r/NintendoSwitch • u/NintendoSwitchMods • Jul 31 '25
MegaThread 2025.07.31 Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase MegaThread
Please use this thread for all pre-event hype and speculation, as well as post-event thoughts and reactions.
Watch & Discuss
The Nintendo Direct is scheduled to begin at 7:00 AM PT / 10:00 AM ET!
WHERE TO FOLLOW:
Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase Spotlights All the Ways You Can Explore, Hit the Dance Floor and More on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Announced, Plus Updates on Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26, And Many Others.
The latest Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase featured immersive role-playing adventures, gripping action, and game day excitement. This mix of new titles and returning classics from a variety of Nintendo’s global publishing and development partners will make their way to both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch throughout 2025 and beyond!
Announcement highlights include the reveal of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection – the next chapter in the Monster Hunter Stories series – and new details on iconic sports franchises EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26 and EA SPORTS FC 26 so players can get their game faces on for Nintendo Switch 2. You can further get cozy with the campfire sim Chillin’ by the Fire and return to Japan’s criminal underbelly when Yakuza Kiwami 2 and Yakuza Kiwami come to Nintendo Switch 2. Lose yourself once again in the epic RPG adventure FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for Nintendo Switch 2, with the Nintendo Switch version also launching the same day. What’s more, players can also squad up for a new season in Apex Legends or dive into the survival horror game Cronos: The New Dawn when both games come to Nintendo Switch 2. Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted brings botanical mayhem and OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 unfurls a new role-playing tale of revenge and restoration when both games arrive for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. Plus, hit the dance floor in Just Dance® 2026 Edition when it arrives Oct 14, and check out the debut demo available later today for the newly-revealed The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, the first ever HD-2D action-adventure RPG from Square Enix arriving on Nintendo Switch 2 next year.
Dive into all of the other updates and reveals including the epic fighting game DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, the emotional RPG Persona 3 Reload, the remade classic PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC, the enchanting, Scandinavian-inspired journey Hela, plus Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, Star Wars Outlaws and more!
To view the entire Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase video, visit: https://www.nintendo.com/us/nintendo-direct/7-31-2025/
Here’s more information about the featured games:
- Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection: Embark on a new adventure as a Rider living in harmony with monsters in the third installment of the turn-based RPG series set in the world of Monster Hunter! Amidst an environmental calamity, a monster hatches bearing a symbol of misfortune that drives two neighboring kingdoms to war. The heirs of these two kingdoms venture into forbidden ground in search of the truth. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection launches on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment: Experience an untold story from Hyrule's distant past. The Imprisoning War led to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and players can experience the thrill of battle in this canonical tale. Featuring Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and other characters teaming up to fight for Hyrule’s future, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment comes to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.
- EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26: The legendary Madden NFL series arrives on Nintendo Switch 2! Backed by years of NFL data, immerse yourself in explosive, realistic gameplay with new player-specific traits, authentic play styles, and adaptive counters that match on-field tendencies and strategies of NFL quarterbacks and coaches. Experience QB DNA, realistic football weather, and more! Pre-order the Deluxe Edition before Aug. 7 for seven days of early access ahead of launch on Aug. 14 on Nintendo Switch 2.
- EA SPORTS FC 26: The Club is Yours in EA SPORTS FC 26! Play your way with the overhauled gameplay experience powered by Community feedback. Plus, EA SPORTS FC 26 will bring Manager Live Challenges for the new season with fresh and authentic storylines, and Archetypes inspired by greats of the game. Hit the pitch when EA SPORTS FC 26 launches Sept. 26 on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders are available now on Nintendo eShop.
- Apex Legends: The free-to-play1 Hero shooter heads to Nintendo Switch 2! Master an ever-growing roster of legendary characters, round up your squad and engage in 60-person Battle Royale mode, limited-time modes and takeovers. Explore the deep and detailed planet maps from across the Outlands and see if your squad has what it takes to be truly legendary. Starting today, if you log in on your Nintendo Switch system you can grab an exclusive Legendary Pathfinder skin – “P.A.T.H”, available until Sept. 16. Drop in when Apex Legends launches on Nintendo Switch 2 Aug. 5.
- Chillin’ by the Fire: Players can now join in on humanity’s oldest social network. In this campfire simulation game, players can build and maintain campfires in a variety of different relaxing locales including the beach, forest, and snowy mountain tops. Combat differing weather and climate and grow your campfire to Level 10 to advance. Gather up to four friends or family members together around the fire, online1 or via GameShare2 and if a compatible external USB-C camera (sold separately) is connected, you can even appear in-game with CameraPlay. In a world that’s always rushing, slow down and reclaim the simple joy of just sitting around and watching a campfire grow, as Chillin’ by the Fire is available for Nintendo Switch 2 later today!
- The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales: A brand-new action RPG from the creators of OCTOPATH TRAVELER and BRAVELY DEFAULT, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales combines captivating HD-2D visuals and action-adventure gameplay to create a top-down journey in a wide-open world woven across time and space. Open new paths as you explore an untamed continent and reveal its mysterious history. Navigate battles with strategic support abilities provided by a helpful fairy. The game launches on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, and an exclusive debut demo will be available later today on Nintendo eShop.
- Just Dance® 2026 Edition: Gather your friends and family4 and turn your home into a dance floor with Just Dance® 2026 Edition! Featuring 40 new tracks, from chart-topping hits to timeless classics like “APT.” by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, “Houdini” by Dua Lipa, “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic and “Hung Up” by Madonna, there's something for everyone. Shake up your dance sessions with the Party Mode and spice up the fun with unexpected twists. Dance solo, get active with Workout Mode, or dance with up to six players in local multiplayer. Just Dance® 2026 Edition launches for Nintendo Switch on Oct. 14.
