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During its first long-form Nintendo Direct in over a year, Nintendo shared much of its plans for the first half of 2021. The video presentation was packed with announcements, even if they weren’t quite as exciting as some fans wanted. Still, a lot of notable news came from the event. Here are some of the biggest reveals from the latest Nintendo Direct.
Myrtha/Pyra from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 coming to Smash Bros.
The opening video of the Nintendo Direct featured the introduction of Xenoblade Chronicle 2’s Myrtha and Pyra (one fighter) to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. A lot of fans were hoping for a prominent third-party character, but Smash Bros. producer Masahiro Sakurai has expressed his love of Xenoblade in the past, so it makes sense he wants to see the 2017 sequel represented in his fighting game. Myrtha/Pyra is expected to arrive in March
Fall Guys
The smash-hit party game Fall Guys, which debuted last year as a PlayStation Plus title, is finally coming to Switch this summer. If you haven’t played Fall Guys, think Mario Party meets battle royale. It’s full of family-friendly fun so it’s well-suited for a Nintendo console, though the Switch’s subpar online multiplayer could prove an issue for this always-online title.
Samurai Warriors 5
Koei Tecmo has spent the last several years making Musso style of games for third-partly franchises, like the upcoming Persona 5 Strikers. Now Koei Tecmo is returning to one of its classic series. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, the studio does differently on a project that doesn’t come with the restraints of using licensed characters. Samurai Warriors 5 arrives on Switch this summer.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity DLC
Speaking of Koie Tecmo, the studio’s most recent release Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is receiving more content in the form of a $20 Expansion Pass. Given the game’s sales, it’s not a huge surprise, but more content is welcome news for super fans of the game.
Mario Golf: Super Rush
Just two years after the release of Mario Tennis, developer Camelot unveiled its latest sports title. Mario Golf: Super Rush. The game includes new mode Speed Golf which looks like a combination of Mario Golf and Mario Kart. Super Rush also features story mode where your Mii (remember those?) undergoes an adventure as they level up their golfing skills. Mario Golf: Super Rush “swings” on to shelves and on the eShop June 26.
DC Super Hero Girls
The Direct included the surprise announcement of DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power, set in the world of the super-popular cartoon. There’s still a lot to learn about the title, but it looks like a casual-friendly action RPG. The game, published by Nintendo, releases on June 4.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyword Sword HD
Director of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Eiji Aonuma said that he doesn’t have any news to share about the 2017’s game’s sequel, but he did have a new Zelda project to reveal: a remake of the 2011 Wii title Skyward Sword. The developers had to completely reinvent the control scheme, which was specifically tailored to the older console’s Wiimote and Nunchuck. The HD remake’s controls are redesigned for motion control with the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. The team also made the game playable with buttons so that Skyward Sword can be played by the millions of Switch Lite owners. But expect the more motion control mode to be the superior experience since it’s more faithful to the original game. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword releases on Switch on July 16.
Star Wars: Hunters
One of the more surprising announcements from the Nintendo Direct was Star Wars: Hunters, a “competitive arena battle game.” The free-to-play multiplayer title (also available as a mobile game) is set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, and features “a diverse array of distinctive new Star Wars characters.” That’s all we know so far, but Lucasfilm Games will obviously reveal more about Hunters in the months to come.
Splatoon 3
The presentation ended with a video revealing that Splatoon 3 is coming to Switch in 2022. Given that Splatoon is Nintendo’s biggest new franchise in years, fans expected the game would receive a sequel at some point, but this is sooner than many of them expected. The trailer doesn’t provide a lot of information, but the news itself of Splatoon 3 is more than enough to get fans excited.
While there weren’t any internet-breaking announcements, Nintendo shared plenty to keep fans excited about the first half of 2021. And chances are we’ll get even more reveals in the months to come.