Fans of Nintendo have a lot to look forward to in 2022. Long-anticipated games from Bayonetta 3 to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 are slated to finally arrive on the Switch. At the same time, there are some newer but equally exciting Nintendo announcements to look forward to, including Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Splatoon 3. Both of those games intend to introduce innovative new mechanics and lore that could really freshen up their respective franchises. Of course, for a lot of these titles, fans don't have release dates. That means Nintendo needs to arrange a Nintendo Direct that can share some or all of the information that Switch users are waiting for.
Luckily, a reputable source has claimed that there's a Nintendo Direct just around the corner. Samus Hunter, a well-known insider with a long-standing reputation of accurately predicting information and events related to Nintendo content, recently claimed that there's a Nintendo Direct on the way, which would line up with Nintendo's Direct release habits. Considering everything that Nintendo still has to cover, a Direct released sometime in the next few weeks would be the perfect way for the company to start off its 2022, letting fans know what to expect in the coming year.
Samus Hunter's Nintendo Direct Claims
Aside from a reputation for accurate leaks, Samus Hunter seems reputable in claiming that a Nintendo Direct is coming soon in part because Samus Hunter mentions a very specific window in which it'll release. According to the leaker, the next Nintendo Direct will happen before February 17. The first Direct of 2020 took place on February 17 as well and covered games releasing in the first half of that year, but it sounds like Nintendo wants to get release dates for early 2022 titles like Kirby and the Forgotten Land out sooner rather than later.
It's also worth noting that Samus Hunter recently claimed to have inside information about upcoming Amiibo releases and Nintendo game release dates. Aside from claiming that Breath of the Wild 2 will release in the fall of 2022, echoing a similar window potentially leaked last December, Samus Hunter says that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Amiibo for Min Min, Steve, and Alex will release in late March and early April. What's more, the leaker believes that Splatoon 3 will release by June 2022. If those claims are accurate, then a Nintendo Direct in January or February that confirms that information would make perfect sense, given the timing.
Nintendo's Usual Direct Schedule
While Samus Hunter's reputation is valuable, the insider's seemingly detailed information isn't all that backs up the Nintendo Direct release claims. Ever since 2012, Nintendo has released at least one Direct in either January or February. In many years, those months have shared two or three Directs instead of just one, meaning January and February historically make up a prime season for Nintendo announcements. The company may have been short on traditional Nintendo Directs in 2020, but it got back on the horse in 2021, meaning 2022 is bound to follow usual Nintendo Direct release patterns.
For now, fans will simply have to wait and see if Nintendo announces any events, but there's definitely cause for optimism thanks to Samus Hunter and the usual Nintendo Direct pattern. Samus Hunter seems to believe that the event will happen sometime in early February, but says that it's possible that January will feature a Nintendo Direct too. Either way, the mere thought that announcements are around the corner should comfort fans. Nintendo's 2022 already looks very bright, but once there are some proper release dates on its biggest games, the year will only get brighter for Switch users everywhere.
