A long running sort of ironic Xenoblade theory has finally been laid to rest thanks to today's Nintendo Direct. The canon child of one of Xenoblade 2's main heroes has been unveiled, and it's not the crusty villain that much of the fanbase had been willing it to be.

A fresh trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles 3's Nintendo Switch 2 Edition was shown off today, highlighting more of the Heroes' Vault mode, which sees you take on waves of enemies while grabbing upgrades as you go, be it for your abilities or to bring new allies into the fray.

More excitingly, though, we've been given our first glimpse of the JRPG's upcoming new Hero. Her name is Shimmer – she's got blonde hair, a white outfit, and the Foresight ability… sound familiar?

We're going to get into some spoilers now for a revelation that comes at the end of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – as well as a rather obvious observation about its Future Redeemed DLC – so proceed with caution.

At the end of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, we see a photo of an aged-up Xenoblade 2 cast, including protagonist Rex standing behind Pyra, Mythra, and Nia – each holding a child, with the implication that he's the father of all three. We meet Pyra and Rex's daughter, Glimmer, in the Future Redeemed DLC, and it's quite widely accepted that 3's co-lead Mio is most likely Nia's daughter, too. But what about the remaining blonde baby we see Mythra holding?

Well, with no concrete answers up to this point, fans have been… creative, with their theories. Perhaps the most common – though how seriously it's believed varies from person to person – is that it's one of Xenoblade 3's villains, Dirk, otherwise known as Consul D. He's, uh, not a nice guy. Even before becoming one of the Moebius (you know, the bad guys you're fighting for the entire game), he was a twisted, sadistic soldier. So what's the evidence of him being related to good guys Rex and Mythra?

He's blonde, I guess? There is a bit more to it than that, actually – folks have also pointed out before that he and Rex share similar ear shapes and facial hair, and have names with comparable meanings. Dirk is also lacking a significantly expanded backstory unlike many of the other baddies in the JRPG, leaving some to wonder if it connected to this larger plot point. For many, it's been more of a meme than anything – after all, he's hardly a likeable character, so willing it to be true is more funny than anything else.

Anyway, today, all of that has been debunked, and fans are mixed on the outcome. "Dirk Mythra kid truthers it's so over," one writes on Twitter, as another responds: "We fought hard it was a good run."

Others, however, are more welcoming of Shimmer's existence: "Finally that fuckass theory of dirk as mythra kid is disproven," one says. Another writes: "Thank God Shimmer finally exists because I was tired of the whole Dirk is Mythra kid BS Theory."

I, for one, am also accepting of Shimmer as our official Mythra Kid. Honestly, my only real problem is with her name. You're telling me that Rex really looked at two of his newborn children and said, "Yeah, that one can be called Glimmer and the other can be Shimmer"? …Actually, yeah, that tracks.

Xenoblade Genesis is coming in 2027, and it looks very different to Monolith Soft's last JRPG trilogy.

Today's Nintendo Direct showcase gave us a sneak peek at some exciting new games underway for the Switch 2, including none other than Kirby and the World Beyond.

It looks like a stunning little entry to Nintendo's 34-year-old series, standing as its second 3D entry after Kirby and the Forgotten Land – a title that itself launched a few years back in 2022 for the original Switch console.

Not only is it as visually vibrant and cozy as you'd expect a Kirby title to be (especially a 3D one after Forgotten Land's colorful debut), but Kirby and the World Beyond is also seemingly an open-world game. As per its trailer, it allows players to "freely explore" – so, yeah... I'm thinking it is indeed an open-world Kirby experience.

If so, it'll be the first of its kind. Sure, Kirby and the Forgotten Land had "open" areas that definitely felt more free than those in past platformers, but this would take it up a notch... and then some. And the gameplay? It looks as adorably action-packed as always, with inspired 'fit swaps for Kirby and more.

There's not too long left to wait to experience it, either. Kirby and the World Beyond is set to release sometime in the spring of 2027, which is just months away now (yes, time is passing that quickly). After all, the end of 2026 is approaching.

You can pre-order Kirby and the World Beyond now over on the Nintendo Store – if you can get through the Ocarina of Time remake queue, that is.

Searching for more to look forward to? Browse through our quick roundup of the best upcoming Switch 2 games arriving this year and beyond to wishlist.

Silent Hill 2 Remake studio and Cronos: The New Dawn creator Bloober Team has officially announced Onyx: The Dark Grip for Switch 2 – formerly known as Project M – at Nintendo Direct September 2026.

Earlier this year, fans had passed whispers about how the developer applied to trademark the title in 2024.

But no one dared to start a rumor ambitious enough to explain how unusual Onyx: The Dark Grip really is – the psychological horror game steeped in fluffy mist is playable exclusively in Switch 2 handheld mode.

The Dark Grip initially looks like a 2.5D Silent Hill game in its Nintendo Direct trailer. Protagonist Holden seems like a tired and unremarkable man, with his face peppered in 8 o'clock shadow and a sensible suede coat on his back, but even mundane aspects of his life are being manipulated by a supernatural force slowly eating all his sanity.

This sounds like it could be Silent Hill 2 and its unhelpful hero James Sunderland all over again – but, this time, the player is that supernatural force. That's right, we've all been offered a new job as Pyramid Head without abs.

"Survive as a vessel and interfere as a god," instructs a Nintendo press release. Onyx: The Dark Grip's trailer disclaims that the game can only be played in the Switch 2's handheld mode, since players will have to use the console's touch screen to perform interventions like unlocking doors, reading NPC minds, and moving objects.

But when you interfere with Holden's reality, he perceives you as a poltergeist, and the world starts to fuzz in shades of gray as he goes fully crazy.

"Play as the mysterious Entity," Nintendo continues, "guiding the actions of a lone traveler who arrives in a desolate ghost town. Manipulate the environment with your supernatural powers, solve puzzles, confront terrifying creatures and don't let your puppet descend into the depths of madness. Blur the line between the game world and reality."

Bloober is good at that – from its 2016 breakout game Layers of Fear to its work on the Silent Hill franchise, the developer favors horror narratives that grab a candlestick to melt the line between art and real, deep-breathing life.

