nice, but that's all.
They're just going to let hype built until E3 is closer. Most likely, they'll announce their plans one week before the event starts.
@BenAV Speculating is already happening, regardless of what they do.
They're still selling Switch consoles as soon as they can get them in shipping containers, they are still dominating software charts in many territories and their short notice shadow drops of content during the pandemic seem to have been positively received. 'Normal' marketing rules need not apply, and in any case, this is a fully digital event that is still 11-14 days away, why does anyone need more than 24hrs notice?
Lots of the more highly esteemed "leakers"/"insiders" were proudly predicting there to be a confirmation of the direct date last week - only to then claim they were joking about it all. Does make it seem like it it is too easy to get some attention making "predictions".
@Scrubicius Or E3 is cancelled. Go home.
It’s Nintendo. They will announce it in like 2 minutes and start in 2 minutes
@BongoBongo I saw some insisting it was Thursday/Friday last week, then others saying it couldn't be on a Friday because NoA close on Fridays (because scheduled YouTube videos and tweets aren't a thing?!), so would definitely be last Thursday.
Throw 2000 darts at a dart board and one will hit the bullseye.
@Fjdhdjsid i don’t think it’s been a disappointment since 2015. Though maybe 2018 was a bit too Smash heavy.
I'm excited, and I'm also keeping my expectations in check. I'm still satisfied with my Switch. If a "Pro" exists, it will probably be either a stripped down, streamlined version of the Switch, or a slightly more powerful unit, that in the long-run, gets few hardware exclusives that require it.
I just deleted all the rumours from my head and expect nothing new as it's probably the real outcome. I mean, rumours are fun between real news gaps if you know how to manage them for what they are
If the Switch Pro does come out this year I think most of us will have no chance of getting one. The scalpers are all over the PS5/Xbox and various other hobbies and the Switch Pro will likely be a huge prize for them and so hard to get for us. I really hope if it does come out that they make people go into stores to get them so they cannot be scalped online.
My guess is this will either be huge or terrible — nothing in between. They’re either holding onto a big bomb and dropping it at the last minute, or the presentation is going to be so lackluster they are burying it.
@suikoden Why? Because Playstation decided to leave? Nonsense. E3 is as powerful as always, and people get as hyped as usual.
Only sonyers keep saying E3 is not the same.
Not expecting them to announce the "Switch Pro" specifically during E3. I imagine they would probably do it in July, just as they did with the Switch Lite.
Now, what would be showcased at E3? Guaranteed we'll be getting a new Smash Fighter. Guaranteed Age of Calamity DLC information. Hopefully Breath of the Wild 2, as said by Eiji Aonuma. I'm half expecting Bayonetta 3, but very much no expecting Metroid at all.
I have a feeling that they have delayed stating anything because of all the datamines and leaks that happen. The closer to your show you actually announce the date/time, the safer you are. We are looking forward to seeing Pokémon Legends Arceus gameplay.
@The_New_Butler i would scratch off on new console since pro isnt happening since were basically 2 years away from switch successor i rather them focus on upcoming and update on games that been in development for a while.
Game Builder Garage releases one day before E3 starts.
Nintendo is staying quiet because they're going to surprise us with the news that they're bowing out of the video game industry to focus on Hanafuda cards again. They would like you to know that the REAL Switch Pro is the friends we made along the way.
Don't want to be negative, but in an effort to be positively surprised I am going to ask you something. Please write down the worst case (realistic) scenario with this Nintendo E3 presentation.
Because Nintendo is like a gifted kid that puts the minimum effort and could do so much better in school...
Honestly the revision is all I care about. Just give me an announcement trailer letting me know release date and what I will get. I’m kind of down on their games lately, I could care less.
I just dearly hope the pandemic seriously didn't make things worse for Nintendo this year. It's still a little early in June though, so we'll probably hear something from them later today or tomorrow or at the end of this week no less. Still oddly Nintendo didn't announce anything. What's going on over at Nintendo HQ or its subsidiaries? Please don't have us wait till September again, Nintendo! I swear!
The rumor going around that seems to be rooted in a reality is the new Switch Mini DS. That's right, a small version of the Switch with two screens. Second screen dock sold separately..
Perhaps Nintendo only reveals the next Smash fighter and then goes radio silent until sometime after Skyward Sword HD launches. Nintendo didn't say there'd be a Direct, only that they'd have some presence at E3.
@Inc
So very, sadly true!
I miss the Booth Babes!
@The_New_Butler
Not to mention sakurai made it sound like the last two dlc would be announced at e3 in his famitsu column
It’s not like journalists and visitors need to plan their visit, flights and hotels around what day and what time the exhibitions will be on and the show floor will be opening this year. So they can afford a later announcement
“Days away”, almost 2 weeks.
