Mario Bautista
For the first time since September 2016, Nintendo has not hosted a Direct for the month of September. There was a Nintendo Partner Showcase and Indie World in August, but neither showcase revolved around Nintendo’s upcoming line-up of games. As to why there wasn’t one, that’s anyone’s guess – but it could range from not having anything to show to the company being too busy behind the scenes with the upcoming reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, which is set to take place before March 31, 2025.
This doesn’t mean that there won’t be a Nintendo Direct before the end of the year, but for whatever reason, Nintendo could not host one in the month that it has consistently debuted a major show for the past 8 years. The last September Nintendo Direct then was the 2023 one, where Nintendo showed off games like the anticipated remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Princess Peach Showtime, and the second wave of Splatoon 3 DLC, among many, many others.
In theory,
Nintendo
could shadow-drop a Nintendo Direct on September 30. This story will be updated in that case; however, it feels incredibly unlikely at this point. If Nintendo did, it would make it the latest September Direct to happen to date when the vast majority of them have happened around the middle of the month.
Traditionally, these Nintendo Directs are the last major showcase of the year for the Big N. There have been cases where an Indie World, Mobile Direct, or a Direct for Super Nintendo World have taken place yesterday, but not a main first-party showing. Perhaps the Indie World in August was to open space for a bigger Nintendo Direct later this year, but that’s pure speculation. All fans can do now is wait for Nintendo to come forward and announce an event, if there will be one this year of course. It seems unlikely that there isn’t some sort of major first-party Nintendo Direct this year, but this is officially uncharted territory.
List of Nintendo Directs in September
- September 14, 2023 – Focused on Winter 2023 Games
- September 13, 2022
- September 23, 2021
- September 3 and September 17, 2020 – Super Mario 35th Anniversary, Monster Hunter, and Partner Showcase
- September 4, 2019 – Focus on Pokemon Sword and Shield & Luigi’s Mansion 3. There was also a Mr. Sakurai Presents for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- September 13, 2018 – Nintendo Switch and 3DS Games
- September 13, 2017 – Focused on Super Mario Odyssey and Xenoblade Chronicles 2
- September 1, 2016
The last September without a Nintendo Direct was in 2015, meaning this year’s absence breaks an 8-year streak of events. Of course, if Nintendo was not prepared for one, it wouldn’t make sense for the company to force one just to tick off September like a box. Nintendo might even return to normal next year with a Direct in September 2025, but it’s going to be more questionable than it has been for the past 8 years.
Of all possible explanations, the one that makes the most sense is that Nintendo is full steam ahead on preparing the Nintendo Switch 2. Fans may be forgiving in that case, as many of the Switch 2 leaks sound incredibly promising. Time will tell, but at least this time in Nintendo’s history has come to an end.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid portable and home console that aims to be the only gaming system anyone needs. The hybrid controller is an undisputed success because it provides a high degree of portable visual quality and converts easily into a home console.
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Battery
- 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required
- Dimensions
- 13.7 x 7.8 x 3.66 inches
- Weight
- 2.65 pounds