And, while The Dark Grip will be the first Nintendo exclusive for the developer, Bloober CEO Piotr Babieno is a noted fan of Nintendo's few horror games.

"This is a vision that could only exist on Nintendo hardware," Babieno said about Onyx: The Dark Grip in 2025, when the game was known as Project M. He also assured fans of games like Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and 2002 GameCube exclusive Eternal Darkness that they "will immediately feel at home" playing Onyx: The Dark Grip.

Well, let me start packing my things.

Prepare yourself for even more upcoming horror games in 2026 and beyond.

Mario Kart World is getting yet another free content update today, this time adding our first batch of new tracks.

Specifically, courses from Super Mario Kart are being added to the VS Race mode. We see SNES Choco Island 1 and Choco Island 2 now available as options under the standard Choco Mountain track, for example. Vanilla Lake and Ghost Valley are also coming, amongst others, for a total of 10.

Another neat Super Mario Kart nod comes in the form of the ? Panels on the road, which you can drive over to get items.

In addition, two extra Knockout Tour routes are being added, named Propeller Rally and Turnip Rally. There's clearly still more to come, as footage from today's Nintendo Direct still shows four further routes hidden behind question marks, so the devs aren't done supporting the mode.

Although it wasn't mentioned in the Direct itself, Nintendo also states via a press release that a new Spectator Mode has been added for when you're playing with friends online or through LAN play, and now that I'm saying that out loud, I can't believe it wasn't an option from the start. Better late than never, though.

Honestly, though, it's the new tracks that make 1.8.0 Mario Kart World's best update yet. It was always going to be hard for the Switch 2 racer to compete with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which simply has so many more courses to race around, especially with all its DLC, and this thankfully gives World a bit of a boost in the right direction. Hopefully we can expect more in the future.

Be sure to keep up with our Nintendo Direct September 2026 live blog to see everything announced during the show.

Oh Link, you've met with a terrible fate. You might not be a Deku Scrub, but you are absolutely lost in the uncanny valley thanks to Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.

Link's younger self stands out among all the other re-modeled characters for many of the wrong reasons. His chubby, babyface cheeks and big round eyes contribute to the feeling that we're looking at someone just slightly too inhuman for their own good.

In reaction to Nintendo showcasing the remake, people have been quick to gawk at the choices made regarding our protagonist. One popular tweet compares a picture of Hyrule's hero and that cursed hellspawn Renesmee animatronic baby from the Twilight film franchise.

I'm sorry to say, but there's a clear resemblance. It's in the eyes and how the air gets a little colder whenever you're looking into them. One of many photoshops doing the rounds hammers this home.

Speaking of hammers, another post makes it clear violence would've been employed in another time for the intrepid adventurer. "Me and my friends would have killed Young Link with hammers I can tell you that much," says a post, and going by the numbers, I think a few would've joined them.

In a crossover within the same franchise, one Twitter user points out Link's resemblance to Malo, the infant-looking Ordonian from Twilight Princess. A reminder Nintendo has form for this, however cursed.

"They did him dirty," one fan proclaims, and, well, yeah.

One huge change in the Ocarina of Time remake: full voice-acted cutscenes for everyone, except Link of course.

September is one of the most exciting months for Switch 2 and Switch owners, as we have a new Nintendo Direct on the way, hot on the heels of the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct. That's right: we have two back-to-back Directs, folks. However, while I personally love all things Zelda, when it comes to new upcoming Switch 2 games potentially being announced, I'd say the main September 2026 Nintendo Direct is the one you really don't want to miss.

The upcoming presentation will be focusing on Switch 2 games launching this winter. And considering how there are still some big titles releasing this year without firm dates (looking at you, The Duskbloods), I'm expecting it to be a show with a slew of important reveals. Then, of course, there's a high chance of even more new games being announced for Ninty's hybrid console too, be they long-awaited ports or some surprising indie games.

We will be reporting live for the main showcase following the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct. But if you want to tune in to the presentation and watch it for yourself in real-time here is everything you need to know about how to watch the September 2026 Nintendo Direct.

What time is the September 2026 Nintendo Direct?

The upcoming Nintendo Direct presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, and will be approximately 45 minutes long.

Below, I've listed all the start times per region:

• 7:00am PT
• 10:00am ET
• 3:00pm BST
• 4:00pm CEST

After the Nintendo Direct, there will also be a Nintendo Treehouse: Live presentation, where you'll have the chance to look at some gameplay from a select number of titles that will appear in the main showcase. We don't know how long this Treehouse will be yet, but it can run from 20 minutes to over an hour. So I'd plan your time accordingly.

Where to watch the September 2026 Nintendo Direct

The Nintendo Direct for September 2026 will air live on Nintendo's YouTube channels simultaneously on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. So, all you need to do is pick the region that works best for you.

What to Expect From the September 2026 Nintendo Direct

We know that the Nintendo Direct for September 2026 will be focusing on Switch 2 games launching this winter. So I'm guessing that we will see some new looks at Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Switch 2 Edition at the very least, since both of those have December release dates.

There are also a handful of big titles that still only have a 2026 release window that need to be slotted into the calendar, so I'm guessing we will also finally get release dates for the likes of The Duskbloods, the 007 First Light Switch 2 port, and Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.

Like with most Directs, it is also a safe bet to assume that we will be getting some fresh game announcements. Nintendo's November and December calendars are currently a bit bare in terms of releases, so there is plenty of room for some exciting indies to grab the spotlight.

For more Nintendo goodness, check out our list of the best Switch 2 games to play right now

Nintendo has finally given us a substantial look at the incoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, revealing a number of big changes. There are a few that truly stand-out, like having a jump button and a quest log, and added voice-acting for various characters.

As you no doubt recall from the original, the only lines you hear through the game are Navi's incessant requests for your attention, and Link's shouts and grunts while delving through the various dungeons across Hyrule. Not any more, because the rest of the characters now have fully-voiced dialogue.

That includes Zelda, Saria, Princess Ruto of the Zora, Darunia of the Gorons, and yes, even Ganondorf himself, who is just as menacing in that encounter when he's on horseback. We get lines from each in the latest trailer, and it definitely gives an anachronistic shock at first.

