12th September video game roundup: Nintendo mixes Switch 2 upgrades and new games in latest Direct

It’s Nintendo time!

Here we are with a full-fat showcase on the way. What are you hoping to see?

chesterBox says: Afternoon!
What I’m hoping to see is not realistically possible but…new Zelda only for Switch 2 would be extremely cool. (i know, i know it’s many years away).

Aside from that bunch of dedicated Switch 2 titles, new Mario Odyssey?

Don’t limit those dreams, Chester! I’d take an exclusive new Zelda too.

Creeping Death says: A Prime 4 release date is a pretty safe bet, I think. My money is on November.

Completely out of the box, I’d love to see a new Fatal Frame or some re-release of 1 – 3 announced.

Honestly, I just want to see some games for the rest of the year that I actually want to buy.

Fatal Frame! That’s a great shout.

2much says: My number one desire is for a new Fire Emblem announcement, ideally by the same team as Three Houses. I’m not expecting us to see a new Animal Crossing, Smash Bros, or 3D Zelda, but obviously those would be nice. I’d like a new 3D Mario game but my suspicion is that we’ll be seeing a new 2D Mario game. What I really want is to see something really out there that’s really high effort and shows to me that Nintendo are excited about the Switch 2. MKW and DKB were great but I want to see something whose development didn’t start on the Switch.

I’d take a new Fire Emblem!

SBandy says: New Star Fox, New Wave Race, New F-Zero, Eternal Darkness anything.

N64 remaster collection from Nightdive Studios.

Ability to turn off the godawful borders on the online Nintendo Classic games.

DIDDY.KONG.RACING.

I wish patch notes read like: “Ability to turn off the godawful borders on the online Nintendo Classic games.”

Afternoon everyone. Morning, if you’re in the US. The resident Nintendo hater has logged on! I say that because I’ve been called it in the past. It’s not true. I simply didn’t enjoy Disaster: Day of Crisis on the Wii, so someone sent me a death threat.

Happy Nintendo Direct everyone!

Incidentally, there sort-of is a new Star Fox in development from one of the people who made the original. It’s called Wild Blue.

mcmahonman says: I’m hoping for a re-release/sequel of Super Mario Bros 35(40 in this case.) The original was incredibly good fun and I’m sure there is more you can do with that idea.

Goodness me I must have missed dozens of those Mario games. I don’t remember us getting to 35!

Dad jokes are a given gratis here, by the way.

I love Mario Galaxy 2. As much as Mario 64 was “my” Mario game as a kid, Galaxy 2 is incredible.

About Doubt says: Silksong release date!

Haha – well played!

About Doubt says: Silksong release date!

What if they un-release it! Would be a big shock announcement as the “final thing”.

One minute to go…

Tick tick tick. We’re getting there. Buckle up!

WithLove&Squalor says: BLOODBORNE 2 WHEN

Preach! Preach!

Started spontaneously whistling a Galaxy 2 tune. Anyone guess what it is?

And we’re off!

Here we go. The show starts. Some jaunty shapes act all jauntily on screen. They are Nintendo shapes, a special breed. They work together like ants to make a Nintendo Direct logo. What poetic coverage!

Mario starts us! We see sketches from various Mario games…

There’s Shigeru Miyamoto. Apparently he used to smoke like a chimney. He’s talking about the 40th anniversary tomorrow.

He’s talking about how Mario games have been supported by evolutions in technology. Is Nintendo making a VR headset as well?

From now until next September, tickets to the Nintendo Museum design show will be free, he says. You just need a plane ticket to Japan first.

Nintendo opened a theme park in America, too, he’s telling us. And now he’s jumped back to Japan to tell us about a marathon in Kyoto. You can print a special Nintendo bib for the race apparently. But again, you’ll need to actually get there.

Right. Enough of that. Coming next spring…

Nintendo announces Super Mario Galaxy film coming April 2026

This must be a look at the new Super Mario Bros. film!

Mario’s asleep by a tree in a lush green field. Then the camera flies through a verdant land.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie!

Nintendo is working with Illumination on the movie. It’s coming in April 2026.

Why does it feel like this guy is talking to young children?

We’re hearing from Illumination person, um, something or other, who’s talking very slowly to the camera.

