Nintendo Direct September 9, 2026: Information and Reactions

In a completely unprecedented maneuver*, Nintendo has graced us with two Nintendo Directs in as many days! The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, which might have normally taken up just a segment of a normal-sized show, was relegated to yesterday. You can read all about that one here! Today, we have the company’s typical September presentation.

* Well, sort of. In the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate era, Nintendo had multiple instances of airing two Directs adjacently. I think this is the first time it aired two in twenty-four hours, though.

Image: Nintendo. I like the art style here. Kirby’s very cartoony, but the backgrounds are very detailed. It reminds me of models and dioramas.

Without that half-hour of Zelda news taking up space, there was plenty of stuff outside the confines of Hyrule.

The previously announced Switch 2 port of 2025’s contentious Monster Hunter Wilds got its release date: December 4. It’s one of the first instances of a third party game opening a general Direct, and there was a reference to the upcoming 2027 expansion Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation was also shown. While its April 8 release date was already known; pre-orders begin later today.
- In addition, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy now has a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version that releases today!
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity – Definitive Edition was announced as a Switch 2 exclusive. It features all the content from the Age of Calamity Expansion Pass, along with adding the extra hard “Calamity Mode.” Owners of the original game can get a discount on the digital version. Releases February 25; pre-orders now available.
Meccha Chamelion, the hide and seek multiplayer game and one of 2026’s hugest breakout indies, is coming to Switch 2. Hiders use paint to camouflage themselves in the environment. Releases today!
The second batch of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass got attention. It adds a few cosmetics for Ditto and the other Pokémon. It also introduces additional Pokémon residents, including Doduo, Skitty, Braxian, “and others,” presumably including their evolutions. Releases “later this year.” Still no news about the new town of Part 3.
Star Fox is getting a free update: four-player local multiplayer (the lack of which I singled out as one of the game’s biggest flaws in our review)! There’s splitscreen gameplay, and four players can play online on one system. It features three new Battle Mode maps as well: Katina, Sector X, and Venom. Releases September 29.
In addition, Rare’s last game for Nintendo, 2002’s Star Fox Adventures, is coming to Nintendo Classics today!
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered, which had been announced and shown for Switch 2 earlier, made an appearance. Releases September 29, with its Songs of the Past expansion coming some time in 2027.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Royal Edition announced for Switch 2, almost a year after its Game of the Year nomination. This contains previous DLC. Releases “next year.”
Previously shown in its own Direct, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave got another round of footage ahead of its September 17 release date.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, which had been first announced in 2023, got more footage ahead of tomorrow’s Level-5 Vision 2026 presentation (where it will presumably also be shown). It also finally got its release date: December 10.
In further news from Level-5, Yo-kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain (a remake of 2016’s Yo-kai Watch 2, the naming conventions of which elude me), was announced; it’s the first Yo-Kai Watch game since 2020.
Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy announced, months after my last annual playthrough of the 2023 classic and its having been leaked. Alongside enhanced resolution, it allows you to talk to Oatchi with “9 voice commands” via the Switch 2 microphone. The new Dandori Academy mode was also announced; it seems quite similar to the preexisting Dandori challenges, or Pikmin 3’s Mission Mode levels, in how they push you to be more efficient. There’s also multiple difficulty modes and, not unlike Hitman: World of Assassination’s “Illusive Targets,” you can only try the stages once a week on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Seventy-two of them will be released over time. Releases November 12.
Bloober Team’s teased Switch 2 exclusive horror game has finally been revealed as Onyx: The Dark Grip. In this handheld-only game, you control both the protagonist (with the Joystick) and various supernatural powers (with the touchscreen) in the world around him. Those are used to solve puzzles and keep the plot going, but it also makes his sanity break down. Releases “next year.”
The new Heroes’ Vault mode of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition was shown off after its reveal in the June Direct. This is a large-scale battle against hordes of enemies where you improve your abilities and gain allies across the fight. The story mode also brings in the new Attacker hero Shimmer, who has Shulk’s Xenoblade 1 power of Foresight. Releases December 3.
Stage Fright the latest game by Overcooked! developer Hello Games, showed substantial gameplay footage two years after its 2024 announcement. It’s still a wacky co-op game for two players (though there’s a third character shown off; I’m not sure if that means there’s space for a third), but instead of working at a restaurant, you’re solving puzzles to escape a haunted house. GameShare’s featured, too, as it is in other co-op only games. The art style is also really neat; it reminds me slightly of Psychonauts 2. Releases “next year” for both Switch 2 and Switch.
Disney Dreamlike Valley showed off an update for its expansion, The Keepsake Sea. You can transform into a mermaid, but you also talk to Jack Sparrow, so it might be a wash. Releases “this November” for Switch 2 and Switch.”
Ondeh Ondeh Kaya’s Tasty Tale announced for Switch 2; it’s by Metronomik, the studio behind No Straight Roads. It’s a “coming of age odyssey” featuring 3D platforming, music-based rhythm puzzles, and an art style and world inspired by Southeast Asian cultures. Releases “next year.”
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, whose Switch 2 had been delayed past the game’s May launch, was shown off. Releases September 18 (with pre-orders now available) to coincide with the release of the Joker-themed Mayhem Collection across all versions of the game.
The final two amiibo for Kirby Air Riders, Sword Kirby and Dragoon and Noir Dedede and Hydra, will be released November 12. In addition, the main menu and Paddock will be slightly redesigned to coincide with an upcoming, dessert-themed event.
Cairn, a climbing sim and survival game that became one of 2026’s early indie hits, was announced for Switch 2. Releases “early next year,” with a demo available on the eShop later today.
The three Resident Evil remakes of the last few years are coming to Switch 2: Resident Evil 2 Deluxe Edition, Resident Evil 3, and Resident 4 Gold Edition. The first and last contain their notable DLC, like RE4’s Separate Ways. Release digitally October 16 and physically January 29.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis got shown off, though I don’t think anything particularly new was there. Releases February 12, with pre-orders now available.
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort showed off mini-games and gameplay outside of its twelve main modes. Most notably, you can freely explore Wuhu Island on skateboard, jetski, and airplane. It’s all very Mario Kart World Free Roam, which I think is a pretty cool feature given how prominent Wuhu Island is in Nintendo history. It also has the offline “Island Crown” mode; the highest ranked characters, “Island Legends,” might have ties to the original Wii Sports games. The rewards for this mode give you extra customization options. Releases October 22, with pre-orders now available.