The voices themselves are more than adequate, but after 30 years, it's weird seeing anything related to Ocarina of Time with full dialog. Ganondorf is particularly tricky for my brain to register, possibly because I always thought he was scarier due to his silence. On the flipside, Zelda and Saria's voices are particularly spot on to how they always seemed in my head, and of course, Link remains completely silent.

The voice cast has yet to be revealed, which is classic Nintendo behavior. We'll probably have to wait until November to find out exactly who's behind these performances, but whomever they are, this must've been one of their more nerve-racking assignments.

Imagine being the first person to voice a character in a game that's been totally loved for three decades? Incredible pressure. But I can say they done decent job, at least from what we've seen thus far.

Nintendo says Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake isn't aiming "for realistic graphics," and that's great for everyone but Young Link

Nintendo has unveiled the first footage of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, and Nintendo hired that man.

As part of The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct, series producer Eiji Aonuma revealed some live gameplay of the upcoming remake, showing the early moments of Link's adventure in Kokiri Forest and the Great Deku Tree. And to say it's quite a stark difference is certainly an understatement. Aonuma notes, "We had many discussions about what visual style we should use for this game, We decided that if Link's adventure took place in a world that has both been remade yet somewhat nostalgic, he would look like this."

Despite the change, Aonuma adds, "we didn't just aim for realistic graphics; we were particularly focused on reimagining them in a way that invoked nostalgia for the original game." This can be seen in some of the redesigns, like Link's tunic, which has a new textured appearance and pattern, while the Great Deku Tree has a ton of frayed branches to represent its facial hair, as opposed to the flatter design seen in the original.

Naturally, with any remake, visual differences are going to be hit-or-miss for everyone, but the realistic design is certainly a choice, even if it's not quite as uncanny as the Star Fox remake earlier this year. The environments have been updated in a way that generally looks lovely and is a natural update to what you'd imagine the game to look like in a semi-realistic style.

Weirdly, the worst looking part of the game is Link himself, at least in his younger form, some of the designs like Darunia and Ruto are spot on while Sheik has a fantastic looking redesign, but Link just ain't it, with exaggerated eyes and chubby cheeks he just looks a bit strange. The first look at the game in the stream was definitely weird to get to grips with, but it won me over as it went along, and thankfully adult Link isn't quite as strange-looking, so there's that.

Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake's mystery developer may be a veteran studio that a Nintendo lead wanted to see "play a central role" in the series moving forward

Nintendo officially announced The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 during its Zelda Direct on September 8 after plenty of spurting leaks in August. The handheld will be available from October 29 – with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake sold separately.

So, it seems the special Switch 2 won't be included in any bundle deals – though Nintendo's existing price-hiked Switch 2 bundles are underwhelming. Instead, Zelda fans can expect to see a 40th Anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, which matches the special Switch 2 console with its emerald and gold decals, as well as a 40th Anniversary screen protector and carrying case, which also shows off the mighty Triforce. You'll also have the option to buy the Zelda Switch 2 with a display stand.

Though, Nintendo disclaims that the Zelda Switch 2 with a display stand will be exclusive to the Nintendo store, including its brick-and-mortar locations in New York and San Francisco. Pre-orders for the 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 stuff will otherwise likely go live at Nintendo first, but then they'll make their way to other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

We don't know how much any of it will cost internationally yet, but a press release from Nintendo's Japanese wing lists the Zelda Switch 2 console as 62,980 yen, which is about $400, while the Pro Controller plus display stand is priced at 12,980 yen, or $80. The carrying case and screen protector will cost 3,980 yen in Japan, or approximately $25 – though you should remember all Nintendo hardware is generally priced lower in Japan. The Japan-language Switch 2 is 59,980 yen, for example, which equates to around $385, while the multi-language Switch 2 is currently available in the US at $499. And yet the Triforce beckons...

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake release date is set for November 5, with seemingly no concern for GTA 6.

Where to buy the Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2, how to find your best shot at a pre-order.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake release date is set for November 5, Nintendo announced at today's big Zelda Nintendo Direct showcase.

The Ocarina of Time remake release date joins a strange November which notably includes GTA 6, due November 19. GTA 6 is, of course, only coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X, not Nintendo Switch 2.

Thanks to GTA 6, many games have already shifted their release dates out of November, creating an absurdly stuffed October. Nintendo and Rockstar are currently the marquee publishers for November itself.

That leaked Zelda Switch 2 console is coming just before November on October 29, albeit with the game sold separately. Similarly, a new Lego Legend of Zelda Link and Epona set was briefly revealed in the Direct.

Per our big list of upcoming Switch 2 games, the Ocarina of Time remake is the tentpole release for November, and the biggest Nintendo game of the holiday season.

This month, the console is getting Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave (September 17) alongside third-party releases like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered (September 29) and Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter (also September 17).

In October, Switch 2 owners can look forward to Rayman Legends Retold (October 1), the Octopath Traveler duo pack (also October 1), and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (October 23). The big Nintendo release for the month is Nintendo Switch Sports Resort (October 22).

December is currently looking a little light, with a Switch 2 edition of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 leading the pack. The Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 update was one of the console's best, so that might actually be enough for some JRPG fans.

Nintendo says Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake isn't aiming "for realistic graphics," and that's great for everyone but Young Link.

New details for the upcoming The Legend of Zelda movie have been revealed, and they're pretty intriguing. While we didn't get a trailer for the new film during The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto did reveal some interesting teases.

"The title is The Legend of Zelda," he explained. "Once you see the film, you'll understand why there isn't a subtitle. This is an original film based on the many stories, ideas, and concepts of the series, built up through the games over 40 years." He also teased that the Triforce will play a part in the new movie.

Directed by Wes Ball, the adaptation stars House of the Dragon's Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Renegade Nell's Bo Bragason as Zelda. It also stars Uli Latukefu as Ganondorf, Dichen Lachman as Impa, and Yvonne Strahovski as "a Queen character".

Speaking earlier this year to GamesRadar+, Ainsworth revealed he was a bit too young to play Breath of the Wild, possibly the best Zelda game of all time, when it was released in 2011, but he did watch a lot of playthroughs.

