Nintendo Direct is this month claims insider - but what games will it cover?
Ever since the Nintendo Switch 2 launched last month, rumours have been rampant as to when the next Nintendo Direct will be.
Over the past five years, Nintendo has traditionally held a Direct presentation in June. This year was no different but it was a presentation dedicated entirely to Donkey Kong Bananza, with no word on whether we'll see another general Nintendo Direct.
However, a reliable insider has now claimed Nintendo is gearing up for a showcase later this month – although no one seems to know exactly when.
According to NateTheHate, who previously outed the Switch 2's original reveal date back in January, the next Nintendo Direct will take place at some point in July, after the launch of Donkey Kong Bananza on Thursday, July 17.
'There is a Direct this month,' NateTheHate said on the latest episode of his podcast. 'The month of July. But that Direct will not take place until after Donkey Kong Bananza releases. Beyond that, I have no additional information.'
While he doesn't know the exact date, he speculates it could be the last week of July based on multiple factors. A Pokémon Presents showcase is set to take place on July 22, and while there's a chance Nintendo could drop another showcase in the same week, it does make sense to space them out, which leaves only the last week of July.
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The other factor is Nintendo's next earnings report, which is due on Friday, August 1. As such, it's possible Nintendo might want to release a Direct earlier that same week to generate positive buzz ahead of any questions from investors.
NateTheHate doesn't have any specifics on what kind of Direct it will be (whether a partner showcase, IndieWorld, or a proper Direct), but based on what we don't know, any potential presentation will likely feature third-party support in a big way.
We still don't have release dates for Elden Ring, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, Borderlands 4, Hades 2, or a bunch of other titles previously announced for the console, which are all expected to arrive this year.
There are also rumours of a Switch 2 port for Red Dead Redemption 2, while Microsoft has talked about its support of the console on multiple occasions despite not actually showing anything yet – so could this be when we hear about Halo on the Switch 2?
As for first party games, there are several unknowns there too. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond still doesn't have a release date (despite what the London Underground says), along with Kirby Air Riders and Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment. The latter was pegged for 'winter' and not specifically 2025 in its reveal trailer, so it's possible that could actually be 2026.
Drag X Drive, which is set to release on August 14, hasn't been shown in any significant detail, beyond its demo at Switch 2 events, although its low price may indicate it's a fairly low priority for Nintendo. More Trending
There's also the prevailing question of whether Nintendo has a secret unannounced game planned for Christmas, although considering Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza will still be pretty fresh in people's minds at that point, it might be a bit much to throw another big hitter on the pile – especially with Pokémon Legends: Z-A arriving in October.
The more likely scenario is a tease for what's to come in 2026. Splatoon Raiders doesn't have any release date yet, which suggests it will arrive at some point next year, but this might be the time to tantalise fans with a new Animal Crossing or the next 3D Mario game.
It's been eight years since Super Mario Odyssey, with only the small-scale experimental spin-off Bowser's Fury arriving since, so another 3D outing for the plumber is long overdue.
The Odyssey team has been working on Donkey Kong Bananza, so it's unclear who could be making another 3D Mario game, but with the next Mario movie set to arrive on April 3, 2026, a new outing would make sense for around that time.
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That means lighthouses are most fruitfully positioned on a high point for maximum uninterrupted views, while the shaman's hut likes to be confined in the tightest space possible, and ideally not too near any industry. Pyres score most when they're in view of other pyres, but as far away from each other as possible. One of the trickiest of the game's new buildings is the temple, which has a catalogue of preferences, both positive and negative, and starts with a massive negative score. Only by building it in the perfect context can its truly enormous scoring potential be unlocked. Build it too soon, or put it in the wrong place, and it's game over within minutes. You'll be seeing plenty of game overs. Built with a roguelike structure, New Shores' islands come with a minimum score needed to progress to the next island. 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Hamleys names Lego, Barbie and Rubik's Cube among top toys of all time
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