The Nintendo Direct that followers have been ready for is lastly right here and it’s an enormous one. September is normally when the corporate has its annual blowout showcase, and after a messy first half of 2025 forward of the Change 2 launch, it looks like we could be getting again into a well-known circulate. After a quiet couple of years, the drought could lastly be over. The Change 2 is out and Nintendo can lastly wheel out the large weapons.
With Nintendo promising an hour-long livestream, the September 12 Direct would be the longest within the firm’s historical past outdoors of the April one earlier this 12 months for revealing the Change 2 {hardware}. It additionally comes simply forward of the fortieth anniversary of Tremendous Mario Bros. on September 13, suggesting loads of Mario-themed bulletins could also be in tow as effectively. After which there’s the flurry of just lately leaks from self-proclaimed insiders, some with a adequate monitor report to take them critically going into the occasion. Right here’s what we’re prone to see on the newest Nintendo Direct this Friday, from rumors and finest guesses to some wild longshots which are too cool not to consider.
Resident Evil, Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth, and extra ports
In accordance with Resident Evil leaker Nightfall Golem, we should always count on a complete lot of Capcom’s horror collection to be coming to Change 2 within the 12 months forward. That features Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village, in addition to the Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 remakes. Notably, all of those had been created on the present RE Engine, which Capcom has been utilizing for all of its new video games. Nightfall Golem has prompt the most recent sequel, Resident Evil: Requiem, will arrive on Change 2 in some unspecified time in the future as effectively.
Whereas solely a port of RE7 has been claimed to be getting revealed at this week’s Direct, followers have already began speculating about what this may imply for Capcom’s different franchises on Change 2. Each Dragon’s Dogma 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds had been additionally developed within the RE Engine, as was Road Fighter 6 which was a launch sport for the {hardware} again in June.
Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake isn’t out on Change 2 but, however there are already rumors that Rebirth isn’t far behind. Dependable Change leaker NateTheHate just lately claimed the sequel is headed to Nintendo’s new console someday in 2026. He’s additionally beforehand reported that Pink Useless Redemption 2 is being ported to Change 2, which appears prone to arrive ahead of later. That doesn’t imply both will probably be at this week’s Direct however they’re definitely within the combine. There are rumors that Starfield and Murderer’s Creed Shadows will find yourself on Nintendo’s handheld hybrid in some unspecified time in the future, too.
Then there’s a really messy riddle from leaker SwitchForce who was the primary to disclose {that a} Nintendo Direct was taking place on September 12. The tease is that there will probably be three video games on the showcase with the quantity seven within the title. Exterior of FF7, there’s been hypothesis about Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 7 and Ace Legal professional 7 being the others, although SwitchForce stated the long-running courtroom collection positively wouldn’t be within the livestream. A extra apparent selection is 007 First Mild, which was just lately on the PlayStation State of Play as effectively.
The 12 months of Tremendous Mario Bros.
SwitchForce has additionally been teasing large Mario information on the occasion. “They purchase the brand new techniques for the mustache,” learn a tweet that includes a GIF of Mario from Tremendous Mario Odyssey. One idea is that the Odyssey staff break up in two, with a youthful offshoot engaged on Donkey Kong Bananza and one other creating the following 3D Mario sport. The timing makes the reveal of Tremendous Mario Odyssey‘s successor really feel all however assured, although it most likely received’t be the one Mario announcement within the Direct.
We’re additionally lower than a 12 months out from The Tremendous Mario Bros. Film 2 with no actual data about what the story will probably be or which celebrities will probably be becoming a member of the English-language forged. At the very least an preliminary teaser, if not a full-blown trailer, might be within the playing cards. Perhaps we’ll even get a double characteristic with a tease for the upcoming Zelda film in 2027 as effectively? It might be so simple as affirmation of whether or not it is going to be a brand-new story or not, or whether or not it is going to be one other isekai story (individuals from the actual world magically showing in Hyrule).
