After weeks of rumors, Nintendo has injected excitement into the gaming community with the announcement of a hefty 60-minute Nintendo Direct, slated for September 12 at 6:00 AM PT (9:00 AM ET). The reveal came via the Nintendo Today app, which is seemingly their new go-to for big news. A follow-up on X from Nintendo of America, promised a dive into upcoming games for both the Nintendo Switch 1 and 2. You can tune in live on YouTube, with the stream focusing on titles launching this winter and beyond. This marks the first full, fat Nintendo Direct post the Nintendo Switch 2’s record-breaking launch. But what are we expecting to see here?
Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary
The timing couldn’t be more perfect—or suspicious. The Direct lands just one day before the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., which first hit shelves on September 13, 1985. Speculation is rife that Nintendo will celebrate this milestone with major announcements. Past anniversary milestones include Super Mario 35’s release (and shutdown months later).
It would be great to get a similar reveal here. There’s also a possibility of a remastered bundle or a Nintendo Switch 2 expansion to Super Mario Wonder or Odyssey. We can’t forget that the sequel to the hugely successful Super Mario Bros. Movie is getting close, and a trailer may well be in the cards. Whatever it is, I doubt they finish the Direct without mentioning Mario.
Titles That are Very Likely to Appear
Beyond Mario‘s 40th, the rumor mill is churning with possibilities for other franchises. Fans are hopeful for gameplay footage from Splatoon Raiders, a new spinoff in the ink-slinging series. Meanwhile, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, announced way back in 2017, is a hot topic after its recent ESRB rating. This fueled anticipation of a release date reveal or even a standalone Direct dedicated to Samus’ next outing.
Third-party ports are also in the spotlight. Ubisoft‘s Assassin’s Creed Shadows could get a Switch 2 confirmation after its leak. After how surprisingly well Star Wars Outlaws ran on the Nintendo Switch 2, it might be one to look forward to. Rockstar‘s Red Dead Redemption 2 is another big whisper, with leaks suggesting a late-2025 launch for Switch 2 (alongside current-gen upgrades for Xbox and PS5). And I couldn’t possibly forget Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream. The sequel to the 3DS cult classic could be making another appearance on Friday with new gameplay and a release date.
First Party Hopes and Speculation
Looking to Nintendo‘s first-party stables, hopes are high for some Switch 2 enhanced strategy RPG action. Fire Emblem is a big one on the cards, and Genealogy of the Holy War remake has been swirling for years. There’s also the possibility that an entirely new installment could steal the show instead. Animal Crossing fans are crossing their fingers for a new entry after the wildly successful New Horizons. With its success, there’s no doubt that Nintendo is working on the next installment, but will this be the moment to reveal it? Zelda fans are still holding out hope for the HD remasters of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess to finally be announced. However, I’d be much more excited if we got a full remake of an older title such as Ocarina of Time.
Finally, a small but big aspect that fans have been hoping is more Switch 2 upgrade announcements. Beloved titles like the Xenoblade Chronicles series, Astral Chain, and Bayonetta 3 would benefit greatly from enhanced versions with better resolution and framerate, faster load times, and maybe some new content to bring players back for another playthrough.
Final Thoughts
With 60 minutes of announcements packed into this Nintendo Direct, it truly signals the company’s leap into the Switch 2. From Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary to eagerly awaited updates on Splatoon Raiders and Metroid Prime 4, the event already has a lot to look forward to. Hopes soar for big, new first-party game reveals and Switch 2 upgrades for beloved Switch 1 gems. However, I hope that Nintendo goes completely left field with shocking announcements that I would’ve never expected. Mark your calendars for Friday, September 12, because this will surely be one of the biggest events of the Fall.
