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Metro
5 days ago
- 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
Metro
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The Nintendo Partner Direct left me wondering: where's the ambition?
A reader is disappointed by the recent Partner Direct and worries the Nintendo and third party publishers are already playing it safe on Switch 2. I tuned into the July 31 Nintendo Partner Direct with cautious optimism. The Switch 2 is out, the gaming landscape is shifting, and I was ready to be wowed. Instead, I walked away feeling deflated. What should have been a showcase of bold new directions and creative risks felt more like a safe, predictable parade of sequels, remakes, and ports. If this is Nintendo's vision for the future of its hybrid console dynasty, then I'm worried they're coasting on goodwill rather than pushing boundaries. Let's start with the obvious: Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. Sure, it's a new entry in a beloved series, and the cinematic teaser hinted at a darker tone. But no gameplay? No innovation teased beyond a vague 'new story arc'? It felt like Capcom was banking on nostalgia and brand recognition rather than showing us why this game deserves to exist on a next gen platform. Then there was Octopath Traveler 0, Square Enix's latest HD-2D offering. I love the aesthetic, I really do. But we've seen this style multiple times now. The town-building mechanic and character customisation are welcome additions, but they don't scream 'next gen'. They whisper 'safe sequel'. It's a prequel, too – another sign that publishers are more interested in mining existing IP than forging new ones. Just Dance 2026, EA Sports FC 26, Madden NFL 26 – these are annualised franchises that feel more like contractual obligations than creative endeavours. Their inclusion in the Direct made the whole thing feel like a corporate checklist rather than a celebration of gaming artistry. Even Plants Vs. Zombies: Replanted, while charming, is a remake. And Pac-Man World Re-Pac 2? Another remake. Where's the originality? I kept waiting for that one surprise. That, 'one more thing'. But it never came. Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment was probably the closest we got to something intriguing – a canonical prequel to Tears Of The Kingdom sounds promising. But again, it's a spin-off of a spin-off. And while I appreciate the lore expansion, it's still rooted in existing material. Even the indie offerings felt muted. The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales had potential, with its HD-2D action role-playing flair, but it didn't feel like a game that could define the Switch 2 era. It felt like filler. And Chillin' By The Fire? Cozy, yes. But ambitious? Not remotely. 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 frustrates me most is that this was a Partner Showcase, not a mainline Nintendo Direct. So, I get it – no Mario, no Zelda, no Metroid Prime 4. But even within the third party space, there's room for boldness. Where's the weird, the experimental, the genre defying? Where's the spirit of the Switch's early years, when every Direct felt like a treasure hunt? Instead, this Direct felt like Nintendo and its partners are playing it safe. Maybe too safe. The Switch 2 is supposed to usher in a new era, but this showcase felt like a continuation of the old one. And that's the problem. Nintendo seems content to ride the wave of the Switch's success without truly challenging itself – or us. More Trending I want to believe that the Switch 2 has more to offer than prettier ports and sequels. I want to see games that couldn't exist on the original Switch. I want to be surprised, delighted, and maybe even confused. That's what Nintendo used to do best. But right now? It feels like they're coasting. And if they don't shake things up soon, the Switch 2 might end up being remembered, not for its innovation, but for its complacency. By reader BaldB3lper 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: Why is Sony trying to kill the concept of the video game console? - Reader's Feature MORE: The Nintendo Switch 2 is the closest thing to a modern day Commodore Amiga – Reader's Feature MORE: Star Wars Outlaws is Ubisoft's best game and you should get it now it's cheap - Reader's Feature