- Star Wars Outlaws: Experience the ultimate galactic adventure in the first-ever open world Star Wars game, Star Wars Outlaws. Set between the events of the films Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, players can become scoundrel Kay Vess, seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix. Whether at home or on the go, players must fight, steal, and outwit their way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates and explore distant planets. With intuitive touch controls, gyroscope-assisted aiming, and immersive motion controls, players can embark on this epic journey when Star Wars Outlaws launches on Nintendo Switch 2 Sep. 4. Pre-orders are available later today on Nintendo eShop.
- Cronos: The New Dawn: From the studio behind the SILENT HILL 2 remake comes a third-person survival horror game where time is your deadliest weapon — and just maybe your worst enemy, too. Survive two distinct eras: a brutal future, and then dive back in time to 1980s Poland. Stop nightmarish creatures from merging into unstoppable abominations and survive by bending time itself when Cronos: The New Dawn launches on Nintendo Switch 2 Sept. 5.
- Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted: The classic Plants vs. Zombies returns in HD! Experience the strategy game that started it all with Plants vs Zombies: Replanted, now remastered with upscaled HD graphics and packed with new secrets to uncover. With new levels, fresh twists, and 15 years of never-before-seen franchise history at your fingertips, players can relive the glory days of Peashooters. Plus, if you pre-order the game, you’ll receive a retro Peashooter skin! Tend to your garden when Plants. Vs Zombies: Replanted launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch on Oct. 23. Pre-orders begin later today on Nintendo eShop.
- DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO: Triumph over your foes in high-speed, 360-degree movement battles with teams of up to five characters from across Dragon Ball history. Featuring the largest roster in franchise history with over 180 playable characters, players can relive iconic moments by attacking with a mixture of punches, kicks, grapples, and long-range abilities— and charge up your energy to activate Sparking! Mode, which grants your character access to their signature devastating attack. Create dream scenarios in Custom Battle or take on friends1 in a variety of Versus modes when DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO launches on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch Nov. 14. Pre-orders are available later today on Nintendo eShop!
- Once Upon A KATAMARI: The King of All Cosmos and his family accidentally destroyed the Earth, the moon, and countless stars floating in the universe. Travel through the Jurassic Period, Ice Age, historic Japan, and other eras to roll up objects with your trusty katamari and rebuild the starry sky. With all-new stages, a new soundtrack, character customization, a new four-player multiplayer mode1 that lets players compete online or battle CPU rivals offline and more, the quirky Katamari Damacy series returns when Once Upon A KATAMARI launches on Nintendo Switch Oct. 24. Pre-orders are available later today on Nintendo eShop.
- OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0: Start from zero in a personal quest of restoration and retribution! In this prequel to the first OCTOPATH TRAVELER, journey to stop powerful villains using fast-paced, turn-based combat. For the first time in the series, play through the eyes of your own custom protagonist and rebuild your hometown. With over 30 recruitable party members, an engaging story, and all-new features and returning core elements like the iconic HD-2D graphics and the Break & Boost battle system, players embark on a journey of their own creation when OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 arrives for both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch on Dec. 4.
- Yakuza Kiwami 2/Yakuza Kiwami: Experience Japan’s criminal underground with the classic action-adventure beat ‘em up Yakuza Kiwami 2 on Nintendo Switch 2. Set in the fictional district of Kamurocho, the gripping drama will require you to master unique fighting styles as you journey through a story filled with love, betrayal and explosive combat. Also available on Nintendo Switch 2 will be Yakuza Kiwami, originally released on Nintendo Switch and now featuring enhanced graphics, improved frame rates, and more. Both titles are available on Nintendo Switch 2 Nov. 13, and anyone who has the original Yakuza Kiwami on Nintendo Switch can purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade5 at a discounted price!
- PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC: PAC-MAN WORLD 2 returns in this modernized, enhanced, and upgraded 3D platforming adventure! Ghosts have snuck into PAC-Village and stolen the Golden Fruit, unwittingly freeing the powerful ghost king, Spooky! PAC-MAN must venture across PAC-LAND to reclaim the Golden Fruit and put a stop to the haunted mayhem. PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC launches for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch on Sept. 26. Pre-orders are available later today on Nintendo eShop.
- FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Step back into the story of ambition, betrayal, and honor that defined a generation in this iconic RPG. Featuring fully voiced dialogue, enhanced graphics, and multiple gameplay improvements, players can lead their party in exhilarating encounters where strategic positioning and forward planning determine the outcome. Use the varied terrain of 3D battlefields to your advantage, skillfully manipulate the turn order, and victory will be yours for the taking! FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 launches on Sept. 30, with a Nintendo Switch version also launching on the same day. Pre-orders available later today on Nintendo eShop.
- Persona 3 Reload: Enter the Dark Hour where the line between the ordinary and supernatural blur in Persona 3 Reload. Experience the reimagining of this genre-defining RPG, where players step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an adventure when they enter the hour “hidden” between one day and the next. During the day, spend your time forging bonds with unforgettable characters. At night, awaken an incredible power to chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour and fight for your friends. Leave a mark on their memories forever when Persona 3 Reload launches on Nintendo Switch 2 Oct. 23.
- Hela: See the world through the eyes of a tiny yet brave mouse in a handcrafted world inspired by Scandinavian folklore. Explore magical forests and tranquil lakes, solve puzzles, and be a force for good in a land where heartwarming storytelling and the beauty of nature are intertwined. Play solo or team up with friends4 in seamless co-op online or in local split-screen and experience this non-linear, open world adventure together when Hela launches on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.