"Then, upon being fortunate enough to play this role, such an iconic character, going back and realizing the 40 years of legacy and history, and the varied tones, the varied stories, the varied renditions and vocal performances of this character as well," he explained of his preparation. "Yeah, I'm a big fan, and just really excited, because it was an awesome thing to shoot."

The Legend of Zelda movie is set to hit theaters worldwide on April 30, 2027. For more game-to-film adaptations, here's our guide to all the video game movies you need to know about.

Nintendo has confirmed that two Nintendo Direct presentations will air this week, with the first focusing on The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is Nintendo's biggest game for the remainder of 2026, and one we know next to nothing about. Will it be a full-blown remake in the vein of Resident Evil or Final Fantasy 7's recent outings? Or will it be a glorified remaster, just a prettier version of the exact same game with some quality-of-life improvements? Thankfully, all will hopefully be revealed today as we're getting 30 minutes of Zelda news in The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct.

The rumor mill has placed Xenoblade Chronicles studio Monolith Soft as the studio behind this remake. Meanwhile, a leak from the Australian Nintendo store seems to suggest it'll be priced at $60 alongside Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, meaning it's more expensive than the likes of Star Fox 64's remake, but not quite as much as premium Switch 2 games like Donkey Kong Bananza.

As for what else to expect from this show, given we got our first look at The Super Mario Galaxy movie during last year's Super Mario Bros 40th Anniversary segment, I'd wager we'll see footage from The Legend of Zelda movie. Perhaps a duo of remasters like The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess HD could be thrown to Switch 1 owners, and in a stunning display of copium, I'm going to put it out into the world that we get a teaser for the next mainline Zelda game.

How to watch the The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct

The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct will air live on Tuesday, September 8 at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST and air for 30 minutes.

And don't forget, we'll be getting another Nintendo Direct this week, with a regular Nintendo Direct set to air tomorrow, September 9, 2026, at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST, which will last 40 minutes. And on top of that, after tomorrow's show wraps up, we're getting a Nintendo Treehouse Live stream with 110 minutes of gameplay, with Zelda being a likely candidate to show up.

Watch the Nintendo Direct stream here

The show will air live on Nintendo's YouTube channels simultaneously, so just pick whatever region suits you best!

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake's price has seemingly leaked ahead of the Nintendo Direct, with the Switch 2 exclusive being right in the middle of Nintendo's Switch 2 game price range.

Nintendo is the one publisher that is weirdest with pricing. Mario Kart World made countless headlines last year when it was revealed that it would cost $80, but aside from that, no Switch 2 game has been $80. Premium releases like Donkey Kong Bananza, Pokemon Pokopia, and Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave have been at $70, while the likes of Star Fox and Splatoon Raiders have been $50, and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book stands alone at $60. Many assume further $80 releases are likely being saved for the Next 3D Mario, Zelda, or Animal Crossing games.

However, ahead of today's The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct, fans have noticed that the Nintendo Store's Australian website has listed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake at AU$94.95, placing it at the same price point as Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. So unless there's a strange regional difference, the Ocarina of Time remake should be $60 (that's £50 in the UK).

So what does this tell us? Given that Star Fox was also a remake of a Nintendo 64 game released this year and it was $10 cheaper, it says that Nintendo views this as a bigger remake than its contemporary. That being said, not being a full-priced or Mario Kart-priced release may suggest it is closer to a traditional remake than a Resident Evil- or Final Fantasy 7-style remake (that is to say, an actual remake, not a fancy remaster).

However, maybe it is, and Nintendo is just being generous with its pricing based on it being a remake; we'll find out in a few hours!

Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake's mystery developer may be a veteran studio that a Nintendo lead wanted to see "play a central role" in the series moving forward

Nintendo has announced that two Nintendo Direct presentations will air next week, with one focusing on The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary.

September is one of the typical months for a Nintendo Direct, so naturally the rumor mill was packed to the gills as soon as September 1 hit, and of course, it was on the money. With The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake coming this year alongside the series' 40th anniversary, some were expecting a repeat of last year's September Nintendo Direct, where the opening half was dedicated to the Super Mario Bros' 40th birthday, while the rest was a typical showcase.

And while Nintendo is dedicating time to an anniversary again, this time it's getting an entire Nintendo Direct of its own. Announced on the Nintendo Today app, a 30-minute The Legend of Zelda 40th-anniversary Nintendo Direct will air on September 8, 2026 at 7am PT | 10am ET | 3pm BST.

The following day, on September 9, 2026 at 7am PT | 10am ET | 3pm BST, a standard Nintendo Direct presentation will air and run for 45 minutes. And after that Direct wraps up, Nintendo will host a Nintendo Treehouse Live stream with 110 minutes of games featured in the show.

Obviously, the Zelda-focused Nintendo Direct will almost certainly feature a substantial look at The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake as its main event. Given we got our first look at The Super Mario Galaxy Movie during last year's anniversary segment, I'm very much expecting to see our first look at The Legend of Zelda Movie before it's release next May, too. Plus, there's always copium we'll hear about ports of The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess HD.

The Nintendo Direct itself however, who knows. A new Metroid game has been part of the rumor mill for a while, and the person who leaked the Zelda remake in the first place says a new 3D Mario is pegged for next year, so perhaps that could be the show's closer this time around.

Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake's mystery developer may be a veteran studio that a Nintendo lead wanted to see "play a central role" in the series moving forward

Ahead of a rumored Nintendo Direct this month, a Norwegian retailer has identified Xenoblade developer Monolith Soft as the developer of the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.

Even as someone who has never gelled with the Xenoblade series over the years, it's hard to argue that Monolith Soft is one of, if not the best, studio acquisitions Nintendo ever made. While the Xenoblade games have been some of the most beloved RPGs of recent times, Monolith also assisted in the development of some of Nintendo's biggest hits in recent years, including the Splatoon series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart World, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom. This has led to chatter about the studio potentially leading a Zelda game of its own from Zelda series lead Daiki Iwamoto, and it looks like it could be coming to pass in the near future.

As spotted by a user on the Gamingleaksandrumors subreddit, Norwegian retailer Elkjop has posted a store page for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2, listing Monolith Soft as the developer. This comes alongside rumors that there will be a Nintendo Direct next week (or at the very least, speculation given that Nintendo typically always holds a Direct in mid-September), so perhaps this is information set to be revealed in a week's time.

