Third Nintendo Direct of 2026 Confirmed as Partner Showcase
The gaming community's anticipation for a major general Nintendo Direct in early February has been tempered by insider reports confirming the next presentation will be a Partner Showcase. According to reliable sources, this event will focus exclusively on third-party titles, with no first-party Nintendo games scheduled for announcement.
Insider Information Points to Third-Party Focus
Prominent gaming insider NateTheHate, who originally suggested a Nintendo Direct was planned for early February, has clarified through social media posts that the upcoming presentation will indeed be a Partner Direct showcase. The insider confirmed this information in response to speculation from other gaming outlets, stating definitively that the event scheduled for Thursday, February 5 will focus on partner titles rather than Nintendo's own first-party offerings.
In his communications, NateTheHate specifically addressed rumors about potential game reveals, noting that the highly anticipated current generation upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2 will not be featured in the Nintendo Direct. According to the insider, Rockstar Games will handle the announcement of this upgrade independently, separate from Nintendo's presentation schedule.
What to Expect from the Partner Showcase
While a Partner Showcase typically generates less excitement than a general Direct featuring Nintendo's major franchises, this particular event could still deliver significant announcements. Industry observers speculate this might be an ideal platform for showcasing FromSoftware's upcoming Switch 2 exclusive title, The Duskbloods, though whether Nintendo considers this a first-party release remains unclear given their publishing involvement.
Other potential highlights include updates on the delayed Switch 2 port of Elden Ring and various rumored Ubisoft projects, including a potential Rayman anniversary collection that would fit perfectly within a Nintendo Direct presentation format. The indie gaming scene might also receive attention, with possible updates on Mina The Hollower, which faced a last-minute delay from its original October release window, and Witchbrook, the highly anticipated life simulation game blending Stardew Valley mechanics with Hogwarts-inspired elements.
Nintendo's First-Party Lineup Remains on Schedule
Despite the absence of first-party announcements in the upcoming Partner Showcase, Nintendo has several major titles scheduled for release in the coming months. Mario Tennis Fever is set to launch on February 12, followed by Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 Edition on March 26, and Yoshi And The Mysterious Book sometime during the spring season.
The gaming giant's presentation schedule remains active, having already delivered two dedicated Directs in January focusing on The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream. With this pattern established, industry analysts suggest Nintendo could maintain a similar frequency of presentations throughout February, though a Pokémon Presents event is already anticipated for February 27 to commemorate the franchise's 30th anniversary.
This strategic approach to presentation scheduling allows Nintendo to maintain consistent engagement with their audience while managing expectations about which types of games will be featured in each specific showcase event.