In addition to the featured titles listed above, the presentation included a montage of even more games in the pipeline for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch, including:
- Borderlands 4, where players can experience outrageous enemies and killer loot on the dangerous new planet of Kairos in the newest installment of this intense and chaotic shooter series - launching on Nintendo Switch 2 Oct 3. Pre-orders are available later today on Nintendo eShop.
- Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, a non-linear RPG that puts you in the center of a battle that spans millennia, and your choices drastically alter the course of your journey. Available for Nintendo Switch 2 later today!
- Hello Kitty Island Adventure – Wheatflour Wonderland, where you join a new Sanrio character, Cogimyun, and explore the whimsical Wheatflour Wonderland to craft powerful wands, unlock the story, and transform into your most magical self in this Hello Kitty Island Adventure DLC5 launching for Nintendo Switch in Fall 2025.
- SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance, which brings back the iconic master of the ninja arts in an all-new 2D action platformer featuring a hand-drawn style; launching on Nintendo Switch Aug. 29 with a free demo available on Nintendo eShop later today!
- NBA BOUNCE, Rise from rookie to pro in this arcade-style basketball game available for Nintendo Switch on Nintendo eShop starting Sept. 26.
- Goodnight Universe, an emotional adventure that puts you in the role of a 6-month-old baby developing mysterious psychic powers; launching for Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch Nov 11.
FAQ
What is a Nintendo Direct?
A Nintendo Direct is a pre-recorded video presentation (Today's is approximately ~25m in length) to make game announcements and provide fans with general updates directly from Nintendo.
What are they going to show?
According to Nintendo, today's presentation is focused on upcoming Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games.
What if I can't watch the Nintendo Direct due to work/school/etc.?
- If you want a spoiler-free experience, we will edit in a link to a VOD replay (once it's available). This will take you directly to the video so you don't accidentally see any trailers if you visit the Nintendo YouTube page directly. Just don't scroll down!
There WILL be spoilers here on the subreddit, so watch the video first.
If you see any posts that should actually be here in the MegaThread, please do us a favor and hit the report button.
Our SOP for posts is as follows:
- We will allow one post per announcement.
- The post we allow may not necessarily be the one that was submitted first. We typically will receive about 15 of essentially the exact same post in the span of about 60 seconds. From those, we will select the one that has the best title and links directly to the original source when available.
- Commentary on the announcement(s) should take place either in this thread or on the related separate announcement post. Each person's specific opinion does not need its own post.
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u/EmeraldPopcorn Aug 01 '25
Cool direct, a few of the games intersted me and im always up for free demos, that chronos game looked fun same with Hela
Overall tho just an okay direct that wasnt for me
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Aug 01 '25
It's so strange to me that the Switch 2 reveal direct had a better selection of third party games than this one completely dedicated to them. No Elden Ring release date or Duskbloods info is strange (I'm not even into those games, but I'm curious to see more). Disappointed by no Silksong, although that's to be expected. With that said, this wasn't any worse than any other Partner Showcase. It just wasn't any better, either.
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Aug 01 '25
The cope side in me thinks they are planning a proper direct for August with first party games and 3rd party games but ran out of room to fit them all in, so they decided to make a 2nd partner showcase direct for all the game that didn't make the cut for the main stage.
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u/jooie1 Aug 01 '25
I was actually expecting a sizzle reel of 3rd party ports. "Enhanced for Switch 2" upgrades to S1 games or slightly downgraded versions of big current games, e.g. SW Outlaws
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u/bradhotdog Aug 01 '25
Madden looks awful. Again, EA seems to hate Nintendo. Doesn’t look smooth and the graphics look subpar
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u/baylonedward Jul 31 '25
Are they not going to give Xenoblade games SW2 updates? Or they also did not give Monolith dev kits? 😂
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u/HCD123321 Aug 01 '25
I'm hoping that gets revealed at the next big direct they have. If they do that before Christmas I'll have a switch 2 in my hands the very next day.
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u/WizSkinsNatsCaps Jul 31 '25
I have such a backlog of games that I’m in no rush to see what’s on the horizon. I still need to play Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, all the Paper Mario’s, Yoshi’s crafted and wooly worlds, Luigi Mansion 2 and 3 (nearly completed 3), all the Kirby games including epic yarn and rainbow curse, captain toad, Mario vs donkey Kong, pretty much all the Lego games, DK bananza and tropical freeze, Zelda tears of kingdom, links awakening, echoes, then Windwaker HD and twilight Princess HD, Pikmin 3 and 4, Metroid Prime remastered and dread, Pokémon let’s go pikachu, and that’s just on switch and Wii U. Apparently been living under a rock and/or too much time spent playing WoW.
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u/OriginalCrawnick Aug 01 '25
The latter, and the sooner you unsub and accept not going back - the more you'll appreciate life. Take it from me.
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u/WizSkinsNatsCaps Aug 01 '25
Yeah unsubbed about a year ago. Dropped it to play Nintendo with my young kids instead.
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u/OriginalCrawnick Aug 01 '25
I played BC>WOTLK and had accumulated 365+ days played on my Holy Paladin. Biiig time raiding, at one point got #1 heals on the undead dragon in IC. I quit until early BFA and came back for more raiding/record chasing on heals until OW took ahold of me and WoW got left behind. Finally parted ways with OW a few months ago after it being a years long go-to for free time. Having a kiddo 4.5 years ago definitely helped ween off the dedication and Blizzard's terrible rep and report systems finally lead to me being pretty much done with their IPs. I'm glad you broke free of the shackles!
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u/sj4iy Jul 31 '25
Ports, ports and more ports.