Image: Nintendo. Samus going to town on a monster buffet.

Metroid Ravenous was announced after unfortunately leaking months ago. It’s the sixth mainline Metroid entry and follows heavily off 2021’s excellent Metroid Dread. Samus now has English voice acting, for the first time since 2010’s (less excellent) Metroid: Other M. The main gameplay feature is her ability to feed on enemies, and she’s once again trapped in a massive cavern filled with crazy monsters. Releases for Switch 2 January 28, 2027.
- Ravenous also comes with two new amiibo, Samus and a Chozo Statue. The special edition also features a steelbook and a third amiibo, one of Samus in her new, chitinous Metroid Suit.
Mario Kart World is getting a free update based around the ten semi-secret levels that recreate Super Mario Kart courses across the game’s map. These are now formally playable in Vs. Mode, and they even had. Knockout Tour is also getting two new Rallies: Propeller (Acorn Heights, Boo Cinema, Dandelion Depths, Moo Moo Meadows, Toad’s Factory, Airship Fortress) and Turnip (DK Pass, Cheep Cheep Falls, Peach Stadium Choco Mountain, Wario Stadium, Shy Guy Bazaar). Releases today!
Mega Man: Dual Override was shown off. This was the first time we’ve seen significant gameplay footage of Proto Man, who was teased in multiple trailers but not shown. Releases “next spring,” alongside amiibo of Mega Man and Proto Man.
Eternal Anima, an all new RPG form Marvelous, was announced. The main character can peer back in time to inherit the abilities of past heroes and forward to see enemies’ future intentions in battle. Also intriguing is its art style, which has shades of Square Enix’s HD-2D look but uses 3D graphics. Releases March 4.
Dangonrampa 2×2 showed off a bit of its new “Slayhem” mode that changes the victims and culprits. Releases January 14 for Switch 2 and Switch.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves was announced for Switch. It will feature the previous game’s DLC alongside the upcoming Season Pass 3, which adds characters from Tokyo Revengers. The digital version releases October 22; the physical sometime in January, with pre-orders beginning today.
Metal Slug Ultimate Collection announced. Features ten games, online co-op, and some fun collection goodies. Releases “next year” for both Switch 2 and Switch.
The games: Metal Slug, Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug X, Metal Slug 3, Metal Slug 4, Metal Slug 5, Metal Slug 6, Metal Slug 7, Metal Slug Advance, and Metal Slug: Location Test Ver., the latter of which had never been formally released.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Tag Force GX was announced. A remake of the 2008 PSP title Yu-Gi-Oh! Tag Force 3, it features fully voiced dialogue, content that had been removed from the original’s American release, and an unfortunate use of AI. Releases February 16 for both Switch 2 and Switch.
Another newly-announced remake with full voice acting is Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United, which remakes 1995’s Romancing SaGa 3. It keeps the game’s famous nonlinearity, where quests can be completed in any order. Releases February 16.
Sizzle reel: 007 First Light (“2026”), Far Cry 3: Classic Edition (“spring 2027”), Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon: Classic Edition (“spring 2027”), The Crew Motorfest (October 8), The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother (“early 2027,” for Switch 2 and Switch), House Flipper 2 (October 15), Sonic Pico Park (November 12, Switch 2 and Switch), Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World (December 3, Switch 2 and Switch), Dragon Quest Heroes: Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon -Classic HD- (today, Switch 2 and Switch), Hela (December 1), Eriksholm (December 3), Stellar Blade: Complete Edition (November 5), The Ascent: Ultimate Edition (“December”), It Takes Two (October 15; owners of the Switch version can upgrade for free), Palia: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (“December”), Bluey’s Happy Snaps (October 15, Switch 2 and Switch), Hot Wheels: Infinite Rush (September 10), Fading Echo (September 17), Hell is Us (October 8), Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Encore Edition (November 5).
The two upcoming Persona games, Persona 4 Revival and Persona 6, are coming to Switch. Revival releases May 20, three months after its release on all other platforms; nothing concrete about Persona 6 was shown.
The follow-up to Kirby and the Forgotten Land was announced: Kirby and the World Beyond. It retains the 3D platforming gameplay and a gigantic sword, but unlike every game in the series, it appears to be set in an open world instead of a series of levels. Narratively, it involves Kirby shattering the sky of his world to reveal a march larger world beyond. Releases in “spring 2027.” In addition, there will be plans for Kirby’s upcoming 35th anniversary in 2027.

