In a somewhat unusual move for Nintendo, company president Shuntaro Furukawa tweeted the company’s year-end financial report in May to confirm two things: new hardware announcements will be made before the end of the current fiscal year (so April 2025 at the latest), and that such an announcement will not be part of the planned June 2024 Nintendo Direct.
It was an attempt to calm the speculation surrounding a ‘Switch 2’ that had been rumored at this stage of the summer, and the fact that Nintendo had a Direct planned for June was no surprise – looking back, it’s had a big summer launch for most of the last few years decade. Still, the heads-up was unexpected a month earlier.
So, we know it’s coming sometime in the next 20 daysand with the excitement of Summer Game Fest and the big Sony and Microsoft shows, it’s time to turn our attention to Le Grand N (as they say in Marseille). An announcement could be made by the time this article is published, but regardless of when it comes, it’s time to throw around some ideas, hopes and dreams about what we’d like to see at Nintendo’s June Direct…
Rhythm Heaven, Spin-offs, and Surprises (Gavin Lane, editor)
I say this every round, but now it’s time for Rhythm Heaven to return. We had two WarioWares is now on Switch and I would love it see feel some subtle improvements in HD rumble brought to the series. A straight port of Megamix would do if all the big guns were pointed at the new hardware, just give Rhythm Heaven some love, Nintendo.
Besides, I’d be pretty easy to please at this stage. Given the point in the Switch life cycle we are at, my expectations for new main lines in major series are very low. I’m happy to wait until ‘Switch 2’ for the new Wave Race. Maybe some new Kirby spin-off. Wario Country? Long time no hear from Yoshi. That’s my head. They could be great games, but nothing that really gets my pulse racing.
BUT, Nintendo has form when it comes to fantastic late-cycle releases for their systems (watch for an article on this in the near future), so I’m still hoping to be surprised, low expectations and all.
Ports and Remasters Galore (Ollie Reynolds, team writer)
With Nintendo acknowledging the successor to the Switch, I’d be very surprised if anything major was announced other than a handful of ports and remasters. I suspect the company was sitting on a lot of completed projects at this point, so I reckon we’ll finally see the likes of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes (and possibly Corruption), The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, and of course the one that everyone they called, Donkey Kong (jokes… it’s going to be a Donkey Kong trilogy).
Looking at third parties, it really wouldn’t be a Nintendo Direct if we didn’t at least mention Silksong, right? The timing of the recent Hollow Knight promotion on Nintendo Switch Online is certainly a suss, but I won’t hold my breath. In addition, I would like a few pleasant surprises. New Mega man it would be lovely and I also wouldn’t say no to a remaster of Viewtiful Joe. Oh, and let’s get Symphony of the Night on Switch, for God’s sake.
All in all, I expect it to be pretty light on megaton announcements, but there will be enough to tide us over until the new console is revealed.
Ol’ Faithfuls and Indie Gems (Jim Normal, Staff Writer)
I have to agree with Ollie here, I don’t see Nintendo dropping anything also massive this month. But that doesn’t mean that the announcements don’t bring me to my feet with applause. Seems like a good time to deploy some old faithfuls. Give us a way to play Super Mario Galaxy 2 on Switch. Leave an announcement for a 2D Zelda remake – I’d bet Link’s Awakening style Oracle games – or a port of A Link Between Worlds. Pepper in a handful of new NSO announcements and you’ve got a win.
Also, are we all forgetting it’s an Olympic year? Appearance from Mario and Sonic it feels like the lowest hanging fruit.
But with so many safe bets, let’s share some indie love as well. I don’t have the guts to mention Team Cherry’s the game that must not be named, so show me Mina The Hollower too. Give me a Plucky Squire release date or Sea of ​​Stars DLC news. There is definitely some new Dave The Diver and/or Vampire Survivors DLC coming. Just stay away from ‘puzzle game but has a cat in it‘and I will be happy.
… (Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor)
*too busy playing games with Zion and Geoff and the LA folks at Summer Game Fest*