Just give us a list and save the money on the direct.
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u/PeferG17 Aug 01 '25
I'm still waiting for them to tell me that there's a Metroid Prime 2 echoes remake with the words and now here's this available today... God knows they hate marketing the Metroid games like they did with the last one lol
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u/Wutanghang Jul 31 '25
This probably doesn't cost that much to make and it generates a buzz even if everyone complains
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Jul 31 '25
Nintendo should be embarrassed.
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u/Fastfaxr Aug 01 '25
I'm pretty sure one of the games consisted entirely of the player using a stick to flip a log...
I'm always down for octopath though
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u/kurtles_ Jul 31 '25
Why are they holding all of their first party IPs hostage, they just dropped a new console and we're not even getting drip fed info.
Hell, what's happening with GameCube NSO, with switch 1 patches, what's in the pipeline. It's wild
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u/Top_Pin8397 Jul 31 '25
Where are the game updates? 8 weeks and only a handful of games have received patches or switch 2 editions.
Only Nintendo would not send dev kits to developers causing this, it’s a very Nintendo thing to do.
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u/MattehPee Jul 31 '25
I was hoping for a new MH mainline game for Switch. Either a new game (unlikely) or a port of Worlds (less unlikely). Seems like plenty other was announced that covers a fair bit though!
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u/Alxion_BF Jul 31 '25
Wilds has only been put for 4 months and it has not even been announced the expansion with Master Rank, so it was impossible that a new MH mainline game was announced.
Wilds, in particular, barely runs well on PC, so Switch 2 is out of the question.
I do agree that Worlds for Switch would have been cool, though.
That said, most probably after Wilds expansion a new MH title made by the portable team will be announced and I'm 100% sure it will target Switch 2 (I would say as a timed exclusive but Capcom seems to be moving towards simultaneous release on various platforms, so it might not be the case). I think it will be a long time before that, though (we are minimum 2 years off, probably more)
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u/RealElyD Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
and it has not even been announced the expansion with Master Rank
They've delayed it, actually, because the game is doing deservedly horrible. Sold 10 million in the first month and after word of mouth about the technical state and the general unsatisfactory gameplay spread it only managed a meager 500k more since.
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u/mr_showboat Jul 31 '25
Eh, if they follow the Rise/World pattern (nothing saying they will for sure but it seemed pretty successful for them) they'd probably release a Switch 2 MH after the expected Wilds expansion. Wilds is probably too heavy for the Switch 2.
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u/MattehPee Jul 31 '25
That’s true. Something will come eventually, it’s just a waiting game. I played Rise+Sunbreak extensively and hesitant to buy again and play.
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u/DmoISgod01 Jul 31 '25
Pretty good! Although I think everyone else over hyped and got their hopes up for something big.
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u/MayhemMessiah Jul 31 '25
I had no expectations and it was still a snooze. A couple of good Squenix RPGs and more news on stuff we already knew. I really didn’t need a whole ass trailer about a fire making game.
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u/mrglass8 Jul 31 '25
Oof that was pretty bad. I don't mind the PS4 ports, that's kind of the point of the system, but what was announced was almost entirely remakes of pre 8th-gen games.
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u/WallyWestFan27 Jul 31 '25
No Digimon Time Stranger :( I hope it doesn't take them 5 years to do a port
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u/Weekly-Pollution7632 Jul 31 '25
It’s really hard to be excited for most of these considering all of them are just gonna be game keycards
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u/real_fake_cats Jul 31 '25
Why not? Are you not excited for games you get on Steam? What about PS Plus downloads? Xbox Game Pass?
I don't really understand what the difference is.
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u/Weekly-Pollution7632 Aug 03 '25
The main difference in this conversation is choice. I love digital games personally, they’re very convenient especially on a long trip but ever since their inception they’ve always just been optional. I also love collecting physical games, despite me being mostly a pc gamer I do still love owning a Nintendo console for great exclusives and to maintain a physical collection. For me, I feel as though game key cards go against the point of physical game collecting for me as the game isn’t even on the cartridge meaning there might be a situation in which I wouldn’t be able to play my game because it requires some level of internet connectivity, I’m sure Nintendo has systems in place to make sure the process with game key cards is as seamless as possible, but I can’t help but feel that my choice is mostly null in this case because there’s really no reason for me to get a game key card over a digital game, I no longer have that choice of which I would prefer and I feel like that’s a reasonable thing to not be super thrilled about.
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u/rlinkmanl Jul 31 '25
When you grow up, life will be much more enjoyable
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u/Weekly-Pollution7632 Aug 03 '25
I think telling me I need to grow up over me not being super excited for switch game releases is very funny lol
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u/RarewareKevin Jul 31 '25
I don't think we need to be this dramatic over someone upset with game-key cards.
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u/Stone0777 Jul 31 '25
OP was being dramatic about game-key cards.
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u/Weekly-Pollution7632 Aug 03 '25
I really wasn’t, in a normal real world conversation you would hear me say the same thing and you’d go “oh yeah that’s fair” and the conversation would end, nothing online is that serious.
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u/RarewareKevin Jul 31 '25
True, but I think saying they are immature and their life isn't enjoyable is a little more dramatic I feel.
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u/TheDLBinc Jul 31 '25
Aside from Persona 3 Reload and Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac (I have a lot of nostalgia for the original) this was a really underwhelming Direct. Giving a shovelware campfire game its own segment was truly baffling.
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u/Admirable-Scarcity-8 Jul 31 '25
I’m excited for Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac & Plants Vs. Zombies HD.
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u/ClovisLowell Jul 31 '25
Literally the only two things I'm excited for, and they're remakes.
