Nintendo Direct Is Back — But This One’s Not About Mario

Nintendo has officially announced its next big presentation, and it’s set to air tomorrow, July 31. But don’t expect Mario or Zelda to show up — this one's a Partner Showcase, which means it’s all about third-party games heading to the Nintendo Switch and the new Switch 2. The broadcast is scheduled for 6am PT/ 9am ET/ 2pm BST and will run for around 25 minutes.

In this showcase, Nintendo’s not playing the star. Instead, it’s giving the spotlight to its publishing partners. That means more news on games like Borderlands 4, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, Little Nightmares 3, and others already confirmed for the Switch 2.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the hybrid console’s long transition into its second generation, this kind of third-party attention is a good sign. Despite the shadow of legal tension in headlines like our earlier story “ Palworld Still Going Strong Despite Nintendo Lawsuit ”, the pipeline for games on both current and next-gen hardware is still going strong — and growing.

This Direct probably won’t include any fresh details on first-party heavy hitters. Nintendo has already shared what’s coming soon: Drag x Drive lands on August 14, followed by a Switch 2 edition of Kirby and the Forgotten Land on August 28. October brings Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which will release on both current Switch consoles. And while fans are still waiting on solid dates for Kirby Air Riders and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, they’re not expected to pop up here.

Instead, the real weight of this showcase rests with studios outside the Nintendo bubble. You’ll hear more about games like Madden NFL 26, Star Wars Outlaws, NBA 2K26, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, and EA Sports FC 26 — all with launch dates already locked between August and October. Also in the wings are projects like Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, and Hades 2 — none of which have firm dates yet but are expected to make some noise in this update.

It’s a reminder that Nintendo’s next generation isn’t just about internal franchises. While the company still treasures its classics — we’ve written about how even Donkey Kong’s past puzzle platformers were once creative risks — the Switch 2 appears to be launching with a broader scope.

It’s also a good moment to look at how Nintendo has shifted strategy when under pressure. As we covered in “ Nintendo’s Cold Shoulder: Why They Ignore You When You’re Mad ”, the company is known for keeping tight control over its messaging and not responding to online backlash or speculation. Choosing a Partner Showcase lets them sidestep expectations for big reveals and instead build hype around third-party strength.

And that third-party push includes more than just outside developers. Splatoon Raiders, a new spin-off announced last month, is technically first-party but feels like a genre experiment. It's an adventure game starring mechanics, set on a mysterious island chain, with characters from the series' Deep Cut trio. The game’s visuals are getting a boost thanks to Switch 2’s hardware, and its related Splatoon 3 update already went live earlier in July with new weapons, returning maps, and tighter matchmaking tied to player skill.

Nintendo’s keeping their bigger first-party cards close to the chest — like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, which still doesn’t have a solid release window beyond “late 2025 or early 2026.” But that silence doesn’t mean nothing is happening. What we’re seeing instead is a rollout built around pacing, third-party diversity, and technical polish for the long road ahead.

Whether or not tomorrow’s showcase drops a surprise or two, it’s going to be a big update on what’s shaping up to be a jam-packed few months for Switch and Switch 2 owners. The next stage of Nintendo’s console strategy starts now — even if Mario and Link sit this one out.