However, given how often we've seen Nintendo keep its cards close to its chest about exactly who is developing its games in recent years, I'm not sure a retailer would have that info right now. However, if members of the Zelda team are keen for Monolith Soft to lead a Zelda game of its own, working on a remake first could be a good way to get there.

Grezzo led development of remakes of Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Link's Awakening, and then worked on Echoes of Wisdom, a new original 2D Zelda title. And given the traditional 3D Zelda games – like Ocarina of Time – are seemingly no more, perhaps Monolith could lead development on a new 3D title while Nintendo works on the next open-world Zelda game.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake rating suggests some changes, with its "suggestive themes" missing, and we can probably guess what that means

It's official – Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is bringing back another fan-favorite character from Three Houses, but believe it or not, that still doesn't help clarify the timeline of the two games or which one comes first.

Today's Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Direct was a treat – the latest footage details the different story routes, our true protagonist, and the fact that there'll be a Three Houses-style time skip, but one major detail was also included in such a nonchalant way that you might have missed it altogether.

When showing off some of Fortune's Weave's advanced character classes, we're shown the Dragoon class. We see a man with green and yellow hair riding on the back of a dragon, and – looking at his name in the bottom corner of the screen – that's literally just Seteth. In Three Houses, he's the stern, mature-looking wyvern rider faithful to Archbishop Rhea, and here, he's, uh, rocking a bandana and some really bad hair dye.

No, seriously, look at him. He's largely got bright yellow hair, but his natural green eyebrows are still intact, and his green hair is poking through at the roots and in patches at the tips. Clearly he didn't apply his bleach very evenly, or recently, for that matter.

Although some had correctly speculated that this character was Seteth when he appeared in a previous trailer, it's understandable that some are surprised by his adventurous new look, to put it politely. "Seteth why are you here. Why do you have the world's shittiest dye job. I can see your fucking green tips and eyebrows," one post reads, as another replies: "Ohhh they just fucked his shit UP."

Another Seteth fan asks the important question: "Why did they put seteth back but gave him a bad bleach job without his purple shampoo or toner[?]" Other reactions include "I hate this wig on you sis," and "he looks so chopped," even if folks are excited that he's back. "That's father right there," one sagely says.

But what does this mean for the timeline of Three Houses and Fortune's Weave? Well, frankly, it doesn't help, but we need to delve into some Three Houses spoilers to explain why, so proceed with caution.

In Three Houses, it's revealed that Seteth is Nabatean – a descendant of Sothis who can turn into a dragon. That also means he's extremely old, even if he doesn't look it. It's thought that he's over 1,000 years old in the 2019 game.

With that in mind, he could feasibly be alive well before Three Houses took place, or significantly after it. Of course, we've already seen a more adult-looking Sothis, but that doesn't necessarily narrow things down either – after all, Sothis looks a lot older in a depiction of her in some mural-style Three Houses artwork, as well as in a brief shot in its opening cutscene. So, once again, Fortune's Weave could feasibly be far in the past or future.

For now, it seems that part still remains a mystery. For now, though, we're just left with questions – namely, who did Seteth's hair, and why did he decide against his lovely beard?

Switch 2 gets its second $80 game in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, as former Nintendo marketing lead says the publisher knows "fans of that series are as die-hard as they come."

Nintendo has officially confirmed that Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave's mysterious white-haired character is the true protagonist of the story.

Since Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave was announced last September, it has been pitched as a story about four people. Those being Cai, Leda, Theodora, and Dietrich, akin to picking your house in Fire Emblem Three Houses. However, there has been an elephant in the room: a white-haired figure who appeared in trailers and on the game's box art, with both male and female versions. This was speculated to be this game's equivalent of a Robin, Corrin, or Byleth-like protagonist, and in the Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave Nintendo Direct, we finally got confirmation.

After going over the details of our four potential heroes' stories – including the somewhat massive news that you will be able to switch between the four protagonists whenever you like to play through their stories simultaneously – we were shown that five years had passed since the Heroic Games. Clearly something is amiss as the Dagdan Empire is in shambles from the rebirth of the demon god Balor, and the white-haired protagonist (whose canon name is Eshmel) will now have to scrap with them.

Nintendo doesn't try to sugarcoat it either, with the Direct narrator saying, "this is the story's true protagonist." With Eshmel, you can go take the fight to the demon right away; however, thanks to the Goddess of Fate Fortuna, Eshmel is able to travel back in time to change the fate of the four protagonists and allow them to join you in the future to prevent the end of the world.

The footage shows four altars, presumably representing different timelines where each of the four protagonists won the Heroic Games, so it seems like you won't have to replay the game multiple times to see all of their stories through, like in Three Houses.

It's a big day for Intelligent Systems fans, as today also sees the release of its canceled Virtual Boy game D-Hopper.

Nintendo has confirmed that Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave will be the focus of the next Nintendo Direct, with a presentation airing tomorrow.

Over on the Nintendo Today app, it was confirmed that not only are we getting a Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Nintendo Direct, but it's happening in about 24 hours.

Nintendo also confirmed that we'll be getting a 20-minute presentation of the game, so expect it to go into some detail about what to expect when it launches next month on September 17, 2026.

Not counting the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, this is arguably Nintendo's biggest release of 2026, so a dedicated direct was always a given. And when it comes to size, it will almost certainly be Nintendo's biggest release, as it's decided that Fire Emblem: Three Houses wasn't enough houses and is splitting Fortune's Weave into four stories (potentially more, given Three Houses let you split off in some paths).

How to watch the Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Nintendo Direct

The Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Nintendo Direct will take place on August 4, 2026 at 3pm BST | 10am ET | 7am PT, and is set to last 20 minutes.

You can watch the stream on Nintendo's YouTube channel.

What to expect in the Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Nintendo Direct

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave seems to be particularly massive, so we'll likely have a lot to see during the showcase tomorrow. One major point of speculation is whether the four protagonists will be the true protagonists of the game, or whether Fortune's Weave will feature an avatar character, as in every entry since Awakening.

