For the first time since September 2016, Nintendo has not hosted a Direct for the month of September. There was a Nintendo Partner Showcase and Indie World in August, but neither showcase revolved around Nintendo's upcoming game offerings. Why there wasn't is anyone's guess — but it could range from having nothing to show to the company being too busy behind the scenes with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, which will take place before March 31, 2025 .
This doesn't mean there won't be a Nintendo Direct before the end of the year, but for whatever reason Nintendo couldn't host one in the month it has consistently debuted a big show for the past 8 years. Last September's Nintendo Direct then was 2023, where Nintendo showed off games that the expected remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year DoorPrincess Peach Showtimeand the second wave of Splatoon 3 DLC, among many, many others.
In theory, Nintendo could shadow release a Nintendo Direct on September 30th. This story will be updated if so; however, it feels incredibly unlikely at this point. If Nintendo did it would make it the latest September Direct to happen so far when the vast majority of them have happened around the middle of the month.
Traditionally, these Nintendo Directs are the last big showcase of the year for the Big N. There have been cases where an Indie World, Mobile Direct, or a Direct for Super Nintendo World has taken place yesterday, but not a first-party headline show. . Maybe Indie World in August would make way for a bigger Nintendo Direct later this year, but that's pure speculation. All fans can do now is wait for Nintendo to come forward and announce an event, if there is one this year of course. It seems unlikely that there won't be some sort of major first-party Nintendo Direct this year, but this is officially uncharted territory.
List of September Nintendo Directs
- September 14, 2023 – Focused on the 2023 Winter Games
- September 13, 2022
- 23 September 2021
- September 3 and September 17, 2020 – Super Mario 35th Anniversary, Monster Hunter and Partner Showcase
- September 4, 2019 – Focus on Pokemon Sword and Shield & Luigi's Mansion 3. There was also a Mr. Sakurai Presents for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Sep 13, 2018 – Nintendo Switch and 3DS Games
- September 13, 2017 – Focused on Super Mario Odyssey and Xenoblade Chronicles 2
- September 1, 2016
The last September without a Nintendo Direct was 2015, meaning this year's absence breaks an 8-year streak of events. Of course, if Nintendo wasn't prepared for one, it wouldn't make sense for the company to force one to just check off September as a box. Nintendo may even return to normal next year with a Direct in September 2025, but it will be more doubtful than it has been for the past 8 years.
Of all the possible explanations, the one that makes the most sense is that Nintendo is in full swing preparing the Nintendo Switch 2. Fans can be indulgent in that case, as many of the Switch 2 leaks sound incredibly promising. Time will tell, but at least this era in Nintendo's history has come to an end.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid portable and home console that aims to be the only gaming system anyone needs. The hybrid controller is an undisputed success as it provides a high degree of portable visual quality and easily transforms into a home console.
- Stamp
- Nintendo
- Battery
- 1 lithium polymer batteries required
- Measure
- 13.7 x 7.8 x 3.66 inches
- Weight
- 2.65 pounds
