Topic: Next Nintendo Direct?

@Bolt_Strike Let me alter my stance a bit: I think 2D Mario isn't as big of a system seller on it's own as it used to be. People picked up the Switch at launch for BotW and BotW alone; a 2D Mario would have to be very groundbreaking and genre defining for a 2D platformer to be able to do the same I think.

In conjunction with other heavy hitters though? Then yeah it could push hardware sales.

On a side note, I think 2D Zelda is worth mentioning as a potential candidate for the launch year along the others you mentioned. It's been nearly 4 years since Link's Awakening and nearly 10 since the last brand new entry (ALBW).

There's a chance in might be, if they have the right idea. 2D Mario (and 2D platformers in general) really needs that sort of groundbreaking and genre defining experience because they've become so stale and repetitive lately. If they can come up with a way to somehow push the boundaries of 2D platforming they should and probably will go for it.

I do think 2D Zelda has a chance at being a launch year title (I also think Yoshi and DK do for that matter). I'm just not sure they'll be big system sellers. 2D Zeldas have only really sold about 4-6 million whereas the IPs I mentioned have all cracked 10+ million, and I don't think 2D Zelda will crack that range without a similarly groundbreaking genre-defining new entry. 2D Zelda, DK, and Yoshi are kind of in a tier below the other IPs I mentioned, a decent chunk of the fanbase will buy them, but they probably won't be the primary reason they buy the console, the IPs I mentioned sell at least twice as much so they're bigger draws.

Given that Nintendo hasn’t supposed 2 of the same type of system (home or handheld) at the same time since SNES and N64, I predict the new console will launch holiday 2024, right after the promised 2 years of support for Splatoon 3 wrap up in September and not long after TOTK’s dlc is done (I’m guessing that game will be complete almost a year after it’s release, similar to BOTW)

My guess is the 2 big launch titles will be the next 3D Mario, (following the rumored 2D one this year) and Metroid Prime 4, which will launch on both as the switch’s true swan song. Metroid Prime 4 will be teased at this week’s direct (the last “big one” for switch,) get some nice details at an otherwise low key September direct, receive some independent info during a direct-less winter 2024 (the new console will get a reveal trailer instead) and then get a final blowout alongside everything else planned for the next gen’s debut year in a meaty summer direct.

Of course this is all just speculation, but I really do think we have one more solid direct with a few good surprises before things really quiet down for a little bit.

Would be great to have another 'shadow drop' akin to the MP Remaster announcement from the previous direct....

There is something really great about this kind of marketing - "Here is news on an exciting project we've had in development that you had no idea about. BTW - it will be available this evening for download"

Old school Zelda port/s perhaps?

I got $50 in eshop cred from fathers day. A direct this week with some shadow drops would be very welcome.

I hope we get a remake of Eathbound that looks like it's manual. But there are tons of SNES games I would like to see reimagined (it's my second fave console after Switch now.) F-Zero, Chrono Trigger, Shadowrun (although Microsoft own that licence - man, they own everything these days...)