Chris Pratt is Mario again. Anya Taylor-Joy is Peach. Charlie Day is Luigi. Jack Black is Bowser. Keegan-Michael Key is Toad. And Kevn Michael Richards is Kamek.

Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 double-pack for Switch 2 announced

A Super Mario Galaxy and Galaxy 2 double-pack is coming to Switch 2. They don’t look to have been changed very much. I wonder if we’ll hear more about technical improvements, if there are any.

They’re coming 2nd October.

I imagine they’ll cost a pretty penny.

Koizumi-san is here now to tell us more about the two Galaxy games. He’s recapping the concept. You can read Rosalina’s book in both games, he’s telling us. And it’s going to be available as a real-life product.

Oh and that’s it – more details to come.

Now Nintendo is going to introduce some other Mario games coming to Switch 2.

Mario Tennis Fever. There are new defensive manouevres in it and Fever rackets, which are like super-charged tennis rackets. You can freeze a court with an ice racket. There’s a mini-mushroom racket, a shadow racket. There are 30 Fever rackets each with their own abilities.

“A talking flower provides riveting commentary in Tournament mode.” The trailer narrator really just said that.

Mario Tennis Fever launches February 2026

And it’s got an Adventure mode where you can play as Mario babies, which is a weird sentence to write. Mario Tenns Fever launches 12th February 2026.

I think from now on I’m going to say “and” like “Annnnnnnd” after hearing this Tennis man say it. Might make it my whole identity.

Super Mario Bros Wonder Switch 2 Edition announced

Super Mario Bros Wonder now. But it’s just a Switch 2 edition, sigh.

It’s got an attached meet-up in Bellabel Park mode, which looks like it comes with some more multiplayer party-game modes.

2much says: We’re gonna see so many Switch 1 games resold to use as Switch 2 editions aren’t we? This is gonna be the thing that makes me mad during every Direct, isn’t it?

It’s got that feel to it!

So yes, Bellabel park is all about packing various versions of multiplayer content. As to the other new stuff in Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch 2 Edition, we’ll have to wait and see.

The game is out in spring 2026.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t understand why these Switch 2 add-ons for Switch games are only for Switch 2. Nothing here seems like it wouldn’t be fine on the OG Switch, which still has a big audience.

Nintendo is making an actual Talking Flower toy

You know that talking flower Nintendo has been talking about during this broadcast? They’re making an actual toy of it. It looks like a minuature gramaphone. It’s coming out in the spring.

It’s Alarmo all over again isn’t it.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book looks lovely

We’re onto a Yoshi game now, which seems to involve Yoshi reading a flower-themed book at the moment. Yoshi then teleports into the book to explore, and then eats the flower and plops it out as an egg to find out more.

As you adventure through the book, it’ll fill out, just like books do in the real world.

It’s very cute looking, whatever this game is – papery, slightly slower frames per second to look stop animated.

“A page-turning adventure awaits.”

It’s Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. Spring 2026.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book looks brilliant.

Rogueywon says: We’re certainly all-in on the talking flower here.

I like that they haven’t even bothered to think up a name for it. It’s just “talking flower.

Haha – quite!

We’re getting an update on games coming to Switch now. This is a side-scrolling roguelike called, um, Cryptoka. Crypto-something or other. I’m good at this aren’t I? There’s co-op. It’s not called Crypto-something at all!

It’s called Storm Lancers and it’s out today.

I’m Australian so I can definitively say that this is exactly what being in Australia is like.

A charming Australian-themed survival sim now, which has Animal Crossing vibes x Minecraft. Dinkum, it’s called, which is very Australian. It’s coming 6th November. A demo is out later today.

Another co-op game here, a third-person action game but also a puzzle game, based around shooting coloured-bullets at coloured sections of enemies. There’s a party mode for more players too.

Popucom. Coming this winter.

I’m not the only one who thought that name was a bit… rude, right?

The voices of the Miis are real right? I’m not hallucinating?

New Tomodachi Life brings Mii avatars back but has horrid AI robo voices

A Mii-using island adventure now. Oh god AI voices. Then they live on an Animal Crossing-like island somewhere.

It’s a bit Simsy. You pick up other characters to make them talk to each other. They’ve got a garbled language, too.

