With the nextNintendo Directofficially announced, speculation has risen regarding what, exactly, this Direct will entail. The Direct is set to run for about 30 minutes, and is focusing on games that are coming to the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch 2 will feature backwards compatibility with original Switch games, so any announcements coming in the Direct will be good for the Switch 2 as well.
The stream will begin at 10am ET on March 27, and can be found onNintendo of America’s YouTube channel or the officialNintendowebsite. My hopes are up for some pretty exciting announcements; the to-be-published queue is a little bit light right now for the Switch withXenoblade Chronicles Xhaving just come out, but that only means there’s a chance for all sorts of unexpected surprises.
10No New Switch 2 Info, Wait For The Switch Direct In April
This Direct Will Focus On The Original Switch
In the same post announcing the Direct, theNintendo of AmericaX (formerly Twitter) account made it clear that there would beno new information regarding the Nintendo Switch 2during this live. That meanswe won’t see anything about Switch 2 exclusives, nor any pre-order or release information, but that doesn’t mean this Direct is pointless.
With the state of console acquisition and sales where they are right now, it’s unlikely that the Switch’s entire player base will be able to get a Switch 2 as soon as it comes out.Maintaining content updates for the original console allows players who are unable to upgrade to still be supportedby the company before and during the Switch 2’s release. Despite anticipation for the Switch 2 to finally hit shelves, this Direct will feature only Switch 1 news.
9Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Release Announcement
After Years Of Delays, It’s Finally Time For Metroid Prime’s Return
Metroid Prime 4: Beyondwas originally announced at E3 in 2017, where it was rumored to be in production at Bandai Namco. However, news about the game and its development was quiet for quite some time until 2019, when production was officially taken over by Retro Studios, who were responsible for previousMetroid Primegames. Now,Metroid Prime 4: Beyondis slated to release in 2025, but little news has been shared with any specific details.
As this Direct is the first general Direct of 2025, it would make sense for it to include a large portion of the games announced to be released this year. With Nintendo’s release schedule looking a bit empty at the moment, there’s plenty of room for games likeMetroid Prime 4: Beyondto take center stagebefore getting upstaged by any Switch 2 information that will be announced next month.
8Hollow Knight: Silksong Update
This Might Be Cope, But Without Hope, What Do We Have?
I know, I know, “Silksongreal!” has been a bait-and-switch phrase to prank online hopefuls for the last six odd years since the game’s original announcement in 2019, but this time, there’s a chance.Silksong’s Steam page was updated in mid-March, and not only did its copyright year get updated from 2019 to 2025, it also received updates related to NVIDIA cloud gaming that make fans think the game might be close to coming out.
While it’s likely thatSilksong’s Steam updatecould just be a simple refresh of copyright to ensure IP rights can be maintained by developers, it’s still an indication that work is being done. Even if there’s no release date announced,it’s possible that the devs have something to show.There’s a sort of fatalistic “boy who cried wolf” mentality in response to mostSilksongnews after years of waiting for the game, but for fans who can’t help but hope, make sure to keep an eye on the Nintendo Direct.
7Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Oddly, This One Is Less Likely Than Others
Despite the anticipation forPokémon Legends: Z-A, releasing later this year, it’s unlikely that we’ll get too much new news regarding the game’s official release date and game information. This is largely due to how recently thePokémon Presents gave us the informationwe have now regarding the new game’s gameplay and mechanics.
There just hasn’t been enough time between Pokémon Presents and the upcoming Direct for any new information to be shared, and making two announcements so close in time to one another doesn’t really make sense.
That being said, if there is aPokémon Legends: Z-Aannouncement in the Direct, it will likely be pretty brief.We might see something about its official release date or pre-order information, but it’s unlikely that we will see any more in-depth looks at Lumiose City or its inhabitants until we get closer to the release date.
6New Kirby Game Teaser
It’s Been A Few Years; It’s Time For Our Round Friend To Return
Kirbygames are right up there withSuper Mario Oddysseyin terms of iconic Switch releases, and it’s been two years since the release ofKirby’s Return To Dreamland Deluxein early 2023 and even longer since we’ve gotten a new title. This is one of those franchises that Nintendo can always seem to rely on to delight audiences and perform pretty well, soit would be no surprise to see the return of the hungry hero to the Switch console.
