The Nintendo Direct that followers have been ready for is lastly right here and it’s an enormous one. September is normally when the corporate has its annual blowout showcase, and after a messy first half of 2025 forward of the Swap 2 launch, it looks like we is likely to be getting again into a well-known move. After a quiet couple of years, the drought might lastly be over. The Swap 2 is out and Nintendo can lastly wheel out the large weapons.
With Nintendo promising an hour-long livestream, the September 12 Direct would be the longest within the firm’s historical past outdoors of the April one earlier this yr for revealing the Swap 2 {hardware}. It additionally comes simply forward of the fortieth anniversary of Tremendous Mario Bros. on September 13, suggesting loads of Mario-themed bulletins could also be in tow as effectively. After which there’s the flurry of just lately leaks from self-proclaimed insiders, some with a ok monitor document to take them critically going into the occasion. Right here’s what we’re more likely to see on the newest Nintendo Direct this Friday, from rumors and finest guesses to some wild longshots which might be too cool not to consider.
Resident Evil, Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth, and extra ports
In line with Resident Evil leaker Nightfall Golem, we should always count on an entire lot of Capcom’s horror collection to be coming to Swap 2 within the yr forward. That features Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village, in addition to the Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 remakes. Notably, all of those have been created on the present RE Engine, which Capcom has been utilizing for all of its new video games. Nightfall Golem has advised the most recent sequel, Resident Evil: Requiem, will arrive on Swap 2 sooner or later as effectively.
Whereas solely a port of RE7 has been claimed to be getting revealed at this week’s Direct, followers have already began speculating about what it will imply for Capcom’s different franchises on Swap 2. Each Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds have been additionally developed within the RE Engine, as was Road Fighter 6 which was a launch recreation for the {hardware} again in June.
Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake isn’t out on Swap 2 but, however there are already rumors that Rebirth isn’t far behind. Dependable Swap leaker NateTheHate just lately claimed the sequel is headed to Nintendo’s new console someday in 2026. He’s additionally beforehand reported that Purple Lifeless Redemption 2 is being ported to Swap 2, which appears more likely to arrive prior to later. That doesn’t imply both shall be at this week’s Direct however they’re actually within the combine. There are rumors that Starfield and Murderer’s Creed Shadows will find yourself on Nintendo’s handheld hybrid sooner or later, too.
Then there’s a very messy riddle from leaker SwitchForce who was the primary to disclose {that a} Nintendo Direct was occurring on September 12. The tease is that there shall be three video games on the showcase with the quantity seven within the title. Outdoors of FF7, there’s been hypothesis about Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 7 and Ace Lawyer 7 being the others, although SwitchForce mentioned the long-running courtroom collection undoubtedly wouldn’t be within the livestream. A extra apparent alternative is 007 First Gentle, which was just lately on the PlayStation State of Play as effectively.
The yr of Tremendous Mario Bros.
SwitchForce has additionally been teasing massive Mario information on the occasion. “They purchase the brand new programs for the mustache,” learn a tweet that includes a GIF of Mario from Tremendous Mario Odyssey. One concept is that the Odyssey staff cut up in two, with a youthful offshoot engaged on Donkey Kong Bananza and one other growing the following 3D Mario recreation. The timing makes the reveal of Tremendous Mario Odyssey‘s successor really feel all however assured, although it in all probability received’t be the one Mario announcement within the Direct.
We’re additionally lower than a yr out from The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film 2 with no actual data about what the story shall be or which celebrities shall be becoming a member of the English-language forged. Not less than an preliminary teaser, if not a full-blown trailer, might be within the playing cards. Possibly we’ll even get a double function with a tease for the upcoming Zelda film in 2027 as effectively? It might be so simple as affirmation of whether or not it will likely be a brand-new story or not, or whether or not it will likely be one other isekai story (folks from the actual world magically showing in Hyrule).