Oh, you can tickle them? That’s weird.

It’s Tomocachi Life: Living the Dream, coming next spring

Digital Eclipse’s Mortal Kombat Legacy Collection is coming to Switch. It is excellent. It’s coming 30th November.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Integrade coming to Switch 2

The Final Fantasy 7 Remake is coming to Switch 2 in 22nd January 2026.

Rogueywon says: Ok, it’s official: InZoi is no longer the creepiest Sims-clone around.

I think we’ll all be checking under the bed for creepy-voiced Miis before going to sleep tonight.

It’s Hades 2!

A glitzy cinematic trailer for Hades 2 to announce that…

(Please launch today…)

Oh they’re padding the announcement out!

Hades 2 is a Switch 1/2 console exclusive and launches 25th September

We’re getting an overview of Hades 2. Cut to the good stuff, Nintendo!

Hades 2 is a console-exclusive on Switch 2 and launches 25 September.

It’s also getting a 120 FPS mode while played in TV mode, apparently.

Rogueywon says: I have a transatlantic flight on September 26th. I think Supergiant just sorted out my entertainment for that.

Perfect!

Nintendo copying Ubisoft’s underrated Starlink with these Kirby amiibo.

Zelda Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment launches 6th November

This is the Zelda musou game Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment now, in which you play as Zelda.

This one’s got split-screen co-op!

It launches 6th November.

Carl Sheen says: “Hades 2 is a Switch 2 console exclusive”

Also on Switch 1

D’oh – thanks!

Why does the guy in red in Dragon Quest 7 have the most annoying face I’ve ever seen?

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined in February

I am glossing over this perfectly lovely Dragon Quest CGI now. What a moustache that character has!

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is coming 5th February. We’re seeing some footage of it and it looks greatly visually improved.

New Virtual Boy device announced for Switch 1/2

Nintendo has made a new Virtual Boy device compatible with Switch 1/2! It’s coming 17th February and there are a host of games being released for it.

There’s going to be a cardboard model of the accessory released as well, presumably to play the games without shelling out a considerable amount of money for some plastic tat.

OMG, they are selling a Virtual Boy accessory to play the games on switch. Pure Nintendo.

Thankfully there’s also a cardboard version!

FTJT says: They’re not going to sell a single one of those. Not one.

It’ll sell out in five seconds!

Fatal Frame 2 remake coming early next year

Your Fatal Frame dream has come true! Sort of. There’s a remake coming for Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterly. We see some footage of it and it looks nicely improved.

It’s coming early next year.

Did one of the Fatal Frame characters just start singing part of the Gaga song from Top Gun Maverick?

Who’s buying one of those Virtual Boys then?

Powerwash Simulator coming to Switch 2 this autumn

Ooh. There’s a Switch 2 version of Stardew Valley coming with four-player co-op. And there’s a Switch 2 version of Human Fall Flat. “You can enjoy a new way to wobble.”

Powerwash Simulator is coming to Switch 2 in the Autumn. It’s got “enhanced soap”. It’s got local split-screen co-op.

Samus gets a motorbike!

We’re getting nearer the end now so we’re moving onto some bigger things. This looks like Samus. This must be Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

Samus is on a Tron-like motorbike. She’s blasting across sand dunes as electric guitars blare in the background.

She’s power sliding into enemies to defeat them, which is cool.

Now she’s off the bike and blasting.

Did someone accidentally drop their uni project into this Direct? That Metroid bike stuff looks… well.. bad?

Metroid Prime 4 is out this year – 4th December

The trailer is still blaring electric guitars. Oh and that was it? Release date!

4th December 2025!

Paid DK Bananza DLC out today – and a demo for the main game

We’re seeing some new Donkey Kong Bananza content here. It’s all about collecting emeralds. Oh nice and we get random power-ups as we play. it’s a roguelike mode, it looks like. You see how far you can get in each run and unlock various treats as you go.

DK Island and Emerald Rush paid DLC launches today. A demo of the main game will be out today too.

Pokémon Pokopia is sort of Pokémoncraft and it’s coming in 2026

10 minutes to go. Here’s a Pokéball. Here’s Ditto. Here’s a new Pokémon game?

