Nintendo Switch owners are set to hear about new games heading to the hugely popular system during a Nintendo Direct for September 2018.
The Japanese gaming giant today revealed that a Nintendo Direct will be broadcast online on Thursday September 6.
Upcoming Nintendo Switch games as well as 3DS titles will be showcased during the 35 minute long Nintendo Direct.
The official Nintendo UK Twitter account tweeted: “At 23:00 (UK time) on 06/09, watch a new #NintendoDirect presentation, lasting approximately 35 minutes, for info about upcoming #NintendoSwitch and #3DS titles!”.
The games Nintendo are about to reveal during their Nintendo Direct remains a mystery.
But the Japanese gaming giant could have a few big surprises in store for Nintendo Switch fans.
After E3 2018 Tatsumi Kimishima – during his last shareholders meeting as President – said Nintendo’s full 2018 line-up had not been revealed.
If Nintendo saved a few announcements for this upcoming Direct that could have been revealed during E3 then fans could be in for a real treat.
Ahead of the upcoming Nintendo Direct Express.co.uk has taken a look at a few unannounced games that could get announced for the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo Direct – Nintendo Switch fans will soon find out about new games heading to the system (Image: NINTENDO • SQUARE ENIX • BANDAI NAMCO)
NINTENDO DIRECT – ANIMAL CROSSING
One popular Nintendo series absent on the Switch is Animal Crossing, with the last main game in the series – A New Leaf – released back in 2012 on the 3DS.
The Wii U did have an Animal Crossing game called Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival which was not well received by fans or critics.
While last year free-to-download mobile game Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp launched on iOS and Android.
Fans were left disappointed when a new Animal Crossing game was not announced at E3 2018 for the Switch.
Could it be that the House of Mario were holding the reveal back for a big announcement during a Nintendo Direct later on?
Nintendo Direct – Animal Crossing is one high profile Nintendo series not on the Switch (Image: NINTENDO)
NINTENDO DIRECT – FINAL FANTASY LEAK AND PHOENIX WRIGHT SWITCH
Two hugely popular Japanese gaming series could be coming to the Switch.
An icon for an HD version of Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition appeared on the PlayStation Store UK.
But when PS4 fans clicked on the icon it brought up an error message saying the “content cannot be selected at this time”.
It has sparked rumours that Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition HD could also be coming to the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One.
Nintendo Direct – Could a Final Fantasy game be heading to the Nintendo Switch? (Image: SQUARE ENIX)
The last mainline Final Fantasy game to appear on a Nintendo home console was back during the SNES days.
So it would be a huge coup for Nintendo if the series returns on the Switch.
Elsewhere rumours have been sparked that a Phoenix Wright Switch game could be in the works.
Market researcher and video game podcaster Stealth recently gave their predictions for the Tokyo Game Show.
And one of the announcements that Stealth predicted was a debut trailer getting revealed for a new Phoenix Wright game on the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo Direct – A Phoenix Wright game is rumoured to be in the works for the Nintendo Switch (Image: CAPCOM)
NINTENDO DIRECT – RIDGE RACER 8
Earlier this year rumours were sparked that drift racing king Ridge Racer would be making a return on the Nintendo Switch.
In February a Bandai Namco employee updated their LinkedIn page to say they were working on Ridge Racer 8 which was a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
The information came courtesy of Bandai Namco Singapore Studios’ lead designer Shawn Pitman.
His LinkedIn page at the time listed one project he was working on as “Ridge Racer 8 (Drift-based High Speed Car Racing Exclusive to the Nintendo Switch”.
Nintendo Direct – A Ridge Racer is game is rumoured to be in development for the Switch (Image: BANDAI NAMCO)
There has been no official word on Ridge Racer 8 from either Nintendo or Bandai Namco.
The last Ridge Racer game was Ridge Racer Unbounded, released in 2012 on PS3, Xbox 360 and PCs.
But that game was developed by FlatOut developers Bugbear Entertainment.
If you’re looking for the last Ridge Racer game made by Bandai Namco, you have to go all the way back to Ridge Racer 7 on the PS3.
That was released in Japan in 2006 and in PAL regions in 2007.
Could the rumoured new Ridge Racer for the Nintendo Switch get confirmed during the upcoming Nintendo Direct?
Nintendo Direct – It’s claimed the new Ridge Racer is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch (Image: BANDAI NAMCO)
NINTENDO DIRECT – POKEMON ULTRA SUN AND ULTRA MOON PORT
Another rumoured Switch game that is allegedly in the works is a new Pokemon game separate to Pokemon Let’s Go and the new mainline series entry coming in 2019.
It’s been claimed an Amazon listing, which was taken down after going up, could indicate two 3DS Pokemon games are getting ported to the Switch.
As revealed in a post by Twitter user @CrocOclock, three unannounced Nintendo Switch games were in August listed by Amazon.
One of them had the Pokemon logo next to it and was labelled as ‘Switch Title 23 – (Nintendo 3DS)’.
Nintendo Direct – 3DS Pokemon ports for the Switch could have been leaked (Image: NINTENDO)
The other, which also featured a Pokemon logo as its cover image, was called ‘Switch Title 30 – (Nintendo 3DS)’.
There previously were rumours that Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon could be getting Switch ports.
Since those rumours came about Nintendo have released updated versions of these titles on the 3DS – Pokemon Ultra Sun and Pokemon Ultra Moon.
These titles were released last November and seem the most likely 3DS titles to get ported to the Switch if that is what Nintendo are planning.
Nintendo Direct – Could a new Castlevania game be coming to the Nintendo Switch? (Image: KONAMI)
NINTENDO DIRECT – WHAT OTHER GAMES COULD GET ANNOUNCED?
Nintendo are rumoured to have a new Star Fox game up their sleeves which could get revealed during the upcoming Nintendo Direct.
The rumoured title is allegedly called Star Fox Grand Prix and is reportedly being developed by Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze developers Retro Studios.
The rumour mill claims the Star Fox racer will either be in the vein of F-Zero or, alternatively, more like Wipeout – with players able to shoot other crafts as they race.
Also, Nintendo made a big splash announcing Metroid Prime 4 and Bayonetta 3 during E3 2017.
But since then it’s all gone quiet on news about these two titles.
Nintendo Direct – A Star Fox racing game is rumoured to be in the works (Image: NINTENDO)
Another title Switch fans haven’t heard much about in a while is Yoshi’s upcoming solo outing, which has been delayed until 2019.
Could Nintendo reveal more about these titles during the September Nintendo Direct?
Nintendo have also had a lot of success with Wii U ports on the Switch and there’s still a treasure trove of games that could make the jump.
Titles such as Wind Waker and Twilight Princess HD, New Super Mario Bros U, Mario Maker, Tokyo Mirage Sessions and Wii Sports Club are yet to be ported.
It’s surely a matter of time until some of these games join other Wii U ports on the Switch such as Captain Toad and Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze.
Elsewhere, it has also been rumoured that a new Castlevania game could be in the works – with the addition of Simon Belmont to Smash Bros maybe a sign of things to come.
• If you want to watch the Nintendo Direct for September 2018 online then click here to be directed to the page you need to visit to live stream it