Following the show, Nintendo of America’s Treehouse staff spent a little under two hours playing Nintendo Switch Sports Resort and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. Although I wasn’t able to watch it while making this writeup, we’ve included it in the list of embedded videos below.

The Direct, Treehouse Live, and individual trailers of note:

Wolfman’s Soapbox: I’ll just get the obligatory thing out of the way. Yeah, no 3D Mario is kinda annoying. I’m generally someone who tries to follow the “it’ll happen when it happens” approach to art, so the waits to Tears of the Kingdom and Hollow Knight: Silksong weren’t particularly straining. But 3D Mario is my Mario, and as much as I loved Donkey Kong Bananza, it isn’t the same. I don’t want to resign myself to the probable inevitability that 3D Mario is doomed to be in the decade-long development cycle of other Triple-A blockbuster series. We were gonna hit that eventually, but it’s still a bit sad. Especially since the Switch could stand to have a nice “prime rib” of a new game, your next, all-new Mario or Zelda. Something that feels truly “epochal.” Switch 2 has had a wonderful assortment of interesting, compelling, great games, but I’d like one of those “big” experiences.

With that out of the way, I did have some fun with this. Metroid and Kirby did the bulk of the heavy lifting, of course, but they look cool and very striking. I like how much Ravenous seems to be following on Metroid Dread‘s most fun qualities, though I hope it’s a bit more complicated of a Metroidvania this time. And while I’m always going to be a bit suspicious of open world design, I’m interested in seeing Kirby jump fully into a new kind of 3D platformer instead of just iterating on Kirby and the Forgotten Land. The Mario Kart World update is nice, and after having enjoyed the Silent Hill 2 remake, I’m interested in playing another Bloober Team game, whether it’s Onyx or Chronos. While I almost never play games in handheld, the gimmick is enchanting; it and the Pikmin 4 voice commands (and the real life ocarinas from yesterday) have that goofy, inscrutable Nintendo energy. Ondeh Ondeh Kaya’s Tasty Tale looks gorgeous, as does Eternal Anima, though part of what makes them appealing is that they’re different from everything else on display.

Image: Nintendo. It’s funny that we’ll be getting a dedicated “handheld only” major release in the console’s third year.

Between the time Switch 2 was announced, the time it came out, and today, three things have become increasingly clear. The first is that almost every game is simply able to work on Switch 2, even if it might need to pare down some of the graphics or have slightly longer load times. If it can run fine on Xbox Series S, it can probably run fine on Switch 2, and we’re probably not going to get many games that can’t run on either for some time as the economics of development continue to worsen. Second is that as Nintendo has moved into making 4K games, it has began to suffer from the longer development cycles that most big companies suffered (and continue to suffer) when they moved into making 4K games. The wait times between Mario titles is destined to get longer and longer, even though it stings to wait a decade after Super Mario Odyssey. Third is that these two features have dovetailed into a nice bonus for Nintendo: it can rely on more major third party releases and has been enjoying doing just that. These shows are increasingly focused around the publisher’s largest partners, which does mean you get less of the weirdness we associate with Nintendo or indies. I do think that’s a bit of a shame. For me, the weakest part of the whole thing was the opener, since all we got was footage of two large and important games we knew about, one of which is over a year and a half old. The highlights were the announcements, because they were surprising.

But in other ways, this furthers the feeling I had from the Zelda show, which is that these shows are inching slightly into the older idea of Nintendo Directs, where they were just fun updates and not a more chill take on E3. Now we have more simple Partner Showcases and almost every Nintendo release of note getting a dedicated presentation. I don’t know if Nintendo is doing that deliberately—I certainly assume they would like to keep the energy of the Directs when they were at their peak—but the energy has changed a bit. Maybe that was inevitable. I think I’m okay with that and don’t think it’s a bad thing, but I do miss when these general shows just hit a bit more loud and… rambunctious, I guess? Either way, though, I’m happy that early 2027 is already looking good. Now if only I could actually buy the Ocarina of Time physical…