On the game's box art, there are two white-haired figures slap bang in the middle, with many assuming these are the male and female designs for the avatar character. However, given we have seen footage of the four protagonists running around the overworld in the previous Nintendo Direct, I'm not entirely convinced this is the case, so maybe we'll figure out what purpose this white-haired duo serves in the Direct tomorrow.

It's a big day for Intelligent Systems fans, as tomorrow also sees the release of its cancelled Virtual Boy game D-Hopper.

Nintendo fans are convinced that amiibo have been giving away release dates for games for a while now, and I'll be damned if I'm not kind of convinced.

Despite the toys-to-life fad dying shortly after they were introduced, Nintendo's amiibo have been going strong for over a decade now. While it's not a guarantee that every game will get an amiibo like it kind of felt like back in the days where Chibi Robo or Poochie got figures, there are still multiple drops every year – with the impressive yet expensive Kirby Air Riders series being released throughout 2026. However, there's been a surprising correlation between amiibo and Nintendo release dates, and some reckon it may have revealed when The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake is set to be released later this year.

As pointed out by a user on the GamingLeaksAndRumors subreddit, Nintendo has been releasing amiibo alongside new releases pretty consistently this year. The Kirby Air Riders Meta Knight and King Dedede amiibo had their release dates announced before Pokemon Pokopia and Rhythm Heaven Groove had been given dates. Next in line is the long-awaited The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Mineru's Construct amiibo, which had its date announced in May, before Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave was announced for the same date.

And now, the next two Kirby Air Riders amiibo – "Sword Kirby and Dragoon" and "Noir Dedede and Hydra" – have finally been given release dates, that being November 12, 2026. Given that Nintendo hasn't announced a release date for its 2026 Zelda game, and that October is already covered by Nintendo Switch Sports, the expectation has been it'll be a November title. The amiibo also releases on a Thursday, Nintendo's typical release day for the last few years.

Do I believe this means Zelda is locked in for November 12? Not entirely. But the fact that three major amiibo drops have coincided with three major Nintendo game releases this year is certainly the closest thing to compelling evidence we have right now. At the very least we should be finding out soon, as the game has recently gotten an age rating from the ESRB.

After 16 months, Zelda Ocarina of Time expert completes a hitless, totally randomized run of the game: "I genuinely didn't think it was gonna happen."

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2 now has an ESRB age rating, and if you can believe it… it's the same as last time. Mostly.

Over on the Nintendo US website (spotted by Nintendo Life), the store page for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 has been updated slightly, with an ESRB rating now included. This age rating is E10+ with "animated blood, fantasy violence" descriptors attached, which is the exact same rating The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D got back in 2011, albeit missing the "suggestive themes" descriptor the 3DS game got.

Meanwhile, the original N64 version of the game nabbed an E rating – which makes sense when E10+ did not exist until 2005.

The ESRB website currently doesn't have a page live for this remake, so a more in-depth description isn't available right now.

So, what does this mean for Ocarina of Time on Switch 2? Well, not too much other than it sounds like it's going to be very similar to Ocarina of Time. The omission of a "suggestive themes" descriptor could in theory mean that there have been changes to some of the more risque elements – see: The Great Fairy, who is somewhat scantily clad, but more crucially makes the loudest noise on the planet when they emerge. But then again, it could just be that these elements aren't deemed "suggestive" anymore.

However, an ESRB rating is usually a sign that there will be some news about a game soon, as it's likely nearing release, so we could be seeing a random Direct or a news drop on Nintendo Today out of nowhere sometime soon.

If not that, then Nintendo typically hosts a September Nintendo Direct, where we'll be very likely to see more of Ocarina of Time remake than the pretty much nothing we got back in June… perhaps as some sort of Zelda 40th anniversary Direct stapled onto a regular Direct like we got with the Super Mario Bros anniversary in last year's. After all, the remake is supposed to launch this year, so we definitely need to see more of it before too long.

After 16 months, Zelda Ocarina of Time expert completes a hitless, totally randomized run of the game: "I genuinely didn't think it was gonna happen."

Nintendo has confirmed more details about the Splatoon Raiders Direct announced earlier this month. As such, here's how to watch the show tomorrow.

Earlier this month, Nintendo did its first proper Nintendo Direct presentation since last September, and it was probably the best showcase of Summer Game Fest season. We had massive news like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and Xenoblade Genesis, huge ports like Dragon's Dogma 2, Devil May Cry 5, and Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and the first major signs of life from Kingdom Hearts 4 in years. But with so much to look forward to, it's easy to have forgotten that Nintendo's summer lineup is also pretty packed, with Star Fox, Rhythm Heaven Groove, and Splatoon Raiders all releasing within a month of each other.

During the Direct, Nintendo confirmed that Splatoon Raiders would be getting its own dedicated showcase later in the month, and today it's released more details about what we can expect. While we don't know much more about the contents of the Direct itself, Nintendo confirmed it'll be a brisk one, only running for 15 minutes. But, if that's disappointing, don't worry, as Nintendo now confirms that there's also going to be a 30-minute Nintendo Treehouse Live focused on the game airing directly after.

How to watch the Splatoon Raiders Nintendo Direct

The Splatoon Raiders Nintendo Direct will air live on Tuesday, June 30 at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm GMT, with the show set to feature 15 minutes of info, followed by a Nintendo Treehouse Live stream at 7:15 am PT / 10:15 am ET / 3:15 pm GMT showing an additional 30 minutes of gameplay.

Watch the Splatoon Raiders Nintendo Direct stream here

The show will air live on Nintendo's YouTube channels simultaneously, so just pick whatever region suits you best! For whatever reason, the Treehouse segment will be a separate stream, which you can find below.

Be sure to keep up with all the upcoming releases for this year and beyond with our roundup of new games for 2026.

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is confirmed to be bringing dungeons back to the series after they were last seen in the 3DS remake Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia.

This year's Summer Game Fest was a pretty big one in general, with the Nintendo Direct being the perfect finale to proceedings, giving us the best show of the lot,. revealing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, giving us a new look at Kingdom Hearts 4, and more. Another of the highlights was Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, which got a massive new trailer explaining the game and revealing its release date.

