The long-awaited first-party Nintendo Direct has mostly delivered, unveiling far more games beyond just the Zelda remake and the new Xenoblade. Even Nintendo is not immune to rumors and leaks, as today's Direct was predicted along with its most important reveal: a big-budget remake of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Surprisingly little of the remake was shown, implying a dedicated Direct later this year, leaving room for other surprises.
Xenoblade and Kingdom Hearts 4
A new entry in the Xenoblade series was announced, along with remasters of the three mainline titles. The first proper gameplay footage of Kingdom Hearts 4 was also shown. No completely unexpected new first-party games appeared, as a new variant of Wii Sports had been rumored, but the Direct was solid with plenty of games and impressive third-party support.
Rhythm Paradise Groove and Third-Party Titles
The 55-minute Direct opened with a preview for Rhythm Paradise Groove, releasing July 2, which is currently the last Switch 1-only game Nintendo intends to release, though they hinted at future cross-gen games. Surprising third-party announcements included Stellar Blade (formerly PS5 exclusive) for Switch 2 later this year. Capcom revealed Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition (June 23), Onimusha: Way Of The Sword with optional Joy-Con motion controls (September 25), and Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen (October 9). Atlus' Metaphor: ReFantazio arrives November 12.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
Already announced, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave received a release date of September 17. It channels Three Houses more than Engage, with four characters in a gladiatorial competition with serious consequences. A special edition with maps and merch is planned.
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort
An amalgam of previous Wii Sports titles, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort includes 12 sports: Boxing, Table Tennis, Archery, Tennis, Volleyball, Bowling, Basketball, Golf, Thumb Wrestling, Skateboarding (mouse controls), Power Cruising (jet-skiing), and Prop Plane. Jump Rope warm-ups are included, with motion controls and online features.
Final Fantasy Resonance
Square Enix's HD-2D Final Fantasy Resonance balances new and old-school appeal. It's the first Final Fantasy game where you can summon characters like Cloud Strife from FF7. Turn-based combat with souped-up SNES graphics; a multiplatform release on October 22.
The Duskbloods
FromSoftware's Switch 2 exclusive multiplayer game appeared briefly without a release date. A closed network test was announced for summer, suggesting a late 2026 or 2027 release.
Splatoon Raiders
Nintendo focused more on Splatoon Raiders, getting its own Direct on June 30. The spin-off is primarily single-player with co-op, resembling the Salmon Run mode with island exploration and treasure hunting. Out July 23 alongside new Joy-Con colors.