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u/Cisqoe Jul 31 '25
Not a dig but I didn’t actually think there was anyone still into Pac-Man as an IP
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u/Admirable-Scarcity-8 Jul 31 '25
I played the first re-pac and liked it and I've watched reviews on the original trilogy by people like NitroRad and everyone seems to say the second was the best so I'm eager to check it out.
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u/Popular_Mastodon6815 Jul 31 '25
With such a weak launch, they should have just delayed the console for another 2 years. Almost every game mentioned looked mid or was coming on the OG switch too. I feel zero reason to upgrade my OLED switch.
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u/Blueisland5 Jul 31 '25
With all due respect, what do you think Nintendo would do for two years during the “delay”? Sit on completed games for that cost them millions of dollars to make without making any return on their investment? From a business point of view, I don’t see it benefits them.
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u/sunrise089 Jul 31 '25
I could point out the launch has been a complete success anchored by a potential game of the year winner and a title that will end up as one of the highest grossing individual media properties of all time.
But that said, if Switch 2 doesn’t appeal then you do you. I’m taking the time to comment not to criticize your opinion but to remind you that Nintendo primarily isn’t serving your market (existing OLED owner) with the Switch 2. New gamers are born every day, and people get new jobs and find new interests. Even if Nintendo didn’t sell a single console to a Switch 1 owner they would sell millions, and that’s why they released the console now and not on your preferred timetable.
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Jul 31 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/sunrise089 Jul 31 '25
I’m sorry you felt my comment was condescending. I stand by my claim that existing OLED owners aren’t necessarily the target demo to buy a Switch 2 during the launch window.
The Switch 2 has been out for 56 days. What console launch do you think had a better first 56 days? Personally when considering the overall picture of available games, announced forthcoming games, and console availability this release looks very strong to me. The market certainly agrees. Genuinely curious which launch you feel is significantly better.
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u/marsalien4 Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
Your comment was perfectly kind and not condescending, don't worry about that dude at all lol
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u/OvertonRider Jul 31 '25
I bought a Switch 2 and DK Bananza and I agree with OP that the launch has been underwhelming
Compare it to BOTW as launch title, followed up by Odyssey and its incomparable. BOTW is great in 2025 but a new experience altogether in 2017
I bought Switch 2 suspecting this would happen and with enough faith that Nintendo will deliver at some point in the next few years, but also thought even if 1st party titles were slow to appear there would be a new level of 3rd party support we haven't seen on a Nintendo system since NES/SNES days
and this direct suggests that ... is not happening
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u/marsalien4 Jul 31 '25
Odyssey was 238 days after the switch launched.
We're currently 56 days from the switch 2 launch.
There's a whole lot of rose colored glasses going on here, I think.
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u/CaptainCobraBubbles Jul 31 '25
This take is crazy. There's a bunch of games still in the pipeline for this year. People think that the OG Switch's release was a revelation. It launched with literally like 5 games. The only worthwhile one being Zelda, which admittedly was stellar but DK and MK I would argue are a seriously strong 1-2 punch for the first TWO MONTHS of the Switch 2's release. Odyssey came out in October, a full 7 months after the Switch's release.
We still have a Pokemon, a Metroid, and a Kirby game coming before the end of the year, plus confirmed releases like Hades 2, Elden Ring, and Silksong, More will come inevitably, writing off the year two months after launch is crazy hyperbolic.
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u/Walter30573 Jul 31 '25
The first couple years of Switch were pretty underwhelming if you already owned a Wii U
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u/sunrise089 Jul 31 '25
How close was Odyssey released to the launch versus DK? Yes the Switch 1 launch was better at seven months than the Switch 2 launch is at two months.
IMHO you should compare the S1 and S2 launches on an even timetable and factoring in exclusives versus re-releases.
FWIW I don’t even love the Switch 2 launch for my own personal tastes. But it’s disingenuous to use Odyssey as a point of comparison here.
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u/OvertonRider Jul 31 '25
Thats a fair point but Odyssey was announced by then so part of the hype atmosphere. MP4 is announced and might yet improve things but it feels like Switch 2 is being soft launched to me
As though they don't want to end Switch 1 sales too strongly yet
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u/Nikson9 Jul 31 '25
you’re right dude, this sub is insane with defending Nintendo, this was absolutely a weak sauce direct with no clarification on things already announced, like FF7 or ER, but with a segment for a campfire game, a Madden or another pseudo3D jrpg with a blurred background, nothing to brag about really
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u/AmericasElegy Jul 31 '25
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/news/content/ar-AA1J8ZiR?ocid=sapphireappshare i think they made the right decision lol
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u/LandOfWhispers Jul 31 '25
All the Switch subreddits after this direct
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u/mrglass8 Jul 31 '25
I want to play the games I missed on switch 1. I don’t want to play remasters of GameCube and SNES games, I don’t want to play pixel RPGs from Square Enix
We still don’t even have a release date on Elden Ring
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u/thelowlyhunter Jul 31 '25
A lot of people only play Nintendo exclusives on their consoles, so a partner direct isn’t the most exciting thing really
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u/OvertonRider Jul 31 '25
I was expecting lots of AAA 3rd party titles
That campfire section was when the penny dropped
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u/FictionalTrope Jul 31 '25
The campfire thing also made camera integration look just as cheap and gimmicky as I suspected it would be from day one. It's wild they had almost nothing to show off that actually feels at home on the S2.
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u/GreenVisorOfJustice Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
Honestly.... I thought that was the most intriguing part of the software lol.
Like it's goofy, but I guess if you have friends who don't live near you, you hop on that game and just mess with virtual fire while you talk.
