The first Nintendo Direct of the year was held on February 8 with a multitude of announcements and news across a 40-minute broadcast. The event brought some pleasant surprises, alongside some familiar faces and Nintendo games fully expected to appear.
The Nintendo Switch now faces its seventh year on sale, with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom as the centerpiece, although this presentation shows that there are many other interesting games on the horizon. Nintendo confirmed release dates, presented additional content for games such as Splatoon 3 and Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and unveiled services such as the inclusion of Game Boy games on Nintendo Switch Online, among others.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
The big highlight of the Direct was the new trailer for the highly anticipated sequel to Zelda: Breath of the Wild. At no point did Nintendo hint that it was going to show The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but it was pretty obvious that the game would star in the show. In the trailer presented during the event, new powers, enemies, dungeons, and even new vehicles can be seen.
Nintendo reiterated that Link's greatest adventure will be released on May 12, 2023, and presented the collector's edition that will have an art book, poster, steelbook, and four pins. To accompany the game, the company presented a new commemorative amiibo with Link that will offer a new paraglider look and will grant users with materials and weapons when scanned.
Pikmin 4
After a long time since the last installment, Pikmin 4 reappears with a large batch of new features, and a colorful look. In a new gameplay trailer, it has been announced that Pikmin will return on July 21 this year on Nintendo Switch. The video starts off showing cute cinematics with adorable music, but soon turns into gameplay loaded with action. This game will include new Pikmin and mechanics, so it aims to be a very innovative title for those who have been waiting years for the release of this installment.
Samba De Amigo: Party Central
The Nintendo Direct also announced the return of Sega's fast-paced rhythm IP. Samba de Amigo: Party Central will arrive sometime this summer exclusively for Nintendo Switch. The game will feature a playlist that includes 40 top hits from the world's most popular genres, such as EDM, pop and Latin, among many more. It will also include a wide range of mini-games and challenges, plenty of accessories and outfits to unlock and equip, and new online features, such as the 8-player World Party mode.
Sea Of Stars
Indie games have found a real stronghold on Nintendo Switch, and one of those that should be followed will arrive on August 29: Sea of Stars. In this retro-inspired turn-based role-playing title, players will traverse the world, meet a variety of characters and take down the bad guys by attacking at just the right time. A demo is available right now for players to start combining the power of the Sun and the Moon.
Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp
After a long delay, Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp is coming to Nintendo Switch. Nintendo has announced that the final release date will be April 21, 2023. The remake of the first two titles of the Advance Wars saga for Nintendo Switch was announced at the Nintendo Direct at E3 2021, and after a delay, it was to be released on April 8 of last year, but the release was postponed due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In addition to a visual upgrade, this revision of Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2 will add local and online multiplayer, as well as the ability to design maps and share them with other players.
Metroid Prime Remastered
The long-awaited remaster of Metroid Prime, originally released on GameCube, is finally confirmed on Switch. The digital version of the title is already available in the eShop, although the physical version will not be released until February 22. Players explore Tallon IV, and Samus can repel the attacks of hostile beasts thanks to rays, missiles and bombs, among other weapons. The game features HD graphics, improved sound, panoramic format, and new dual stick controls.
Professor Layton And The New World Of Steam
Level-5 had a presence at this event with three different games, and one of its most notable announcements was the return of the beloved puzzle adventure saga with Professor Layton and The New World of Steam. At the moment, it is not known when the title will be released, nor are there many other details, but players will presumably solve new puzzles with the professor once again.
Nintendo Switch Online: Game Boy And Game Boy Advance
Nintendo Switch's online subscription service has added the catalogs of the Game Boy and Game Boy Color handhelds, including nine classics. These are Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Link's Awakening DX, Tetris, Gargoyle's Quest, Game & Watch Gallery 3, Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, Metroid 2: Return of Samus, Wario Land 3, and Kirby's Dream Land. Additional games will be added in the future, including Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, available with the basic Nintendo Switch Online subscription, and all titles that had multiplayer will be playable online or wirelessly.
Expansion Pack subscribers will also have access to the first batch of Game Boy Advance games, namely Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$, Kuru Kuru Kururin, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. More games will be added in the future, including Metroid Fusion, F-Zero, and Golden Sun.
Other Games At The Nintendo Direct
Game Boy content aside, a wide variety of other games made an appearance at the Nintendo Direct. Nintendo marked tons of other games on 2023's calendar:
- WBSC eBaseball: Power Pros (now available)
- Blanc (February 14)
- Tales of Symphonia Remastered (February 17)
- Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (February 24)
- Octopath Traveler 2 (February 24)
- Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (March 17)
- Have a Nice Death (March 22)
- Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection (April 14)
- Minecraft Legends (April 18)
- Omega Strikers (April 27)
- Tron: Identity (April)
- Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection (June 1)
- We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie (June 2)
- Disney Illusion Island (July 28)
- Master Detective Files: Rain Code (June 30)
- Harmony: The Fall of Reverie (June 2023)
- Phantom Trick: Phantom Detective (Summer 2023)
- Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 HD Remaster (Summer 2023)
- Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (2023)
- Fashion Dreamer (2023)
- Deca Police (2023)
New DLCs and Updates For Nintendo Switch Games
Last but not least, Nintendo has broken down the contents of the Switch's ongoing games. That includes new additions to its RPGs and expansions with which fans will be racking up hours in Splatoon 3 or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe:
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass will receive the third batch of content on February 15, and it has been confirmed that the fourth will be available later this year.
- Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass - Inkopolis & Side Order is a new pass with two DLCs. The first wave, Inkopolis, arrives in spring 2023
- Fire Emblem Engage Expansion Pass, the first batch of content for the recently released Fire Emblem Engage can be downloaded today. In addition, all four packs will be available later this year.
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 4 not only features the new track Yoshi's Island, but the addition of new characters has been confirmed for the rest of the DLCs, starting with Birdo herself. The wave launches in spring 2023.
- Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is about to be released: the DLC will arrive on March 6 on Nintendo Switch.
- Disney Dreamlight Valley will receive a new update starring Simba and Nala from The Lion King in April.
In addition to the above announcements, Nintendo has taken the opportunity to announce that many of its most anticipated or imminent release games have already trial versions on the eShop, including the imminent Octopath Traveler 2, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe and Sea of Stars. In addition, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers have access to a free trial period for We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie right now.