Every few months, Nintendo hosts special Nintendo Direct presentations where it gives fans a look at some of the upcoming games in development for its Switch console. While the general format of Nintendo Directs have changed recently, they still exist in some form, and it seems likely that Nintendo will be hosting one either in January 2021 or February 2021, if past years are any indication.
Nintendo has yet to announce when it will host its next Nintendo Direct presentation, but whenever it does take place, Nintendo should go all out. Right now, there aren't many Nintendo Switch exclusive games with dates on the calendar, leaving fans to wonder about what they have to look forward to this year.
Here is how Nintendo can make the first Nintendo Direct of 2021 one to remember.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Updates
One of the biggest video game releases of 2020 was undoubtedly Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Nintendo Switch. A smash sales success, Animal Crossing: New Horizons earned critical acclaim as well and remains intensely popular to this day. Nintendo has managed to maintain a consistent audience with Animal Crossing: New Horizons thanks to the game's regular content updates, which have added new items, characters, gameplay mechanics, and more.
Nintendo has already said that more Animal Crossing: New Horizons updates are coming this year, but it remains to be seen what they will entail. It's possible that future Animal Crossing: New Horizons updates will stay holiday themed and fans will get a Valentine's Day event, but it's also possible that the updates will be a little bit more outside of the box. But while these free content updates are no doubt appreciated by the community, some may be hungry for something more substantial.
For 2021, maybe Nintendo could prepare a full-fledged Animal Crossing: New Horizons DLC expansion that adds a significant chunk of new content to the game all at once. This would be virtually unprecedented for the Animal Crossing franchise, and it remains to be seen what form it could take. However, this could keep Animal Crossing: New Horizons enthusiasts dedicated to the game even longer, and it would definitely make for an exciting Nintendo Direct announcement.
Anniversary Plans
Nintendo has a couple of big anniversaries in 2021, and it will most likely be looking to celebrate them in a manner similar to the way it celebrated Super Mario's 35th anniversary in 2020. 2021 marks the 35th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda franchise, so the first Nintendo Direct could detail exactly how Nintendo is going to celebrate. If the Super Mario anniversary is any indication, this could include re-releases of some classic Zelda games for the Switch, as well as some other, creative Zelda-themed merchandise.
Another big video game anniversary in 2021 is the Pokemon franchise, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. There have already been rumors about Pokemon's anniversary plans, with various sources claiming that they will include the long-awaited Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes. Meanwhile, it seems likely that the previously-revealed New Pokemon Snap will also be featured as part of the Pokemon franchise's 25th anniversary celebration, though that's just speculation at this time.
New Game Announcements
One of the most exciting things about Nintendo Direct presentations is the potential for them to announce new video games. The first Nintendo Direct of 2021 should come out swinging with big new game announcements that give Nintendo fans a better idea of what they can look forward to throughout the year. Maybe long-rumored games like the 2D Metroid will be announced, or maybe the announcements could consist of brand new titles that no one has heard of before.
New Looks at Previously Announced Games
Nintendo has quite a few major video games already announced for the Nintendo Switch - it just hasn't shown them in awhile. This includes some huge Nintendo Switch exclusives like Bayonetta 3, Metroid Prime 4, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, all of which are confirmed to be in active development, but haven't been seen much since they were initially announced. The first Nintendo Direct of 2021 could leave a lasting impression by giving fans long-awaited updates on these games, even if the updates consists of nothing more than a new teaser trailer and reaffirmation that they are indeed in the pipeline.
This would also include new looks at previously-announced third-party games that are coming to the Nintendo Switch. One of the most notable of these is Monster Hunter Rise, and while Capcom has plans to showcase Monster Hunter Rise in its own digital event this month, the game would also be right at home in a proper Nintendo Direct presentation. Another notable third-party game that many fans would like to see more of is Shin Megami Tensei 5, which is expected to launch at some point later this year.
Switch Pro
Rumors have persisted that Nintendo is working on a Nintendo Switch hardware revision, oftentimes referred to as the Switch Pro. The Switch Pro has not been confirmed by Nintendo in an official capacity, but information about it has leaked from credible sources. According to the reports, the Switch Pro will be a mid-life upgrade not unlike the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X, and it will feature improved specs and a 4K resolution screen. Revealing the Switch Pro as part of its first Nintendo Direct of 2021 would be a bombshell announcement, but Nintendo may actually prefer to have a Direct dedicated entirely to the new hardware instead. Regardless, if the Switch Pro console is launching this year as rumored, one has to imagine that the official announcement will be happening sooner rather than later.