It’s a Minecraft-like world where we play as Ditto, it seems. Ditto learns a move from Bulbasaur to grow plants. Then Squirtle teaches Ditto how to water the plants. As the island folourishes, so do the Pokémon.

We can build. We can build homes for the Pokémon. And we can have gardens. The Pokémon all mill around and hang out with you.

Pokémoncraft?

Everyone: We like casual farming sims.

Nintendo: Ditto

Rogueywon says: It looks more Fantasy Life than Minecraft. The crafting looks pretty limited.

It does!

Pokémon Legends Z-A now, which is coming to Switch 2 on 16th Oct with three new mega evolutions.

We’re still in Pokémon land. Pokémon Legelds Z-A: Mega Dimension DLC is coming to the game too. It’s got two new mega evolutions for Raichu.

Daganronpa 2 is making a comeback

Danganronpa 2 is making a comeback. And along with the main game, there’s an additional story being included.

Danganronpa 2×2 is coming to Switch 1/2 next year.

Dynasty Warriors Origins is coming to Switch 2 in January 22nd.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 out in March next year

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Twisted Reflections now. A turn-based role-playing game where you raise monsters and battle with them. 13th March 2026.

What’s the show-closer? That’s the question.

Just throwing this out there. Ignore if bad…

Bike version of Ridley in Metroid Prime 4: Ridely.

That’s it.

Resi trailer would have been scarier had it used the Mii voices.

Resident Evil Requiem & Village & 7 announced for Switch

We’re seeing a shorter version of the Resident Evil Requiem trailer we saw in the summer. It doesn’t look quite as glossy as on other platforms but it doesn’t look too bad.

Resident Evil 9 Requiem is coming to Switch 2 on 29th February.

Oh and there’s one more thing?

Resi Village and Resi 7 are also coming to Switch on the same day.

Why on earth are they launching three Resi games on the same day?

But there is one more thing and it looks like Fire Emblem?

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave announced for 2026

It really looks like Fire Emblem! But set around Roman arena-style games?

We’re getting a good overview of the game here and it’s ticking all the right boxes.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. 2026.

Show’s over – thoughts?

And that’s it. It dipped, it worried us, but Nintendo pulled it back at the end?

As someone who finds the Fire Emblem games complete snoozefests (sorry, seemingly everyone in chat), that Direct wasn’t the best. I was most looking forward to Metroid Prime 4, but the bike sections look awful.

I got very into a Fire Emblem on 3DS. I can’t remember what it was called. I missed Three Houses. So I’m preparing myself for the plunge into this one. But how long will we have to wait? Still, it’s exciting.

I think a lot of how people view Switch 2 depends on what consoles/PC you own. If I’m purely a Switch 2 player, Resi news is great. As someone who will play it PS5 Pro, it’s not a huge bit of news personally.

2much says: Bertie it was probably Awakening you played, or maybe Fates. I’ve only played Three Houses and Engage to completion but they’re both great, especially the former. I’ve played about half of The Sacred Stones on NSO too and that’s also fantastic

Awakening sounds right! Yes – Chrom! It was definitely that one. Gosh, 2012?! That was a long time ago.

I’m torn on the simplistic re-releases of the Mario Galaxy games. Both of them still look great due to the art design, but part of me wants to see what could have been done with a visual overhaul.

Antendo says: Glad i’m not the only one who would unashamedly buy that Virtual Boy… it has a golf game for god’s sakes!

(also hoping Mario Tennis Fever is better than Aces)

That’s two people at least who’ve said they’ll buy it. That’s two sales you’ve got there, Nintendo!

The big show roundup

We’ve gathered all of the trailers from the show, and all of the announcements, and put them into one handy list.

The Virtual Boy Switch accessory costs £66.99

The Virtual Boy Switch 1/2 add-on costs £66.99, it seems.

Which reminds me of Alex’s very timely review of Nintendo’s Virtual Boy, which we published when Switch 2 launched. It was a bit of a cheeky fake-out from us. But who doesn’t want a hardware review decades later?

Zathtrec says: Virtua boy? This isn’t Sega!

/quits

Ordered 100 Virtual Boy add-ons for Switch 2 as an investment. No one tell my wife. This is my make it or break it moment!