Wake me up when we are actually days away
With no physical event this year, there is no need to announce anything so far ahead in advance.
@Grumblevolcano
Nintendo will have an E3 Direct.
Digital events don’t require big long build-ups. Nobody is flying in. Nobody needs to book hotels. Nobody needs to change their schedules. Nintendo can announce the day before.
As a digital events organiser, we try to announce 7 - 10 days in advance, but I suspect Nintendo could go much closer
they will announce Marvel Super Hero Girls And WWE Wrestlerettes: Let’s Dress Up And Drive Go-Karts!!!
*11 days away... Still plenty of time to announce it, especially considering its just a digital event.
I'd guess they're not saying anything because they don't want any leaks. Past few years their entire E3 lineup has been leaked so they're waiting until the last possible moment this time.
People: "Nintendo is toooo quiet". "nintendo has nothing new" "nintendo is doomed" "im gonna sell my switch" lol 🤣
Nintendo reading the messages; Hold my switch please, press the button!
Smash character reveal!
Nintendo; Press the button again. Breath of the wild 2
Nintendo; press it harder! Metroid prime 4.
And again! The red button this time! Switch pro.
And everyone; owwww we love you nintendo 🤣🤣🤣
I have a feeling that Nintendo will unveil their next revision of the Switch at E3, but they'll start with a Smash Character Reveal at the beginning, announce the sequel to Breath of the Wild, and more stuff, maybe a Limited Digital release of EarthBound, with a Physical Collector's Edition in an SNES Big Box, with a reprinted Player's Guide, and the stuff it originally came with, and a code for a download of the game. Same for the other titles of the EarthBound Series. And what will they end the presentation with? Another Smash Character Reveal, and a Switch Pro Exclusive title: Super Smash Bros Ultimate: Complete Edition, with Both Fighters Passes and all the DLC Mii Fighter Costumes! Okay, that last bit is just stretching it, but when was the last time this has happened? 2019, when they announced the lackluster Hero of Dragon Quest XI and the amazing Banjo & Kazooie!
"...please understand..."
@The_New_Butler because were nearly the end of the switch lifespan and nintendo isnt going to do the midupgrade thing like sony and microsoft keeps on doing its ridiculous and dumb.
Why do people need announcements about upcoming announcements? It's just days away. Just wait for the event. Personally I've always thought things like tweeting:
"Big news coming up at E3! Be sure to watch!"
Is totally pointless. It's saying "I'm announcing that I'm going to have an announcement to announce next week!"
I feel like the switch pro or whatever it is will not be announced at E3 and before E3. I have a feeling it might get announced in July, like the switch lite
NIntendo is literally listed as one of the two biggest sponsors of E3 (the other being Microsoft), yet there are still those who believe they wont hold an E3 press conference.
SMH
We are going to get Rayman in Smash and a new Star Fox ladies and gentlemen.
These companies love to blame their laziness on Covid, when their games development schedule and release dates are known for months (even years) ahead. Nintendo, like very other company, will blame Covid, even though most companies have complete games they are sitting on just so that they can pad out their schedule when things start to wane. Arrogant Nintendo is worst Nintendo.
Can’t wait for them to announce the Ultra Switchty 4. The 4 references 4K obviously. It’s going to launch with Super Mario 4K and WaveRace 4k. It’s all over social media
Nintendo could absolutely kill it this E3 if they announce the new switch. Based on its power profile we would see a LOT more AAA 3rd party developers on board. It's possible we could hear from them about games being ported over. And I'm hopeful Nintendo still has some surprises even if they aren't evergreen titles.
Here's my guess: Nintendo Direct starts. Nintendo boss appears. He says: Thank you for your patronage. Unfortunately we can't show anything today. Please keep buying our products. Bye!
@Heavyarms55 If they're doing a Direct, it helps if they announce it ahead of time. Yes, it's an announcement of an announcement, but people like watching it live. And it generally increases the view count as opposed to dropping it out of nowhere.
I don't know why, but I'm really excited about the new hardware
They’re getting ready to announce Stability Party 10
Desperately trying to keep expectation's in check.
Something Nintendo should be doing.
"Nintendo's Being Oddly Quiet About Its Plans"
Switch Pro confirmed! \o/
They are just waiting for Retro to submit the new Metroid Prime 4 logo, to "Win E3", .
I really hope they share more news about Splatoon 3 at E3, I mean come on, it's E3! it has a 3 in it! it would be perfect. Switch pro would be cool, but I still feel that it is unlikely.
@mousness I totally agree with you on the fact that nintendo could do much, much better, but I think they have a lot to show this E3, so, I’m sure we’ll be satisfied at the end of it.
@Octane Fine, fair enough.
Didn't they used to announce their E3 plans months in advance? I remember being used to seeing the schedule way before E3 was even close.
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