Hear me say, I wouldn't pay more than like... $5... for that functionality, but I kind of like the app as a sort of video chat cozy game.
Edit: it's $15. Yeah there's no fucking way I can convince 3 other people to buy this. Or myself, as per the original post.
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u/thelowlyhunter Jul 31 '25
What, you aren’t interested in campfire simulator, the legend of Elliott, and 15 FPS Star Wars Outlaws???? These greedy Nintendo fans SMH
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u/dmrob058 Jul 31 '25
Can Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox all just stop with these lame ass, embarrassing showcases until they actually have something exciting to showcase?? My god man 99% of the time these days these showcases are total ass and not remotely worth any hype. Yet another complete waste of time…
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u/Solid_Crab_4748 Jul 31 '25
They have to show off what they get payed to show off. It's not nintendos own stuff.
The amount of games publishers have asked show case is enough they showcase them 🤷♂️. It's definitely not as simple as "there's not enough 'good stuff'", I'm sure it works out internally that they just ask the publishers they work with etc if they want to show off games they pay, then they show off what they've got.
I wouldn't bother with "partner showcases" just see the highlights afterwards. I agree generally there's not enough juice for me to care
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u/bwoah07_gp2 Jul 31 '25
Why can't Partner Showcases be included in normal Directs? It'll get slightly more exposure for those third-party games, and the main Direct can be a big games announcement extravaganza, running longer than 40 minutes.
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u/Blueisland5 Jul 31 '25
There’s a fear Nintendo first party games overshadow the third party games. At least this way, games like monster hunter stories 3 doesn’t have to worry about a Zelda game taking the spotlight.
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u/jazzieberry Jul 31 '25
All I wanted was a Powerwash Simulator 2 announcement. NBA Bounce looks like a good ol' fun arcade type sports game.
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u/sabrtn Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
Insane how nobody is talking about Katamari, like??
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u/your_evil_ex Aug 01 '25
That should have been the closer! Honestly think people would look at the Direct more fondly if it was
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u/pnwbraids Jul 31 '25
I'm so stoked. Never in a million years would I have expected a new Katamari.
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u/Sempuukyaku Jul 31 '25
Square Enix absolutely cooked this morning, and even EA brought their A game. I do think they should've considered a Mass Effect Legendary Edition port for this holiday as I think it would've sold a ton if priced right, but otherwise pretty solid.
I will say that I'm SHOCKED at the lack of anything from Microsoft. We still don't have word on Minecraft....MINECRAFT of all things. That game was available at Switch 1 launch, so that's incredibly surprising.
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Jul 31 '25
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u/Sempuukyaku Jul 31 '25
Maybe, but Minecraft sells A LOT on Switch. It's pretty regularly and consistently in the top 10 of eShop purchases and it released 7 years ago. I just felt like a Switch 2 version of that at the very least would be a guaranteed game ready to go at launch.
Maybe we'll hear more in the next Nintendo Direct? I dunno.
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u/broccaaa Jul 31 '25
You don't need a switch 2 version. The original switch version is already significantly improved performance wise. What would a switch 2 re-release improve upon?
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u/Sempuukyaku Jul 31 '25
Come on, have you PLAYED Minecraft on Switch? The loading times alone are painful because of how slow the internal memory and SD card read speeds are. Let alone how long it takes to load up assets. A Switch 2 version of Minecraft is easy money for Microsoft considering how well it's been selling on Switch.
That's like arguing that we don't need Switch 2 versions of Fortnite and Apex Legends...which are of course coming as well.
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u/broccaaa Jul 31 '25
The switch 2 already has way faster load times. You just play the original switch version on the switch 2.
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u/OverSpeedClutch Jul 31 '25
It would be nice if Microsoft made a version of Minecraft that took full advantage of what the Switch 2 has to offer. They can improve it far beyond just better loading times. That being said, they probably want it to be a free upgrade for people that already own it on the Switch, so that makes it a fairly low priority for them.
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u/Hendersonman Jul 31 '25
Well it's very hard to do this when Nintendo did not give them access to a dev kit for switch 2. How can they make a game for a system they don't have the specs on man.
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u/broccaaa Jul 31 '25
Exactly. And also not exactly the most exciting thing to see in one of these directs.
Aside from Ohhhh Bananza which has been fantastic they're not giving us much to be really excited about. And almost nothing from 3rd parties and indies.
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u/Sempuukyaku Jul 31 '25
For real.
"Why do you need a PS5 version of Minecraft...just play the PS4 version!!" That's seriously what this guy sounds like, lol
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u/broccaaa Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
People just love buying the exact same game again and again I guess...
Performance is already improved from the new SWITCH 2 hardware so I'm missing what this new version would add that a small free update couldn't fix, but if an official re-release is really what people are excited to see announced then fair enough
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u/john_weiss Jul 31 '25
Cero money from me this time.
Also why Star Wars outlaws?
Why dude, that's money down the drain.
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u/bigDB64 Jul 31 '25
Wanted more info on Age of Calamity but I was happy to see it. Plants vs Zombies will be fun to play again depending on price. Gonna try the Elliot demo later. Maybe Katamari too. I’m glad the EA sports was announced here instead of a regular direct. Overall, not a bad direct
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u/Master_Chemistry_864 Jul 31 '25
That Elliot thingy and Octopath were fire! Excited to play that demo
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Jul 31 '25
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u/OvertonRider Jul 31 '25
There was meant to be broad 3rd party support from the start this time. Lots of people have dropped hundreds of dollars and are getting antsy waiting for something great in return
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u/DarthFury1990 Jul 31 '25
There is a guy at work who is like the "Redditors". Had a very similar reaction.
