Nintendo has long been a mainstay at E3, though recent years has seen it abandon its live press conferences in favor of special E3 Nintendo Direct presentations. E3 2020 was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but E3 is making a comeback this year as a digital event. Nintendo hasn't confirmed its involvement with E3 2021 at the time of this writing, but one has to imagine that it will either be a part of the show or at least release a Nintendo Direct around the same time.
If Nintendo does have an appearance at E3 2021, it could potentially be one of its biggest shows to date. The latest Nintendo Direct presentation saw Nintendo keep a lot of its cards close to its chest, but it could potentially reveal all its big plans for 2021 and beyond at E3. Thanks to leaks, rumors, and past announcements by Nintendo itself, fans can formulate a decent idea of what they may be able to expect from Nintendo at E3 2021.
If Nintendo is at E3 2021, here are some of the big announcements that fans may be able to look forward to at the show.
Bayonetta 3
Bayonetta 3 was announced years ago, but Nintendo fans haven't gotten an update on the game since its initial reveal trailer. The third entry in the critically-acclaimed action series from Platinum Games, Bayonetta 3 is quite easily one of the most highly-anticipated Switch games currently in production. Platinum's Hideki Kamiya has said that he "hopes" that he can give a Bayonetta 3 update this year, but he's also told fans to forget about the game for now so they aren't stressing about a reveal. Bayonetta fans can feel free to check out Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 on the Switch while they wait for more information, though hopefully the long wait is over sooner rather than later.
Metroid
E3 2017 took place a few months after Nintendo launched the Switch console, and it used the event to make a number of big announcements. This included the confirmation of Metroid Prime 4, the fourth entry in the acclaimed first-person Metroid sub-series. When Metroid Prime 4 was first announced, it was confirmed to be in development by Bandai Namco, who has collaborated with Nintendo on a number of projects in the past. A couple of years later, Nintendo made the surprising announcement that it had decided to reboot development on Metroid Prime 4, putting the game in the hands of Retro Studios, who developed the other Metroid Prime games.
This reboot means that Metroid Prime 4, despite having been announced in 2017, has effectively only been in development for a couple of years. It seems unlikely that it will release anytime soon, but Metroid fans may be growing anxious for an update. It's a long shot, but an update on Metroid Prime 4 is just the kind of blockbuster announcement that fans expect from a Nintendo E3 presentation.
Meanwhile, Metroid Prime 4 may not be the only Metroid project Nintendo could have in store for E3 2021. A Metroid Prime Trilogy Switch port leaked online ages ago, and so fans have been expecting an announcement anytime now. Some reports have gone as far as to claim that Metroid Prime Trilogy for Switch has even finished development, but Nintendo is just waiting to announce and release it for whatever reason. Perhaps the Big N is saving Metroid Prime Trilogy on Switch until it can launch a little closer to the Metroid Prime 4 release date, though that's just speculation at this time.
And finally, there's also been rumblings that a new 2D Metroid project is in development as well. Some believe that this is a brand new Metroid game, whereas others seem to be under the impression that it is a Switch port of the 3DS exclusive remake of Metroid: Samus Returns. Metroid: Samus Returns released late in the 3DS' lifecycle and after the Switch was already out, so it seems like a good option for a Switch port or remake.
Pokemon
2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise, and Nintendo is looking to celebrate in style. Games like New Pokemon Snap will be out before E3 rolls around, but there are some other Pokemon games confirmed for late 2021 and early 2022 that Nintendo could very well feature at an E3 2021 Nintendo Direct presentation.
This includes Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the Sinnoh region remakes that were announced at the end of February. Nintendo has more or less confirmed that Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are 1:1 remakes with updated graphics, but perhaps it has some secrets about the games that it has yet to reveal. Alternatively, E3 2021 could be used to announce the Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl release dates if there's nothing else big to reveal about the games gameplay-wise.
And of course, many Pokemon fans are looking forward to more information on Pokemon Legends Arceus, the first truly open world Pokemon game. Pokemon Legends Arceus made a big splash with its reveal trailer, and so it will be exciting to see that momentum continue at E3 2021.
Resident Evil Outrage
The Capcom ransomware leak confirmed that the company has a game in development called Resident Evil Outrage, which is apparently looking to launch in late 2021. Nothing official about the game is known, but reputable leakers have suggested that it may very well wind up being called Resident Evil: Revelations 3. There's also been talk that the game will feature Rebecca Chambers as a protagonist and will be a timed-Switch exclusive. Its status as a supposed timed-Switch exclusive and its apparent late 2021 release date make it a prime candidate for a game that Nintendo would want to show off at E3 2021.
Retro's Game
Retro Studios is actively working on Metroid Prime 4, but it had to have been working on something in the years between Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze's launch in 2014 and when it was assigned to Metroid Prime 4 in 2019. There has been a lot of speculation about what Retro was working on, with one of the more popular theories being a Star Fox racing game or even an F-Zero reboot. Other claims say that Retro was working on a singing-based RPG that was canceled. If Nintendo still plans on releasing the project Retro had been working on, maybe fans will finally get their first glimpse of it at E3 2021.
Switch Pro
Reliable sources have leaked the existence of a Nintendo Switch mid-generation upgrade, referred to as the Super Switch or Switch Pro. According to reports, the Switch Pro will have a bigger screen and support 4K resolution graphics in docked mode, along with some other bells and whistles. Nintendo has not made any official announcements about the Switch Pro, though it's just a matter of time before the console is revealed to the public. And what better way than during the company's E3 2021 presentation?
Zelda
2021 marks the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda franchise, and similarly to Super Mario, Nintendo is expected to celebrate by re-releasing classic Zelda games. So far, it has confirmed The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD for the Nintendo Switch, but reports indicate that it has other Zelda re-releases waiting in the wings as well. Apparently, the HD versions of both The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will also be making the jump to Switch in 2021, so maybe that will be confirmed at E3 2021.
Meanwhile, Nintendo has also promised an update on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 for this year. It seems unlikely that the game will actually launch in 2021, but some new footage will likely be greatly appreciated by fans of the franchise.
Unannounced Games
One of the exciting things about E3 is the unannounced new games that are revealed at the show. Nintendo could have a number of surprise game reveals that it's waiting to show at E3, though that's assuming it plans on attending the event at all. Nintendo may shake things up by hosting its next Nintendo Direct presentation at a completely different time of the year, and so fans of the company should keep that in mind before they get their hopes up.