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After a week of video game news and trailers from PlayStation, Xbox, and most of the major publishers, Nintendo decided to follow things up with its next Nintendo Direct. And it came at an important moment for the company: the Switch 2 is getting a price hike, and at the same time, the console’s lineup of new games through the end of the year is virtually nonexistent. But now we have a better sense of what to expect through the rest of 2026.
The big news was a remake of Ocarina of Time, which is coming to the Switch 2 this year, although we don’t yet have a specific date. Also notable: Kingdom Hearts IV was teased with a new trailer. It, too, doesn’t have a release date, but it’ll be launching simultaneously on the Switch 2 alongside other platforms like the PS5 and Xbox.
Elsewhere, the next Fire Emblem got a release date, there’s a new Final Fantasy coming this year, and games like Star Fox and Splatoon Raiders continue to look great. If you missed the show live, you can watch it below, and catch up on all of our coverage right here in this stream.
Square Enix teases Kingdom Hearts 4 at Nintendo Direct
A different kind of Sora is back in the news. Square Enix just teased the long-awaited next entry in the Kingdom Hearts series, though there’s not much in the way of info just yet. It’s called Kingdom Hearts IV and it’s launching on the Switch 2, PS5, Xbox, and PC, but there’s no release date in sight. It’s the first all-new entry in the series since KH III in 2019. You can watch the brief new teaser trailer above.
That’s not the only KH-related news from the Nintendo Direct. If you missed out on earlier entries in the series, the first three titles are getting released in a single package for the Switch 2. It’ll be available on October 8th, though you can play a demo of Kingdom Hearts III right now.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is getting a remake for the Switch 2
Some new Joy-Con 2 colors.
Just in time for Splatoon Raiders, Nintendo is launching some new tones for its controllers.
Deltarune’s fifth chapter is nearly here.
It launches on June 24th, and will be a free update. The first four chapters were excellent, so I can’t wait to jump into Chapter 5.
FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods is getting a closed network test this summer.
We still don’t know much about the multiplayer title, but sometime soon, it’s getting some kind of test. It’s going to be an exclusive game for the Switch 2, and it’s set to launch this year.
Do a barrel roll into today’s Star Fox demo.
Is thumb wrestling a sport?
According to Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, a new sports game from Nintendo, it is. The game also includes sports like tennis, table tennis, archery, volleyball, golf, skateboarding, and, of course, bowling. It’s launching on October 22nd for Nintendo Switch 2.
That’s a lot of Xenoblade.
In addition to teasing the next game in the sci-fi RPG series — called Xenoblade Genesis, and launching in 2027 — Nintendo also announced that three past Xenoblade titles are getting enhanced Switch 2 editions. The first is available today, XC2 launches on July 30th, and XC3 is out on December 3rd.
Nintendo is adding challenges to Donkey Kong games.
If you’re a Nintendo Switch Online member, try them out starting today. They’ll be available through September 1st.
In case you missed out on Devil May Cry 5.
One of the best action games of the last decade is coming to the Switch 2 on June 23rd.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave finally has a release date.
After being announced last September, Nintendo will finally release the next mainline Fire Emblem game on September 17th for Switch 2. In a new trailer, Nintendo also went into detail on the four main characters and teased some of the game’s story.
Yo ho ho he took a bite of gum-gum.
One Piece: Grand Gourmet has you cooking and managing a restaurant with the help of the Straw Hats. I’m not caught up on all 1,000-plus episodes of One Piece, but I think Sanji will forgive me. It’ll be available on the Switch and Switch 2 on October 23rd.
Under the sea.
Pokopia is getting a free update in August that introduces underwater spaces to explore and build in. Meanwhile, Nintendo is also launching a multipart expansion pass of paid updates, the first of which also drops in August.
Big Walk is launching on August 4th, and it’s coming to the Nintendo Switch 2.
Based on my demo I got to play earlier this year, the proximity chat-based co-op multiplayer game from the makers of Untitled Goose Game should be a good time. It will also launch on PS5 and Steam on the same day.
Another big RPG is coming to the Switch 2.
Dragon’s Dogma 2, a Capcom game designed for complete sickos (complimentary), is out on Nintendo hardware on October 9th.
Groovy.
Nintendo showed a bunch of new footage of Rhythm Heaven Groove, including a mode where you play RPG-like battles as well as some multiplayer games. Looks great. It launches on July 2nd for Nintendo Switch, and it’s playable on Switch 2 as well.
A little pre-show surprise.
Ahead of this morning’s Nintendo Direct, Square Enix announced some unexpected news: The remaster of Final Fantasy X / X-2 is on the way to the Switch 2, launching on July 23rd.
Nintendo news direct from the source.
It’s almost time for Nintendo to tell us just what’s up with the Switch 2 over the second half of the year. You can tune in live at 10AM ET.
Nintendo’s next Direct showcase is on June 9th
Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Summer Game Fest may be over, but the flood of gaming news isn’t. Nintendo just announced that it’ll be holding its next Direct showcase event on June 9th at 10AM ET. The stream, which you can find here, will be followed by a Treehouse Live event, and it sounds like it’ll be pretty lengthy. “The Nintendo Direct will be roughly 50 minutes and Nintendo Treehouse: Live will be 95 minutes,” the company says.
There’s no word yet on exactly what to expect, but this is likely to be a major showcase for Nintendo, given how quiet the back half of the year is for the company’s release calendar. There are a handful of major Switch 2 games coming up — Star Fox (June 25th), Rhythm Heaven Groove (July 2nd), and Splatoon Raiders (July 23rd) — but nothing currently beyond that. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is also slated for 2026, but doesn’t currently have a release date, while the next Pokémon isn’t launching until next year.
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