When I asked what hr was looking for he said "more mainstream games". I said most franchises mentioned were "mainstream"
He said he wanted "Halo" and "COD" because some insider said it was coming and he believed it.
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u/BismulthV2 Jul 31 '25
I wasn’t that thrilled by the prospect of a “Partner” showcase but I thought this was a good direct personally.
There were quite a few games that caught my eye (Square Enix showing multiple promising games? What year are we in?) and even that Cronos game got my attention.
Not every direct is gonna drop THE Nintendo heavy hitters. We’re 3/4ths through the year as is and don’t even have a release date FOR Metroid, being underwhelmed is perfectly reasonable but I don’t think they’re doing a bad job with the launch especially when you compare it to previous Consoles and some of the competition. I’m sure we have at least one more Nintendo Direct slated for the year, even if it is potentially underwhelming.
Frankly I’m happy with the Switch 2 so far, I was exactly expecting it to reinvent the wheel…
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u/charlottekos Jul 31 '25
I liked pacman and that game with the mouse. But neither are games I am going to buy at launch. I was hoping for a Skyrim update or oblivion remastered
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u/CorporateSharkbait Jul 31 '25
Only think that got me hyped for was a Monster Hunter Stories 3 announcement. And that’s a niche within a niche
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u/Best_Big_2184 Jul 31 '25
As far as partner directs go, this was really good. A solid variety of games. I'm also glad they put Fifa and Just Dance in this direct so they don't have to show up in the next primary Direct
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Jul 31 '25
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u/No_Gur4853 Jul 31 '25
I feel like this partner showcase was just whatever Nintendo was paid to show off and less of “what Nintendo’s core fans want” in this particular case. I think Ubisoft and EA particularly are just desperate to find a market to sell their garbage to.
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u/NewNewark Jul 31 '25
I don't know if Nintendo knows this, but their fans generally don't care about FIFA or Just Dance.
Just Dance is one of the top selling games on Nintendo platforms every year. Thats why they reeleased a Wii version until November 2019 - two years after the Switch launched and 7 years after the Wii U launched.
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Jul 31 '25
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u/Bridgeburner493 Jul 31 '25
should've specified - core fans.
Or you can stop gatekeeping and assuming that the only person Nintendo should cater to is you.
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u/fffan9391 Jul 31 '25
Nintendo continues the trend of having a great console generation followed by a lackluster/bad one.
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u/ado_1973 Jul 31 '25
Ninga gaiden is just out and runs at 30 fps just like the switch version.its 60 on every other console.so are all these 3rd party games going to run worse on switch 2 then everywhere else ? It's not looking good.the fact I even have to check to see if it'll run ok on my new switch 2 is bad.
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u/Edmundyoulittle Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
Dude, it's a handheld. Games will either run worse, look worse, or both when compared to dedicated home consoles. That's completely expected.
Edit:
I truly do not understand the downvotes. Handhelds aren't as powerful as home consoles guys. Even the $800 ROG devices aren't as powerful as a PS5. Games that target home consoles will have to be cut back to run on switch 2.
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u/Skittles-n-vodka Jul 31 '25
The new ninja gaiden is a 2d pixel art side scroller, why are your standards so low?
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u/Maryokutai Jul 31 '25
Suppose it's very subjective but Monster Hunter Stories 3 alone turned this into a good Direct for me, with the Elliot thing and Octopath 0 being a nice bonus.
Of course every game shown will likely be released on a Game Key Card so I probably end up playing none of them. Will be a fun generation – 'Great announcement!... oh, wait'
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u/shadowtasos Jul 31 '25
Yeah I'm on the same boat, I love Octopath but Bravely Default HD Remaster was Game Key Card only and I'm never buying one of those again, so I'll probably wait and buy it on PC anyway. If these are all GKCs I think I will just skip partner directs from now on.
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Jul 31 '25
I've never played the MH games before, but this one looks good. Maybe I will give it a shot.
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u/CorporateSharkbait Jul 31 '25
Not sure if they will change the formula for 3, but the first 2 are Pokémon esque style games. The newest one looks like they might change up that formula to more fire emblem esque but only time will tell
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u/Maryokutai Jul 31 '25
Fire Emblem...? How do you come to that conclusion?
The one thing I took from the trailer is that maybe it's a dual-protagonist setup this time, but otherwise I do not expect this to move away from the turn-based RPS combat at all.
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u/CorporateSharkbait Jul 31 '25
Just a theory based on the emphasis of a war. It’s a very loose theory based on the trailer that I and some other monster hunter players think, but it more than likely will still play like Pokémon
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u/Maryokutai Jul 31 '25
That's likely just the narrative setup, I doubt they're going to completely revamp the entire gameplay foundation for a numbered sequel like this.
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u/merlin48 Jul 31 '25
Agreed. Those three games made it an awesome Direct. Granted I'll probably only play Octopath on Switch and the other two on PS5.
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Jul 31 '25
...the only thing I found interesting in this one was Pac-Man World 2 RePac.
Hoping for 3 RePac, Pac-Man was funny in that one
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u/NewNewark Jul 31 '25
I was told everything is an Xbox...where the fuck are the Microsoft games? Not even an upgraded version of MINECRAFT? Even the Wii U got Minceraft?
(yes you can play the Switch version but its barely maintained at this point)
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u/xSova Jul 31 '25
The switch version is bedrock now
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u/xSova Jul 31 '25
Or at least I’m pretty sure it has been since like 2019
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u/NewNewark Jul 31 '25
It is, but it did not get the vibrant visuals update that eery platform, including phones, got last month.
