New Zelda, Mario and Star Wars!
Nintendo has revealed their hand with new details and fresh titles aplenty. The 50-minute presentation included a remaster of an old Legend of Zelda title, more Mario to sink our teeth into, a new Star Wars game and new content for our lockdown hero, Animal Crossing.
Nearly half a million people around the world tuned in to watch the announcements live on YouTube.
The showcase has been a massive build up for Nintendo. The Japanese gaming company hasn’t hosted a feature showcase since September 2019.
Rumours of the next Nintendo Switch console, a Switch Pro if you will, were nowhere in sight.
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And disappointingly, there was no news on the highly anticipated sequel to the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with only a promise for more information in 2021.
Zelda fans will have to wait to see more on this much-anticipated sequel to the Legend of Zelda series.
Producer, Eiji Aonuma, had a message for fans during the presentation, telling the audience they’ll have more to say later this year.
“Development is proceeding smoothly,” he said.
“For now we’ll have to ask you to wait a bit longer.”
Nintendo has not held a showcase like this in years, but was it worth the wait?
Here’s everything announced during Nintendo’s Direct showcase.
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THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD HD
Offered as part their apology for nothing to share about Breath of the Wild 2, Nintendo announced that the long-rumoured Skyward Sword is getting an HD release.
New Zelda-themed Joy-Con will arrive in stores with the game on July 16.
Motion controls are still a big deal, but sword strokes have been mapped to the right thumbstick for those who want (or have to) avoid them.
FALL GUYS: ULTIMATE KNOCKOUT
The hilariously fun online platformer coming to Nintendo Switch this Autumn.
Fall Guys Ultimate Knockout took Twitch and YouTube by storm when it launched for free PlayStation Plus last year.
You’ll likely have to pay for the privilege when it launches on Switch.
MARIO GOLF SUPER RUSH
Who knew speed golf was the game the world needed?
Mario Golf Super Rush will have you sprinting to finish holes fastest in brand new online modes that will dial the competitiveness up to 11.
There’s also an RPG-like story mode where you can level up your Mii golfer for those who pick it up on June 25.
MARIO ITEMS ARE COMING TO ANIMAL CROSSING
The game of 2020, and the pandemic, is getting a massive Mario update.
Items from the Mushroom Kingdom will start appearing in Animal Crossing New Horizons from March 1 after a February update.
“Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in.”
SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE
This was one of the more underwhelming, yet still surprising Smash Bros announcements yet.
Opening the Direct with Pyra and Mythra, from Xenoblade Chronicles 2, joining the fight was a good way to get the disappointment out of the way early for those hoping for a big reveal like Crash Bandicoot.
No word yet on when they’ll arrive.
SPLATOON 3
If you haven’t dived below the ink and into the wonderful world of Splatoon, you’re missing out.
The original was the best thing to come out of the Wii U and its sequel on Switch only got better.
We’ll have to wait until 2022 to give Splatoon 3 a shot, but the new weapons (a bow, yes!) and story mode they teased with customisable characters has us excited.
STAR WARS HUNTERS
“Calling all hunters, do you have what it takes?”
A new Star Wars game! This competitive online game is set between episodes 6 and 7. We don’t have a lot of detail just yet, but can expect Star Wars Hunters to be released later this year on Switch.
MONSTER HUNTER RISE DETAILS
Capcom showed off a brand new story trailer, revealing new monsters and the ability to control them in some incredibly impressive gameplay for the Nintendo handheld.
We already knew this one was coming on March 26, 2021 alongside a Monster Hunter-themed Switch console.
FAMICOM DETECTIVE CLUB
Two games from the murder mysteries series are coming to Switch. The Missing Heir and The Girl Who Stands behind are coming May 14.
OUTER WILDS
A Groundhog Day-styled space adventure game.
Coming summer 2021.
SAMURAI WARRIORS 5
Samurai Warriors 5 is coming to Nintendo Switch in summer 2021.
LEGEND OF MANA
Initially released in 1999, this classic RPG is relaunching in HD onJune 24.
TALES FROM BORDERLANDS
Tales from Borderlands by 2K Games is coming to Switch. All five episodes, set between Borderlands 2 and 3 are coming March 24.
STUBBS THE ZOMBIE
The classic zombie game Rebel Without a Pulse is getting a Nintendo Switch release. Stubbs the Zombie is coming on March 16.
CAPCOM CLASSIC GAMES
- 32 Capcom games are coming to Switch.
- Commando
- 1943
- Ghosts and Goblins
- Dynasty
- All of these classic titles and more are expected to be available on Thursday.
NO MORE HEROES III
Releasing August 27
NEON WHITE
An FPS set in Heaven. Coming to Nintendo Switch winter 2021.
DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: TEEN POWER
Featuring SuperGirl, Batwoman, Wonder Woman and a number of other heroes as they try to battle high school and Super Villains. Super Hero Girls is coming June 4.
PLANTS VS ZOMBIES
Battle for Neighborville is getting a Switch port. This Zombie/Plant online shooter is coming on March 19.
MIITOPIA
Create your own character using Nintendo’s mini creator and embark on a journey with your friends.
PROJECT TRIANGLE STRATEGY (working title)
Tactical RPG by Square Enix coming in 2022.
There’s a demo available now on the online Nintendo store.
KNOCK OUT CITY
This third-person, online, multiplayer game is seemingly dodgeball meets Fortnite. Knock Out City is coming May 21.
WORLD’S END CLUB
“A fight for your life”. The GoGetters club must survive an underwater theme park and escape to Tokyo. Coming to Switch May 28.
HADES
This multi-award winner is getting a physical release. Available March 19.
NINJA GAIDEN: Master Collection
Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Sigma 2 and Razor’s Edge are coming to the Switch on June 10.
HYRULE WARRIORS: AGE OF CALAMITY (Expansion Pass)
New playable characters and more are coming to Hyrule Warriors with the Expansion Pass. You can preorder this content from Thursday.
BRAVELY DEFAULT 2
This new turn-based combat game is coming February 26.
GHOSTS ‘N GOBLINS: RESURRECTION
Play as Arthur to battle ghosts and goblins in the demon realm. Launches February 25.
SAGA FRONTIER (remastered)
The remaster of SaGa Frontier is coming on April 15
APEX LEGENDS
Apex Legends is coming to Switch on March 9.
RELEASE DATES AND SMALLER ANNOUNCEMENTS (in order of release)
- Capcom Arcade Classic – February 18.
- Ghosts n’ Goblins Resurrection – February 25.
- Apex Legends – March 9.
- Plants vs Zombie Battle for the Neighbourhood Complete Edition – March 18.
- Famicom Detective Club – May 14.
- A port of the 3DS game Miitopia is coming to Switch on May 21.
- World’s End Club – May 28.
- DC Super Hero Girls – June 4.
- Legend of Mana Remastered – June 24.
- Ninja Gaiden Master Collection – June 10.
- Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity DLC, starting June, 2021.
- No More Heroes 3 will release on August 27.
- Samurai Warriors 5 – Summer 2021.
- Star Wars Hunters was announced for 2021.
- Project Triangle Strategy, from the makers of Octopath Traveller, lands in 2022. Demo available today.