Latest news with #NintendoDirects
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Why is Nintendo trying to make the Switch 2 seem so unexciting? - Reader's Featu
A reader admits that while he's satisfied with his Switch 2 so far, he's frustrated at Nintendo's secrecy about its upcoming games. Like many other Nintendo fans, I have had the feeling that things are not quite right ever since they announced the Switch 2. It's hard to put my finger on exactly what but, although I have the console, and Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, I'm happy with it. But I'm also worried I don't know what comes next and I'm concerned that there's still no sign of an all-time classic yet. Two great games in two months is an achievement, and I'm probably just being entitled, but there's this weird feeling that Nintendo is doing the absolute minimum, without compromising on game quality. When I put it like that there seems like there's not really anything to complain about, but while I am optimistic about the future of the Switch 2 it's a much milder feeling than I was expecting. Maybe I'm not making sense, I don't know, but the obvious examples are the last two Nintendo Directs, which were awful. The Partner Showcase managed to make me less confident about their third party support and the Indie World was almost completely pointless. As a result, I'm very quickly beginning to prefer Nintendo when they were on the back foot. The first Switch was an amazing console, but it had to be because after the failure of the Wii U Nintendo were in a very bad place. But with the Switch 2 they're coming off the back of one of the most successful consoles ever and I think it's very obvious they're holding themselves back. Maybe that's the right idea, it probably is given how long games take to make now, but it's not… exciting. I really don't see why they didn't announce the Switch 2 with teases of all the games they've got coming, rather than wasting so much time on that basketball game and Hyrule Warriors. All they needed was a second or two of pre-rendered footage, but why not tease Zelda and Animal Crossing and Pokémon and 3D Mario and all the rest? If the argument is we all know they're coming anyway then what's the problem in admitting it? I get Nintendo don't like to give away secrets but it's not like they'd be revealing release dates or showing any real gameplay. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. It's simple stuff like that which would've made so much difference, but they didn't even try to do it. Don't they see how annoyed people get with Sony and their boring State of Plays? Or do they look at the sales of the PlayStation 5 and think that's actually a good idea of how to do it? Or consider Metroid Prime 4, where we've still seen almost nothing of it and it has no release date, but they say it's out this year. They're clearly going to give it its own Nintendo Direct but why do we have to wait until then for a date? It just makes people think it's been delayed. They spent a year polishing Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom, so there's no way Metroid Prime 4 isn't already finished and, at worse, just undergoing a bit of fine tuning. So why the secrecy? Do they think someone's suddenly going to make a Metroid Prime clone in the four months before it's out? Or that Activision is going to move Call Of Duty because of the date they pick? We all know this is the way Nintendo always does things, but something feels different this time and none of their actions seem to make any sense when you analyse them. Like hiding the developer of Donkey Kong Bananza… why? Surely knowing it was by the Super Mario Odyssey team was a good thing that would've made more people want to buy it? And it was only a secret for two months anyway, so what was the point? I guess other companies would figure that means they don't have a new 3D Mario coming out soon, but so what? What did keeping that knowledge from them, for two months, gain them? Especially compared to the mild anger it caused for Nintendo's fans. More Trending Like I said, maybe it's just me, but I've heard similar things from too many other people to think it is. In terms of end results Nintendo hasn't really done anything wrong so far, but in terms of vibes… something just doesn't feel right. There's too much mystery and not enough excitement, and I really hope they do something about that soon. By reader GlobalHen The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: The video game that made me fall in love with gaming - Reader's Feature MORE: Sony should stop making PlayStation consoles while they're still beating Xbox - Reader's Feature MORE: Middle-Earth: Shadow Of Mordor is the best game that's never getting a remake – Reader's Feature
Metro
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
July Nintendo Direct removed three games at the last minute claim insiders