Except, despite feeling like a proper deep dive, it turns out Nintendo hid a major detail from the Nintendo Direct. On the store page for the game, Nintendo describes some of the things you can do. "You can explore the world to strengthen your army and find resources. Train and recruit allies in Dagsion, or venture out into the land to fight bandits and monsters, delve through dungeons, and more."

There's an interesting detail in there, that being "delve through dungeons." These haven't been a feature in the series since 2017's 3DS remake Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (which was itself a remake of 1992's Japan-only Fire Emblem Gaiden for Super Famicom). As Nintendo Everything points out, there's actually a shot in the trailer that shows what looks like a dungeon, with Leda opening a chest, so strangely, Nintendo just didn't point this out at the time.

Fire Emblem games tend to be fairly long in the first place, and dungeon crawling is likely only going to add to that. So, if you're planning to pick up Fortune's Weave in September (already a very busy month for game releases), you can probably expect it to steal quite a lot of your free time.

Xenoblade Chronicles Genesis is coming in 2027, and it looks very different to Monolith Soft's last JRPG trilogy.

One of the lead developers on Final Fantasy Resonance says we're getting the throwback JRPG because the now-decreased mobile game it's based on is "too good to become unplayable."

Following Final Fantasy Resonance's big reveal, producer Keisuke Nakashima has been doing the media rounds to share more details about the upcoming JRPG. What I've found most interesting is how it's all come about.

Nakashima explains that the game proposal was first shared at the end of 2020, and the pitch was quite simple. Final Fantasy Brave Exvius – a game he previously worked on – wasn't getting the respect it deserved.

"There are a couple of reasons why I decided to create Final Fantasy Resonance," he tells Automaton. "I've previously worked on FFBE as an assistant producer, and I wanted to show all the things that make the game so great to an even wider audience.

"FFBE is packed with entertaining features from each of the numbered entries in the main Final Fantasy series. Airships and Chocobos appear, and there are secret treasure chests lying in the hidden parts of dungeons – it's filled with stuff that screams 'Final Fantasy.'

"I thought it would be a shame for such a wonderful game to become unplayable via mobile, and that's one of the reasons I decided to create Final Fantasy Resonance for consoles."

What's interesting to me is that his desire has only become more relevant with time. It was just last year that Square Enix ended service for Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, so it's no longer just the case that you only play it on mobile – you can't play it at all.

Regardless, people's hesitancy to try Final Fantasy Brave Exvius has clearly stuck with Nakashima to this day.

"Back when we initially released FFBE, we got a lot of feedback from users saying that they want to play the game as a console title," he says. "Of course, we were confident about expanding FFBE as a mobile app.

"However, there were a lot of people who told us that they wouldn't play the game simply because it wasn't available on console. I was so frustrated about it. Or maybe I should say, I felt like it was such a shame that they wouldn't give it a try. It's such a fun game, but they didn't even want to have a go at it just because it was a mobile app."

While things have, perhaps, not played out as Nakashima might have expected, it appears he's going to get his wish. Final Fantasy Resonance is due to release later this year, and for many, it will show off what FF Brave Exvius no longer can.

To be fair, it makes for an alluring package. Fans have been crying out for an old-school, turn-based JRPG in the Final Fantasy series that looks more like Octopath Traveler than the current trends of AAA RPGs. It makes for a fitting bonus, though, that Final Fantasy Resonance might also preserve an experience that others can no longer enjoy.

In a big win for JRPG sickos, Square Enix confirms Final Fantasy Resonance is being made by the team behind Octopath Traveler and more, if the HD-2D art style didn't already give it away.

Square Enix has confirmed that Final Fantasy Resonance is being made by Team Asano, which is rather excellent news if you enjoy the likes of Octopath Traveler, Bravely Default, and the latest Dragon Quest HD-2D remakes of games one to three.

Following the new Final Fantasy game's big reveal at the latest Nintendo Direct – you can see everything announced at said Nintendo Direct here – Square Enix kicked off a good ol' livestream to share more about the upcoming game.

While Final Fantasy Resonance's HD-2D art style might have been a giveaway, Square Enix confirms that the game is indeed being made by Team Asano. In fact, Tomoya Asano is serving as an executive producer on this one.

Also spotted by the ever-reliable Genki on Twitter, Final Fantasy Resonance producer Keisuke Nakashima says it'll take you 30-40 hours to complete the JRPG, though completionists can expect to spend up to 80 hours on this one. We've also got a glimpse of the open-world map, Chocobo riding, and flying an airship.

While it's only been a few days since the reveal, some excitement for Final Fantasy Resonance has been sticking around GamesRadar+ towers. My colleague Austin called the JRPG "the one Final Fantasy game I've wanted for eight years," and I think the news that Team Asano is behind this one only adds to that.

Essentially, there are plenty of Final Fantasy fans – me, hello – who have been calling out for an old-school, turn-based JRPG that hits the nostalgia vibes like some of the games that Team Asano has put together. Look at Octopath Traveler or any of the recent Dragon Quest HD-2D remakes, and you'll see what I mean – turn-based combat when real-time has become the go-to, graphics that are familiar yet refreshed, and so on.

Final Fantasy Resonance has made a good start, then, and I'm interested to see what's to come. October 22 can't come soon enough.

Final Fantasy Resonance fans want the true stars of Brave Exvius, not just JRPG icons like Cloud and Tidus: "Bring my girl Ariana Grande back."

As Summer Game Fest came to a close, a surprise Nintendo Direct gave us Legend of Zelda stans what we've long been hoping for: confirmation of an Ocarina of Time remake.

It didn't exactly come out of the blue, however, as rumors have been circulating regarding the remake for some time, thanks to well-known leaker Nate the Hate. That might've put a bit of a damper on the entire "reveal" from Nintendo, which arguably wasn't the biggest out there.

It's a very short teaser, all things considered, showing a little bit of Link and a Triforce that has drawn attention for its appearance on the young protagonist's hand.

Former Nintendo PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang discuss the trailer – if you can call it that – and the effect Nate the Hate's leaks regarding the Ocarina of Time remake may be having on our reception of Nintendo's upcoming revamp.

Ellis asks Yang, "Did what we know about Ocarina impact the way you received that teaser?" She answers honestly: "I kind of feel like at this point I'm so desensitized."

