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Yesterday, the maker of Mario, Metroid, and Zelda aired its first Nintendo Direct of 2023, setting up the release schedule for the first half of the year. The showcase was a bit light on surprises, but included announcements that appealed to all types of fans. Here are some of the top stories to come out of the February 2023 Nintendo Direct.
Pikmin 4
Nintendo released the first trailer for the long-awaited fourth mainline entry in the Pikmin series. The trailer features a new ice type Pikmin, a doglike creature you and your Pikmin can ride, and some nasty new baddies. Pikmin 4 releases on July 21.
Advanced Wars 1+ 2: Re-boot Camp
After being postponed indefinitely following the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine, the remake of the first two Advanced Wars games is back on the release schedule, set to come out on April 21.
Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass
The first wave of this paid DLC for Splatoon 3 brings players back to Inkopolis, the hub area of the first Splatoon. Players will get to see some familiar faces, and the fan-favorite Squid Sisters will be back for musical performances. The second wave of the DLC, titled Side Order, was teased but left very mysterious.
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland
The Switch version of Kirby’s Return to Dream Land will include new story content. Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler sees the titular character trapped in a realm between dimensions and have to gain back his powers to get home. The epilogue will be available to players after clearing the main story mode. A demo for the game is available now ahead of its release on February 24.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
Professor Layton isn’t a huge franchise, but it has a dedicated audience, so news of its first entry on Switch, even without a firm release date, was a highlight of the Nintendo Direct for fans of the puzzle adventure games.
Sea of Stars
The RPG set in the world of the indie hit The Messenger got a release date, August 29, and a demo for the game is available now.
Nintendo Switch Online – Game Boy & Game Boy Advance
Nintendo Switch Online finally gets a big addition to its library. Owners of the basic tier get access to a batch of Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, while subscribers at the higher tier can also play a selection of Game Boy Advance titles. All the games are available now.
Metroid Prime Remastered
The long-rumored of the landmark GameCube titled Metroid Prime has finally arrived, and it’s available right now! Even better, the game costs $39.99 rather than the standard $59.99.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Pass
The next wave of Mario Kart DLC, arriving this Spring, includes a brand-new course inspired by Yoshi’s Island and the addition of Birdo as a playable character.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The follow-up to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild received another short trailer. The game is only 3 months away, so a lot of fans expected a deeper look at the game than we got here, since there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I guess that won’t come until a little closer to its release on May 12.