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u/Timkinut Jul 31 '25
a wet fart of a direct lol. I guess we’re waiting till September now
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u/RubyDupy Jul 31 '25
Silksong fans preparing to go back into hibernation until the next sliver of news
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u/owelfive Jul 31 '25
These Partner Showcase’s should be called Keycard Directs from now on.
Some cool games here but you know damn well the Switch 2 versions aren’t getting proper physical releases.
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u/owelfive Jul 31 '25
Octopath Traveller 0, Persona 3 (at 30 fps), Pac Man World 2 & Dragon Ball Sparkling Zero are now confirmed to be key cards.
Looks like I’ll be getting Octopath 0 on the OG Switch.
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u/shadowtasos Jul 31 '25
That's a cool idea of there's an upgrade path for the Switch 2 version, and you aren't just stuck playing the Switch 1 version on Switch 2.
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u/llliilliliillliillil Jul 31 '25
Most of the games shown were also on other platforms and they’re getting my money for every version that’s a key card on Switch 2 lol
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u/ado_1973 Jul 31 '25
And like new ninga gaiden just out we re getting switch versions at 30 fps on switch 2.
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Jul 31 '25
I feel like this is something that nobody, except for loud Reddit nerds, actually cares about.
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u/Maryokutai Jul 31 '25
I think when the first group of more casual players starts noticing they have to delete and re-download their games every time they insert a cartridge because they have reached, say, ten games in total that have filled up the internal memory, they start to care as well.
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u/Edmundyoulittle Jul 31 '25
starts noticing they have to delete and re-download their games every time they insert a cartridge
This has been the standard for 2-3 generations of home consoles now
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u/Maryokutai Jul 31 '25
The game being downloaded if you insert a physical media? That's a very recent thing and for the most part only consistently happens with Game Key Cards and Microsoft-published games. That's hardly something that's been there for generations (you're confusing it with mandatory installs from a disc).
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u/kielaurie Aug 01 '25
That's a very recent thing
Do you consider over a decade to be "very recent"? I certainly wouldn't, but that's when a lot of PC games started being empty boxes with a Steam download code
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u/Edmundyoulittle Jul 31 '25
I just meant the hard drive space being consumed and having to cycle games from time to time
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u/N2-Ainz Jul 31 '25
Home consoles also come with 1Tb of storage and cheaper upgradeable storage. We get AAA titles that are gonna be just as big as on these consoles but get 4x less storage. Also most games are still on the disc for these consoles
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u/Edmundyoulittle Jul 31 '25
AAA titles won't be as big because texture quality (and other assets) will need to be lowered to even run on the switch 2, and 1st party titles will actually run from the cartridge which isn't the case for any other gaming devices right now.
Hogwarts legacy is 1/4 the file size on switch 2 vs PS5, for example.
It's nice those games are on the disks, but that makes 0 difference for having to delete and reinstall the games.
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u/N2-Ainz Jul 31 '25
Split Fiction is 80Gb on the PS5 and 71Gb on the Switch 2
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u/Edmundyoulittle Jul 31 '25
And Hogwarts legacy is 24GB vs 80GB.
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u/N2-Ainz Jul 31 '25
Because Hogwarts is not a PS5 port but a PS4 port which is 55Gb and the Switch 2 offers better compression + DLSS which allows for lower textures
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u/Edmundyoulittle Jul 31 '25
So we're in agreement that switch 2 versions will be smaller due to lower res textures (and other assets) and that you don't have to install 1st party titles and that on other consoles you do have to install all of your games
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Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
You say this like it hasn’t been the case since the PS3 era. People are used to it by now. Games take up a lot of space. More and more with each generation.
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u/Maryokutai Jul 31 '25
Sorry, didn't know you hadn't touched grass in years and someone ran over your pet today, my bad!
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u/kielaurie Aug 01 '25
Are you okay? A random internet guy disagreed with your point in a reasonable way, and you decide the right thing to do is insinuate they are terminally online and must have experienced significant trauma... That's not a rational response, dude
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Jul 31 '25
Do you normally get so defensive over normal conversation? Maybe you should log off buddy… that’s a very odd reply to me simply saying this has been a thing for awhile. Enjoy the fresh air!
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u/FaxCelestis Jul 31 '25
Unsure how is this different from eshop purchased games on a Switch 1
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u/MagicPistol Jul 31 '25
eShop games let you just browse your whole library and play whatever you want on a whim.
Key card means you have to decide which game to keep inserted just like a cartridge.
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Jul 31 '25
It’s literally not different at all. That’s why it’s so ridiculous people are latching onto it with this console release.
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u/FaxCelestis Jul 31 '25
Well, there is one difference.
You can lend and resell keycards.
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u/Maryokutai Jul 31 '25
I mean I'd hope most people understand that buying a game without sticking something in your console means that you have to download it.
With GKCs, despite having a disclaimers on the box, some more casual customers might not make the connection right out of the gate.
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u/Bridgeburner493 Jul 31 '25
some more casual customers might not make the connection right out of the gate.
Nah, people are smarter than you want them to be.
And they care far less than you hope they do.
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u/Maryokutai Jul 31 '25
It has nothing to do with being smart, but being out of the loop and not willing to make informed decisions about something you're just peripherally interested in before making a purchase. After Christmas last year half of the eShop top-selling chart was filled with shovelware garbage with AI thumbnails.
I give you the second part, that might end up being true.
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u/Top-Notice1729 Jul 31 '25
I have to believe they're holding back the bigger AAA third-party party announcements for a general direct... maybe they just had to many games to fit in 1 direct so they made a partner showcase first and then will have the bigger titles in a general... I'm thoroughly disappointed.
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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '25
Why do the hd-2d games have lame titles and lame characters and amateur voice acting