Insiders claim there's a good reason last week's Nintendo Direct was so disappointing: it's because Nintendo cut at least three games from the line-up without telling publishers. Video game rumours have become a cottage industry in recent years, with almost no major annoucement being made without first being leaked earlier. As a result, certain sources have become known as more reliable than others, so when NatetheHate said there would be a Nintendo Direct in late July most people believed him. He was right too, although in the end it turned out to be a Partner Direct, featuring only third party games, which is not what anyone anticipated. However, he's subsequently revealed that not only did he not know it was Partner Direct but neither did the publishers involved, in an interesting insight into how the video game rumourmill works and how close Nintendo, in particular, keeps things to their chest. According to NatetheHate, third party publishers are told they're in a Nintendo Direct but not the format of the show, presumably to stop leaks. Normal Nintendo Directs, featuring first party games, usually always feature at least some third party titles, so there's no way for publishers to know what the format will be, unless Nintendo tells them. Nintendo probably tells large companies like Square Enix, who are a close ally and had three titles in the Partner Showcase, but assuming NatetheHate's source is a smaller publisher it seems they're told as little as possible. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. What's also interesting is how late in the day Nintendo seems to have made the decision about what would and wouldn't be in the Direct. This uncertainty has been common practice since the day of live reveals at E3, with publishers having multiple options that they only decide on literally at the last minute. Which is why even usually good sources can get information wrong when it comes to reveal events. The Game Business's Christopher Dring didn't participate in the initial rumours, but after the Direct he revealed that there were 'at least three games' that he was told were '100%' going to be a part of the Partner Showcase. More Trending His source was the publishers themselves, which implies the actual Direct was as big a surprise, and disappointment, to them as it was to everyone else. Dring gave no indication of what any of the games were, but many fans were disappointed that previously announced games such as Elden Ring and Final Fantasy 7 Remake were not part of the event. That doesn't guarantee they were amongst the games cut at the last minute but perhaps the bigger question is why did Nintendo remove them and when will they be revealed? With the Direct featuring so few big name titles it's hard to understand why Nintendo went through with the event at all, and didn't just postpone it to later, but then understanding Nintendo has always been near impossible, even with insider leaks… Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Games Inbox: What year will PS6 be released? MORE: Gradius Origins interview – 'This is truly a wonderful thing' MORE: Gradius Origins review – shooting the core in Salamander 3
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Nintendo Direct July 2025 date, time, and more
Image via Nintendo. It's been a long time since a Nintendo Direct was held. However, the wait is finally over as a Nintendo Direct is going to be organized soon even before July ends. This event has always been a treat for the fans because not only it reveals new Nintendo titles and updates, it also gives us a glimpse of the upcoming console section as well. Along with these, Nintendo Directs often feature developers Q&A sections, where fan queries get answered. Now, the upcoming Nintendo Direct seems to have all of these, but there is actually a catch. Everything you need to know about Nintendo Direct July 2025 Last time a proper and full-fledged Nintendo Direct happened was in March 2025 where many new titles like Shadow Labyrinth, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, and many more were announced. Since then fans have been waiting for a proper Nintendo Direct. Another Nintendo Direct was slated to be held in June, but it coincided with the Switch 2 release. Two other events - Nintendo Switch 2 Dedicated Direct and Donkey Kong Bonanza Direct - were held in April and June respectively but those weren't the usual ones. The wait is finally over because the long-hailed console company is finally organizing a Nintendo Direct event on July 31, 2025, at 6 AM PT/ 9 AM ET. However, the catch is that this event is going to be a Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upgrade your PM skillset IITD PM Apply Now Undo So, this event is going to feature third-party titles only; there won't be any updates about the Nintendo first-party titles, like the highly anticipated release date of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase 7.31.2025 Now, the question is, how to watch the upcoming event? It's quite easy as the whole event, which is believed to be about roughly 25 minutes in length, will be livestreamed from the official YouTube channel of Nintendo. The channel has already scheduled a broadcast on YouTube, hence fans are advised to put reminders there so that they don't miss out on this live event. However, there have been rumors in the air as well that Nintendo might be hosting an actual full-fledged Direct first-party showcase in September, as it has been long since the company has organized one. Read More: Nintendo Switch 2 Pokémon Legends Z-A Bundle announced with the return of Mega Evolutions: Release date, Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Metro
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Nintendo Switch 2 fans expecting secret Christmas game at Summer Game Fest 2025
