Nintendo Announces A January Direct Focused On Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream

Just days after its showcase for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, I saw Nintendo announce another dedicated presentation. A new Nintendo Direct is scheduled for this Thursday, Jan. 29. The broadcast begins at 6 a.m. PST/9 a.m. EST. I will be watching on the company's official YouTube and Twitch channels. This upcoming event is set to run for approximately 20 minutes. Nintendo has confirmed it will be dedicated entirely to one of its most anticipated games, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, the sequel to the quirky 3DS life simulator.

I recall the game was first revealed during the Nintendo Direct in September 2025, an event that highlighted titles still coming to the original Switch. This new game is a direct follow-up to Tomodachi Life, which I played on the Nintendo 3DS back in 2014. It offers a very different style of island simulation. Players are put in charge of an island inhabited by the Mii characters they create. These can be based on friends, family, or anyone the player designs. It involves setting their personalities and voices, then watching their daily lives, unique interactions, and cultivated friendships unfold on the island.

"On a small island floating in the sea, Mii characters live their own carefree lives. You’re in charge of this island, so create anyone you’d like to live here as Mii characters, like ones based on friends, family and even yourself! Then, choose their personality and voice, and help your Mii characters enjoy their island life however they see fit. You can see what’s on their minds, help them solve problems, watch them interact, cultivate their friendships and more."

— Nintendo

The game is currently scheduled for a spring 2026 release window. I fully expect this week's presentation to finally provide a specific launch date. Since Living the Dream has only been announced for the original Switch console so far, there is also a strong possibility of news regarding a version for the Nintendo Switch 2. The community is watching to see if the sequel will be a cross-generation release. This would expand its availability to the newer hardware, but nothing has been confirmed on that front yet.

Read also, while Resident Evil fans await next month's Resident Evil Requiem, it appears that recent remakes from the series are being rumored for the Nintendo Switch 2.