Tuesday's Nintendo Direct was the opposite of what Nintendo and the Switch 2 needed, according to critics. The long-awaited presentation failed to meet expectations, as the console's line-up continues to underwhelm.
A Year of Frustration
When marking the one-year anniversary of the Switch 2 last month, many expressed frustration at Nintendo's peculiar decision-making and the lack of a first-party Direct. On Tuesday, the company finally delivered one, but it was exactly what many feared: not what the majority of people or investors wanted.
Nintendo has previously admitted to focusing too much on Japanese tastes with the Switch 2's line-up, but the Direct showed no change in direction. While the industry moves slowly, nothing suggested Nintendo understands the need to attract Western gamers.
A Disappointing Start
The Direct opened with Rhythm Paradise Groove, possibly the least arresting choice. Nintendo invented the Direct format, once cleverly structuring presentations with surprising openings, big reveals, and mic-drop endings. Starting with a Switch 1 game deflated expectations immediately.
Things perked up with Pokémon Pokopia DLC, but then came Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, four Xenoblade games, and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. It's hard to believe Nintendo didn't anticipate Western reactions, yet they proceeded anyway.
Questionable Priorities
Why weren't these interspersed with more prominent franchises? Fire Emblem still looks cheap and low-tech. Four separate Xenoblade releases received disproportionate attention. And how excited did Nintendo expect fans to get about a new Wii Sports variation, especially when it looks so similar to previous versions? Such ultra-casual titles typically appear later in a console's life, not early on.
The lack of contrast was peculiar: almost nothing was shown of The Duskbloods, yet far longer was spent on Splatoon Raiders, despite its own Direct being announced. Even without revealing a release date, why show so little new footage? It's the most high-profile third-party exclusive, supposedly launching this year, but the Direct didn't even reconfirm that.
Third-Party Gaps
While there were interesting third-party announcements, almost all came from Japanese publishers. Was there no Western publisher to feature? Call Of Duty for Switch 2 was announced recently, yet wasn't mentioned.
The mic-drop ending was 10 seconds of (presumably) in-game footage of Young Link from Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. Fans of the original understand, but it's off-putting for others. What was gained by showing so little, especially given the inevitable backlash? The remake leak happened weeks ago, giving Nintendo time to prepare a more substantial preview.
Missing Big Hitters
Almost all games in the Direct looked interesting, but that's not the problem. The issue is the absence of big-name franchises, lack of new IP, and a worrying narrow target audience. The impression was of doubling down on second-tier titles appealing primarily to Japanese fans.
For context, a tease for Super Mario Odyssey featured in the Switch 1 unveiling, with a release in its launch year. For Switch 2, there's been no whisper of a new Mario game, despite a new Super Mario movie offering perfect cross-promotion. The practical reason is that the team was busy with Donkey Kong Bananza, but Nintendo should have planned better to have a Mario game in the launch window.
Where is the Switch 2 Edition of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Why get a Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and not that? Nintendo is leaving its big hitters on the bench, prioritizing second-stringers, and it's impossible to understand why.
DLC and Future Concerns
Even when a big-name game like Mario Kart launches, Nintendo fails to follow up with DLC, despite complaints about lacking content. With separate Directs likely for The Duskbloods, Ocarina Of Time, and Splatoon Raiders, we may not get another general, first-party-focused Direct until next year—meaning no major new game announcements until then.
Nintendo has a reputation for unpredictability, but that is being overturned by consistent underdelivery—not in game quality, but in their ability to excite people about the Switch 2's line-up. For many fans, every new announcement is now expected to be a minor disappointment.
The Switch 2 has a price hike coming, and Nintendo implied they knew they had to make an extra effort to justify the cost through games. After Tuesday's Direct, it seems they're completely oblivious. The Switch 2 is not a disaster, but Nintendo is making things difficult for themselves.