The big N has joined Sony and Microsoft as an official Summer Games Fest partner, sparking hopes for a big game reveal for the Switch 2. Next week is going to be an exciting time for gamers, since not only is the Nintendo Switch 2 coming out but Summer Game Fest, Geoff Keighley's replacement for the long-dead E3, takes place almost immediately after. The event kicks off only a day after the Switch 2's launch on Friday, June 6, and will run across the whole weekend, and is set to feature over 60 different publishers and developers. A lot of the usual names will be in attendance, including Sony and Microsoft, but surprisingly so is Nintendo, making this the first time it's been an official partner since 2022. Considering Nintendo was a no-show at the previous two Summer Game Fests, its appearance this year naturally sparks theories that it'll have something to announce during the showcase portion on Friday. Many fans have already been hoping that Nintendo has a secret Switch 2 game planned for this Christmas, especially after the recent confirmation that Pokémon Legends: Z-A – which is coming to both the original Switch and Switch 2 – will launch this October. The period afterwards is notably lacking any major Nintendo releases, particularly Switch 2 exclusives. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, another cross-gen title, is meant to launch this year, but while it's likely to be a critical hit the series has never been a big seller. There are also Switch 2 exclusives Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment and Kirby Air Riders, but they seem even lower profile and strange choices to release in the launch year. While Nintendo is unpredictable, it's still hard to imagine it saving any major reveals for an event like Summer Game Fest, rather than one of its own Nintendo Directs. It typically has Nintendo Directs every June and it is rumoured one could air next week, after the Switch 2's launch – possibly even as a part of Summer Game Fest. The most likely explanation though, is that Nintendo is simply attending to promote the Switch 2 and the games it has already announced. As such, it wouldn't be surprising if Nintendo's only contribution to the Summer Game Fest showcase was a new montage and some kind of on stage appearance. At the time of writing, no new reveals are confirmed or even heavily rumoured for Summer Game Fest, although the list of attendees is promisingly long. Microsoft will certainly have new announcements at its annual Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, June 8, which will be followed by an in-depth look at The Outer Worlds 2. With any luck, Microsoft will have new trailers for games like Perfect Dark, Gears Of War: E-Day, Fable, and maybe even a new Halo. As for Sony, while PlayStation is listed as one of Summer Game Fest's partners, it's suspected it won't have any big first party reveals for the occasion. Instead, it's rumoured that Sony will have a smaller scale State of Play later this summer, or possibly not until autumn. But what about third party companies? Hopefully, Capcom's presence means a Resident Evil 9 reveal is around the corner, even though it doesn't look like the game will be out till 2026 at the earliest. Square Enix has at least two big games fans hope to see at the show: the long rumoured Final Fantasy 9 remake and Kingdom Hearts 4. There is some circumstantial evidence for both making an appearance (the former is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and the latter recently received new screenshots), but that's all there is to go on. The third Final Fantasy 7 Remake game is also a possibility. A Persona 4 remake from Sega and Atlus could very well show up at either the Summer Game Fest showcase or the Xbox one (Xbox landed a marketing deal for Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio after all). More Trending The remake's been rumoured for a while, but just recently one of the original game's voice actors, Yuri Lowenthal, gave its existence away by revealing he won't be coming back for it. His social media post has been deleted now, but one of his co-stars, Erin Fitzgerald, has since corroborated it by saying she's being replaced too. Hideo Kojima's guest appearance guarantees new footage for Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, especially since it launches on June 26. He may also have something to show for OD, the new horror game he's working on for Xbox. At the very least, we can rule out seeing anything for his new stealth game Physint since Kojima admitted it won't be ready for another five or six years. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: First Nintendo Switch 2 unboxing has already happened but there's a catch MORE: Second UK retailer to hold limited Nintendo Switch 2 midnight launch MORE: Apple to rival Switch 2 launch with new gaming app
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Switch 2-less Nintendo Direct will stream on March 27
It turns out Nintendo Directs are like buses. You wait ages for one then get two in quick succession. Days before Nintendo fully spills the beans on the Switch 2 during a dedicated showcase on April 2, the company is hosting a surprise Direct on March 27 at 10AM ET. You can watch it above. The stream will run for around 30 minutes and focus on upcoming Switch games. There won't be any Switch 2 info, but pretty much every game you see here will run on the new console anyway, thanks to backwards compatibility. Since this isn't billed as an Indie World Direct (those focus on indie games), it's not really clear what we can expect from this one. Nintendo's developers will largely be focused on making Switch 2 games at this point. Still, the Switch has a massive install base — the company has sold more than 150 million of those consoles — so Nintendo probably won't want to leave all those players behind any time soon. To that end, we can expect a stream of games for the original Switch to keep coming for the foreseeable future. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, for instance, is still slated to hit the Switch sometime this year. Third-party games will still be coming to the Switch as well, including a certain one from Team Cherry that we expect to show up in every single gaming showcase but won't mention here because we don't want to jinx it.
