Nintendo release module sends gamers ‘directly’ into frustration
After 15 years, Nintendo released Nintendo Direct, a program started in 2011 to reveal Nintendo consoles, games, and partnerships directly to the public. Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s CEO at the time, didn’t like that Nintendo had to rely on traditional media for third party trade shows like E3. He did this initially by having Reggie Fils-Aimé, Nintendo's COO at the time, stand in front of a white background talking into the camera about the current state of things at Nintendo. This allowed Nintendo to control how their announcements came out, separating them from other game companies like Xbox and Playstation; both of whom would share the stage to announce new games and consoles at E3. The Direct since then has evolved from a relatively small series of announcements to a much larger, more corporate announcement dropping less frequently, and becoming more of an event when one does drop.
This year, the Direct was sparse on new games and relied heavily on announcing remakes and ports of already successful games coming to the Switch 2. This left a bad taste in the mouth of many fans due to the lack of new content, especially after the anticipation of a new Super Smash Brothers game, which was theorised online to be announced at the Direct. They announced Monster Hunter Wilds, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Definitive Edition are coming to the console, but with only slight graphical changes and optimization for the Switch 2. Outside of just direct ports, Nintendo also announced a plethora of remakes such as the Resident Evil Collection, Persona 4 Revival, and Final Fantasy VII Revelations. These games are all coming to the Switch 2, though none of these are exclusive to the console. Pikmin 4 is getting an updated version with added voice controls, and treasure collecting stages with a global leader board being added to the game. Similarly, Xenoblade 3 Chronicles is getting a Switch 2 edition that will add a new hero, upgrade graphics, and bring in a new mode called Hero’s Vault, a wave based defense mode.
While Xenoblade and Pikmin got ports and new content, a plethora of games already on the Switch 2 got DLC announced, which is extra downloadable content for games. Mario Kart World is getting 10 maps from SNES added to the versus gamemode, two new knock-out maps, and a new online spectator mode. Though this seems good, fans are disappointed with all the content being focused on less popular modes rather than the main one, making them wonder if Nintendo understands what they want from the game. Another game that got free DLC was Star Fox for the Switch 2. This DLC included the addition of four-player split screen, and three new stages: the Katina stage which pits players against each other for control over lasers, Sector X stage where players destroy asteroids and dodge energy waves, and Venom Stage having players scan data on planet venom before a planetary surge goes off.
Due to the high volume of games getting ported to the Nintendo Switch 2, it felt as if Nintendo was trying to cover up the lack of new content from Nintendo’s more popular franchises like Mario, or Super Smash Brothers. This combination gave Nintendo fans little to look forward to in the coming months. However, fans have expressed some excitement about Kirby and The World Beyond, which is breaking away from the more linear games of the past and bringing Kirby into an open-world environment for the first time. This is a huge milestone because Kirby was one of the last Nintendo franchises to not have a 3D open-world installment, so this game brings Kirby up to the modern day. Along with this, a Truman Show-esque reveal within the trailer shows King Dedede getting thrown through the facade of Kirby’s world, and revealing a world outside of his own.
Another game fans have to look forward to is Metroid Ravenous with Samus being trapped on an unknown moon by five unknown assassins. She is forced to fight her way out of alien bug filled dungeons to escape to the surface, and find the people that trapped her. Besides just the change in scenery, Metroid Ravenous is bringing Metroid back to 2D like the original games, while adding faster paced movement and a more aggressive feel to the combat when compared to previous games. However, Metroid Ravenous and Kirby and the World Beyond wasn’t enough to pick up the slack from the rest of the Direct, and has left fans disappointed and wondering when the next big title will be announced.
Grade: C
Although giving some new information regarding upcoming Nintendo titles, the reliance of DLC and ports to fill the Direct up left it feeling lackluster, and many unamused.
by Benjamin Potratz
Published October 5, 2026
Oshkosh west Index Volume 123 Issue 1