However again to Mario. It’s his time to shine in any case. The best way Nintendo normally likes to deal with these anniversaries means we might get a brand new anthology of remasters or remixes of older video games within the collection, or ports of more moderen entries which have been languishing on outdated {hardware} like Tremendous Mario Galaxy (I’m nonetheless holding out hope for Tremendous Mario Galaxy 3 myself). One other Change On-line unique multiplayer spin-off like Tremendous Mario Bros. 35 doesn’t sound out of the query both. Perhaps this time it’ll go from 2D side-scrolling to a Fall Guys-style 3D battle royale mode.
Lastly, we all know Nintendo loves its limited-edition equipment and merchandise. A Mario Bros. fortieth anniversary Change 2, new Amiibo, and new Change 2 Pleasure-Con colours really feel like a straightforward prediction. Extra thrilling can be some new kind of devoted gadget just like the Nintendo Sport & Watch: Tremendous Mario Bros., solely this time with extra than simply the primary two video games. And what’s happening with that removable dual-screen add-on that Nintendo patented? Might the Change 2 lastly get DS video games coming to its subscription service?
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 deserves a Change 2 improve
If the unique Change taught us something, it’s that Nintendo loves double-dipping. Half of the first-party library for that console was simply Wii U video games. And I totally count on the corporate to take care of that sample with Change 2 by persevering with to roll out free and paid upgrades for older video games. A current Monolith Smooth job posting on social media included recent footage of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 that appeared to indicate it operating at a a lot greater decision. These open-world RPGs have at all times struggled on the primary Change, leaving followers pining not just for Xenoblade Chronicles 4 on Change 2 but additionally upgrades for the final two numbered entries. They’re additionally nonetheless ready to see what’s up with Xenoblade Chronicles X‘s hidden 60fps mode.
There are additionally nonetheless numerous different outdated video games Nintendo can pull onto the Change 2 in a single kind or one other. A Wii U HD remaster of Twilight Princess remains to be MIA on fashionable platforms, and the unique Luigi’s Mansion might be remastered or added to the GameCube library on Change On-line. Nintendo’s additionally on the point of launch Metroid Prime 4: Past (a launch date reveal at this Direct can be good!) and but two of the video games within the unique trilogy nonetheless aren’t out there to play on Change.
Smash Bros., Animal Crossing, and Mom 3
Past the following Mario, there are many different Nintendo franchises which are ripe for his or her subsequent entries. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is 5 years outdated now, and Smash Bros. Final bought its final DLC character in 2021. Regardless of a number of remakes within the collection since, the final new Luigi’s Mansion was in 2019. It’s not fairly time for a brand new Hearth Emblem however we’re getting shut. And what about Nintendo’s back-bench franchises like Star Fox, Punch-Out, and Pilotwings? The corporate loves pulling from the previous simply as a lot as constructing new issues.
Talking of latest issues, a brand new Splatoon spin-off known as Raiders was teased earlier this 12 months and can little question make an look on the Direct if it’s popping out any time within the subsequent 12 months. It might even be good to see extra of FromSoftware’s upcoming Change 2 unique The Duskbloods. There’s additionally no phrase on what Platinum Video games is engaged on for the console. Might Change 2 be getting Bayonetta 4 or Astral Blades 2 anytime quickly? And I do know Workforce Ninja has been very busy recently, however it could be neat to see Marvel Final Alliance 4 confirmed.
The deepest minimize of all can be Mom 3, the GBA sport by no means formally localized within the West however which is already out there via Change On-line in Japan. There was an enormous exhibit for the collection in Tokyo this summer time, and this 12 months marks the thirtieth anniversary of Earthbound popping out within the U.S. In the meantime, 2026 will mark the twentieth anniversary for Mom 3. Sequence creator Shigesato Itoi is already 76 and never getting any youthful. It’s time. Significantly. Simply give us Mom 3. Hell, give us Mom 4! Or perhaps a 3D remake of Earthbound. How a lot cash do I have to spend these Earthbound figures to make it occur?
