Rumor has it that Nintendo could be hosting an Indie World Direct sometime this week. This comes from a source that has been reliable in the past, and it wouldn’t be surprising for Nintendo to announce a day before—if it announces it at all. Nintendo has dropped random Directs in the past, and this one could be no different.
If there’s one Nintendo Direct on the horizon that won’t be shadow-dropped, it’s Nintendo’s E3-equivalent Direct. Slowly but surely, a host of shows are coming together for this summer. Already, fans know about Summer Game Fest and the Xbox and Bethesda Games showcase in June. Right now, it’s just a matter of time before other brands and publishers announce their shows. Sony and Nintendo are certain, while many third-party publishers may flock to one of the aforementioned showcases. Some might even have their own.
Nintendo’s ‘E3’ Direct
E3 may be canceled this year, but for many years, it was where many big names in the gaming industry came together to highlight all the amazing games coming out or in development. Truth be told, the gaming industry needs something like E3, and that’s why the showcases this summer are all still likely to take place around the same time. Summer Game Fest currently, at least, has dibs on June 9 and Microsoft has dibs on June 12, but there are plenty of other dates (or times on those dates too) to claim.
Nintendo has always been the rebellious one. Come 2013, Nintendo decided to buck the traditional E3 showcase and pursue its own Direct presentations. Nintendo Directs have since then taken place in June every year. It should be noted that 2020 did not have a traditional Direct, due to the pandemic, but it still put on three showcases that month. Otherwise, every June since 2013 has featured a Direct, and the latest it has ever happened is June 16. So, expecting one in the first two weeks of June is perfectly reasonable.
Now, the thing about these showcases is how the publishers go all-in. It’s rumored that nearly every first-party studio will be at Xbox and Bethesda’s showcase, and Nintendo has a ton of games releasing it could showcase. Major titles like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (followed by a Pokemon Direct relatively soon thereafter?) and Bayonetta 3 are likely to be there, while many will hope Breath of the Wild 2 will be (it probably won’t). But beyond unknown announcements, there are a plethora of games coming out this year that could use some extra time in the spotlight:
- Mario Strikers: Battle League (if before June 10)
- Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes (June 24)
- Live a Live (July 22)
- Digimon Survive (July 29)
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (July 29)
- Splatoon 3 (September 9)
Bayonetta 3 and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are likely Nintendo’s big fall/holiday games, but either way, these announcements do not come last minute. It may not be tomorrow or the day after, but before the sun sets on May, fans are likely to hear about this upcoming Direct.