On June 18, Nintendo held its summer Nintendo Direct. Fans have been waiting for it for a few weeks, although the Nintendo Switch 2 topic would not be discussed. All Nintendo had left was a slew of games to announce. But suffice it to say that on the players’ side, hopes were at half-mast. Since the release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the studio has never offered an original, or really ambitious work (sorry Princess Peach: Showtime!).
This Nintendo Direct was heralded as the collection of forgotten franchises, unloved games, remakes, and remasters, not to mention DLC and updates of all kinds. And for good reason, Nintendo needs to brace for the arrival of its Nintendo Switch 2, which is due in 2025 if leaks are to be believed. The next big releases should logically act as a showcase for the new machine, which has the consequence of slowing down the pace for the current model and thus promoting sales from the launch of the Switch 2.
However, Nintendo surprised many with its summer presentation. The Nintendo Direct was finally full of announcements, each one more interesting than the last. Major franchises were represented, highlighting completely new and bold games. Mario, Zelda and even Metroid showed the tip of their noses, during these 40 minutes of pure amazement.
A particularly interesting program for a console at the end of its life. Unlike PlayStation and Xbox, which will not bet on big games before the release of their mid-generation machines, Nintendo has chosen not to abandon its commitment to players and to take advantage of these last few months to give it its all; A sort of final bouquet of an 8-year-long fireworks display. As such, the golden Nintendo Switch Lite Hyrule Edition also looks to be the manufacturer’s latest gift for long-time fans of the console.
Between the love of video games and the sharing of a common passion, Nintendo often doesn’t care about industry standards and prefers to swim against the tide. Its audience has become accustomed and, inevitably, has pushed Nintendo to the rank of the richest company in Japan, rewarding its originality. This latest attempt to capture fans’ attention is also financially lucrative.
