Masuk Free Press

Nintendo fans have had no shortage of news to look forward to, so much so that it can get overwhelming. From Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, to mouse controls on the Switch 2, this is one of the busiest quarters Nintendo has ever had. So, what have they revealed in the past Nintendo Directs (news videos), and what exactly can we anticipate in the future?
The Direct on April 27 told us a lot about the next couple months for Nintendo. There was news about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, a game that was announced about nine months ago. Nintendo debuted a gameplay trailer showing off some enhanced mechanics, such as a new psychic power that allows Samus, the main character, to solve puzzles and defeat enemies in fresh ways. Moreover, a release slate was revealed, with the game set to launch sometime in 2025.

More information about the future of Pokemon was also publicized, specifically Pokemon Legends Z-A. The game takes place in Lumiose City, a location previously seen in Pokemon X and Pokemon Y. This time, there’s an interesting twist on the basic Pokemon gameplay. Following a simple day-night cycle, the style changes from the normal Pokemon loop in the daytime to a roguelike beat-em-up at nighttime. The game is also slated to be released sometime later this year. 

Next up in the direct came more surprises for Nintendo fans. Rhythm Heaven: Groove was announced, a long-awaited sequel to the Rhythm Heaven series, which has not received a new game in thirteen years. While the game won’t exactly feature any wacky mechanics, the release of a sequel is certainly something to look forward to. The game will be released sometime in 2026.

Finally, the largest reveal of the whole direct was Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, a long awaited and highly anticipated sequel to Tomodachi Life, a game similar to the Sims that was originally released on the Nintendo 3DS. The trailer didn’t really announce any new features for the game, there are some that fans have noticed in the trailer. First, the game hints at expanded Mii customization, more ways to customize your island and even same-sex marriage, which Nintendo previously apologized for not featuring in the game’s predecessor. The game is also slated for 2026.

Of course, this isn’t where the Nintendo news stops. Nintendo held their Switch 2 direct on April 2, and revealed many new aspects of the upcoming console. First, they reiterated some components of the Switch 2 that were already known, such as the magnetic joy-con controllers and the larger console size, but told us more, revealing that the switch supports 120 frames per second on certain games and HDR. This means that the Switch 2 will definitely benefit from higher quality graphics on larger screens, like TVs and monitors. The Switch 2 will feature a new GameChat feature, allowing for Discord-like video calling while playing games with friends. Using video will require a separate video camera that costs $80, and a Nintendo Online subscription. 

Speaking of the prices, Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 itself will cost $450 on launch, a $150 uptick from its predecessor. With that, most launch-day games for the Switch 2 will cost $80, far higher than the average $70 charged for most AAA games across the video game industry. This uptick in game prices is a common trend in recent years amongst large video game developers, especially as many anticipate GTA VI to cost well near $100. Price changes are somewhat unpopular amongst fans, though.
“To be fair, the tariffs and all probably caused [higher prices], but also, when the first switch was released, it was $300. Nintendo is a big company. They’re on top of the industry, and make their own stuff,” said Nintendo fan and Masuk sophomore, Adnaan Choudhury. 

There were many games, Nintendo and beyond, revealed during the Direct and planned to release on the Switch 2 as well. Along with the new Mario Kart game, new Donkey Kong and Kirby games were announced, as well as “upgrade packs” for games like Metroid 4, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Jamboree, giving them enhanced graphics on the Switch 2 at an extra, currently-unknown upcharge. The Nintendo Classics collection will also be receiving GameCube games, starting with The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and games like Super Mario Sunshine and Luigi’s Mansion set to come soon. As for third-party games, long-anticipated announcements for Deltarune and Hollow Knight: Silksong were made. Deltarune chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 are all set to be available on the same day of the Switch 2’s release, and Silksong was finally given a release date of sometime in 2025. Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077 and Borderlands 4 will also be available on the Switch 2. 

Even with its cons, there are still parts of the news that Nintendo fans are happy for. 

“I would rate the Direct a 10 if the prices weren’t so high and over the top. Maybe it’s because of the tariffs, maybe because of inflation, I’m not sure,” said fan and sophomore Santiago Ordonez. “I’m excited for voice chat, too. Before, you had to use Discord, now it’s built in.”  Nintendo fans should definitely keep their heads up with new games and hardware on the way. It’s been almost eight years since the release of the first Switch, and the Switch 2 almost certainly has a lot of potential, especially since its predecessor was such a huge hit. But, skepticism about its success is still prevalent amongst Nintendo fans. Regardless, the future seems bright for Nintendo.