In my dream world, the nextKirbyrelease will be a sequel toKirby and the Forgotten Land.Forgotten Landwas the franchise’s most recent original game, having been released all the way back in 2022 to critical acclaim. It’s my personal favorite in the series, and I would be pretty happy to see a sequel announced.
5Dragon Quest 1+2 HD-2D Remake Info
Yet Another Announced, But Quiet, Game That Needs Some Noise
WhenDragon Quest 3 HD-2Dwas announced, the info came from a Nintendo Direct, so it’s only logical that theDQ 1 & 2remakes will come from a Direct as well.The collection is slated to be released sometime this year, but there isn’t really any more information regarding the pricing, timing, or content of this remake of the 1980s classic.
As of now, theSteampage for theDQ 1 & 2 HD-2D Remakefeatures nothing but a tagline: “The Legacy Begins.” There is no other information relating to the game, and this barrenness extends to Square Enix’s website as well. With the desert of information surrounding the game’s release, the next Nintendo Direct is the perfect time to drum up some excitement.
4The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker Remaster
There Are A Number Of LOZ Titles Waiting For A Refresh
ThoughThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakerhas been remastered (from the GameCube to the WiiU) once before, the jump in possibility from the Wii U to the Switch is staggering. Following the huge successes of the Switch-exclusiveZeldagamesBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, there’s no doubt this classic series will continue to be a part of the Nintendo console family.
Because the Wii U was such an odd console, and didn’t see the same widespread success as the Switch,Wind Wakeris a great candidate for re-releaseto come to either iteration of the Switch. With the continued support of Nintendo Switch Online, which has seen numerous older-gen Nintendo games brought to newer-gen consoles,this is a perfect time forThe Wind Wakerto be brought to modern players' hands.
3Just Dance Updates
Three Things Are Certain: Death, Taxes, And Just Dance Announcements
As long as I’ve been playing games, we’ve been gettingJust Dancegames.Just Dance 2025was, predictably, released in 2024 after its announcement in June of the same year. While the last two games in the series have been announced in the summer Directs, there’s no hard and fast rule regarding announcement dates. With Ubisoft being in a pretty precarious spotdespite the relative success ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows, it would be no shock to seeJust Dance 2026announced early to drum up excitement.
2Bravely Default Remake Announcement
Teasers With No Real Information Leave Fans On Tenterhooks
Last year,Bravely Defaultproducer Tomoya Asano teased series updates on theBravely Default 2official X page, but since then, it’s been all quiet on theBravely Defaultfront. Despite this silence, fans still hold out hope for a remaster of the 3DS game to come to Switch.
BD2originally released for the Switch in 2022, sobringing its prequel to the console isn’t out of the question entirely.The lack of news regarding development doesn’t mean a remake isn’t possible.
1Professor Layton And The New World Of Steam Info
This Iconic Puzzle Series Is My Most Anticipated Game Of 2025
Whether you know the series or not,Professor Layon and the New World of Steamis going to be one of the best games that come out for the Switch this year. This isn’t just me manifesting success for a game franchise I love, it’s a prediction based on the history and past success of earlier games in the series. It’s sold over 18 million units in its lifetime, and extends back to the DS Lite days.
Hopefully, we’ll get to see another cinematic trailer during the Direct that tells us a little bit more about what the game will entail. Previous games have taken place across the English countryside, but New World of Steam sees the Professor travel across the pond to meet with his apprentice, Luke, who’s gone to study in America. This steampunk puzzle series is near and dear to my heart, and I’d bet my bottom dollar we get a release date during the Direct.
Nintendo Will Have An Interesting Strategy For Launching Switch 2 Games, According To Report
According to a new report, Nintendo has an interesting strategy for the release of Nintendo Switch 2 games in the console’s first year.
There are tons of possibilities when it comes to the contents of the upcoming 30-minuteNintendo Direct, and aside from the few things that are almost guaranteed, the reveals are sort of up in the air. While we know for a fact there won’t be any Switch 2 news, there’s still a plethora of content to be excited about in the coming year from Nintendo.