However again to Mario. It’s his time to shine in spite of everything. The way in which Nintendo normally likes to deal with these anniversaries means we might get a brand new anthology of remasters or remixes of older video games within the collection, or ports of more moderen entries which were languishing on previous {hardware} like Tremendous Mario Galaxy (I’m nonetheless holding out hope for Tremendous Mario Galaxy 3 myself). One other Swap On-line unique multiplayer spin-off like Tremendous Mario Bros. 35 doesn’t sound out of the query both. Possibly this time it’ll go from 2D side-scrolling to a Fall Guys-style 3D battle royale mode.
Lastly, we all know Nintendo loves its limited-edition equipment and merchandise. A Mario Bros. fortieth anniversary Swap 2, new Amiibo, and new Swap 2 Pleasure-Con colours really feel like a straightforward prediction. Extra thrilling could be some new form of devoted gadget just like the Nintendo Recreation & Watch: Tremendous Mario Bros., solely this time with extra than simply the primary two video games. And what’s occurring with that removable dual-screen add-on that Nintendo patented? May the Swap 2 lastly get DS video games coming to its subscription service?
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 deserves a Swap 2 improve
If the unique Swap taught us something, it’s that Nintendo loves double-dipping. Half of the first-party library for that console was simply Wii U video games. And I absolutely count on the corporate to keep up that sample with Swap 2 by persevering with to roll out free and paid upgrades for older video games. A current Monolith Mushy job posting on social media included recent footage of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 that appeared to point out it working at a a lot greater decision. These open-world RPGs have at all times struggled on the primary Swap, leaving followers pining not just for Xenoblade Chronicles 4 on Swap 2 but additionally upgrades for the final two numbered entries. They’re additionally nonetheless ready to see what’s up with Xenoblade Chronicles X‘s hidden 60fps mode.
There are additionally nonetheless a lot of different previous video games Nintendo can pull onto the Swap 2 in a single kind or one other. A Wii U HD remaster of Twilight Princess remains to be MIA on fashionable platforms, and the unique Luigi’s Mansion might be remastered or added to the GameCube library on Swap On-line. Nintendo’s additionally on the brink of launch Metroid Prime 4: Past (a launch date reveal at this Direct could be good!) and but two of the video games within the unique trilogy nonetheless aren’t obtainable to play on Swap.
Smash Bros., Animal Crossing, and Mom 3
Past the following Mario, there are many different Nintendo franchises which might be ripe for his or her subsequent entries. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is 5 years previous now, and Smash Bros. Final received its final DLC character in 2021. Regardless of a number of remakes within the collection since, the final new Luigi’s Mansion was in 2019. It’s not fairly time for a brand new Fireplace Emblem however we’re getting shut. And what about Nintendo’s back-bench franchises like Star Fox, Punch-Out, and Pilotwings? The corporate loves pulling from the previous simply as a lot as constructing new issues.
Talking of latest issues, a brand new Splatoon spin-off referred to as Raiders was teased earlier this yr and can little doubt make an look on the Direct if it’s popping out any time within the subsequent 12 months. It will even be good to see extra of FromSoftware’s upcoming Swap 2 unique The Duskbloods. There’s additionally no phrase on what Platinum Video games is engaged on for the console. May Swap 2 be getting Bayonetta 4 or Astral Blades 2 anytime quickly? And I do know Group Ninja has been very busy recently, however it could be neat to see Marvel Final Alliance 4 confirmed.
The deepest lower of all could be Mom 3, the GBA recreation by no means formally localized within the West however which is already obtainable by Swap On-line in Japan. There was an enormous exhibit for the collection in Tokyo this summer season, and this yr marks the thirtieth anniversary of Earthbound popping out within the U.S. In the meantime, 2026 will mark the twentieth anniversary for Mom 3. Sequence creator Shigesato Itoi is already 76 and never getting any youthful. It’s time. Significantly. Simply give us Mom 3. Hell, give us Mom 4! Or perhaps a 3D remake of Earthbound. How a lot cash do I have to spend these Earthbound figures to make it occur?