It makes sense, and as Ellis goes on to say, the leaks had a "huge effect" on fans' reaction to the remake's official announcement. "If that was actually a surprise, and there was a teaser of an Ocarina of Time remake at the end of a Direct… it would be insanity."

Nintendo's choice to keep what was likely its original teaser – Link "sleeping on some dirt," as Ellis amusingly puts it – probably didn't help the whole situation, either.

The company is "stubborn," though, and "cannot rearrange" its plan – even if it might've left a more "surprising" reveal for fans in the end. "I think they should have rethought some stuff."

Ellis also admits he's "so mad at Nate the Hate for doing this," however, with Yang chiming in, "If you're Nintendo, you're looking to kill" – and, yeah, I get it. It does all stem from the leaks, really, even if Nintendo could've perhaps mitigated the damage a bit.

I feel that, regardless of the lukewarm reactions (or, at least, lukewarm compared to how they might've been without earlier leaks), the Ocarina of Time remake will perform well. Heck, I know I've been waiting years for it myself.

Searching for something else to wishlist aside from the Ocarina of Time remake? Here are the best new games coming this year and beyond to look forward to, spanning all platforms.

As you're likely aware by now, Final Fantasy Resonance is based on the deceased mobile RPG Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. As such, BE fans have wasted little time in demanding that Square Enix remember the girlies that people truly turned up for.

That is, Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, and Addison Rae. Sit down, Cloud. Now is not your time.

While Final Fantasy Brave Exvius was typical of the series at the time in that you had turn-based combat, crystals, and chocobos, it was also a gacha game. You could spend money – so much money – on getting the likes of Cloud and Tidus when the time came.

That also means collaborations, because that makes people spend money – so much money. You probably see where we're going. Yes, Square Enix put the likes of Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, and more in the game to fight alongside Cloud and the gang.

With all this in mind, you can imagine why many people were quick to think of the pop icons when it was revealed that Final Fantasy Resonance adapts the first arc of the mobile game.

"Ok Final Fantasy Resonance. I'll hear you out if you bring my girl Ariana Grande back," one fan writes, as another says: "If Ariana Grande and Katy Perry isn't in Final Fantasy Resonance then this was a failed project."

Ok Final Fantasy Resonance. I’ll hear you out if you bring my Girl Ariana Grande Back.

— @karlosthefog.bsky.social (@karlosthefog.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-06-10T15:09:06.086Z

While Square Enix has claimed that Final Fantasy Resonance is "far from just a direct port," it has also confirmed that 'Visions' make their return, which are figures from other games in the series. In the trailer, in fact, we can see the likes of Cloud, Tidus, and the OG Warrior of Light.

So, the idea is certainly intact, though in our heart of hearts, we all know that the likes of Ariana Grande probably aren't making a return due to various rights agreements likely expiring or whatever. Still, people bullied Sony into bringing Morbius back to cinemas, so who's to say this can't be manifested with enough shitposting online?

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation has a "far bigger" open world map than Rebirth, says director, and some Rebirth locations aren't the way you remember them.

Although Summer Game Fest has now concluded, a surprise Nintendo Direct yesterday left us with a trailer we had been waiting four years for – that of Kingdom Hearts 4.

Yes, that's right – we actually saw more of Kingdom Hearts 4 during the showcase, although we didn't get any sort of release date from Square Enix. It was a teaser, showing off the game's stunning visuals and a little bit of combat, too… but that doesn't mean folks weren't just a tad bit disappointed.

Heck, Kingdom Hearts 4 was announced in 2022. So, when is it going to launch, then? Well, some fans think they know.

That's because two separate store listings from Australia – one on EB Games and another on JB Hi-Fi – mention "the release of Kingdom Hearts 4 in 2027." At least, they did – both listings have now had this part scrubbed out, so make of that what you will.

Although the listings aren't even for the fourth game itself (they're for a collection containing the series' first three titles), that's a pretty big deal… and eagle-eyed fans are, of course, treating it as such. It's almost like the GTA 6 debacles all over again, where random listings convinced folks of all sorts of things.

A Reddit thread highlights some of this, erm, hopium, with the top comment reading, "2027 shaping to be a good year for me." Another chimes in that it's an "already stacked" year, while somebody exclaims, "Next year looks absolutely insane."

One person jokes, "Peak 2027 incoming" – but they're not exactly wrong. Even if Kingdom Hearts 4 doesn't come, there's everything from a Resident Evil: Code Veronica remake to the new Fable entry.

As is always the case with such speculation, not everyone is certain that the Kingdom Hearts 4 mentions mean anything. One fan argues, "That footage we saw on the direct looked janky af, surely 2027 is a stretch." Another adds, "I don't believe that for a second because it sounds too good to be true."

I suppose I understand where they're coming from… we don't really know much about the fourth game at this point, so a release date seems out of reach.

It took a whopping four years to even get a new trailer out of Square Enix, so, yeah. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a 2027 Kingdom Hearts 4 release, but not holding my breath.

Searching for something else to wishlist? Here are the best new games coming this year and beyond to look forward to.

Vanillaware is bringing Muramasa to PC in 2027. I, too, struggle to believe these words, but you're just going to have to trust me.

On the heels of a Switch and Switch 2 announcement in the Nintendo Direct June show (it's also coming to PS5), the Japanese studio surprised fans with a Steam page for Muramasa: Revenant Blades. This is the first Vanillaware game to ever come to PC, and it's a port of a game that first launched on the Wii in 2009 before being ported to the PlayStation Vita.

Vanillaware is notorious for skipping PC. I specifically asked the director of Unicorn Overlord, the studio's sterling strategy RPG, if a PC port was in the cards, and I was completely shut down.

It's maddening. Everything Vanillaware touches, from Odin Sphere to Dragon's Crown to 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, is an exemplar in a genre that has a huge audience on PC. Hell, games like Unicorn Overlord might even benefit from mouse controls, specifically. Yet, every time: crickets.

So, an updated, PC version of Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a big deal – not just because a great game will now be available on a new platform, but because it opens the door to further PC ports from Vanillaware. It's a pattern we've seen from the likes of Atlus and Capcom: dip your toe in the PC pond only to find your whole leg hungrily grabbed by a starved fan base who's been watching enviously from afar for years. Basically what I'm saying is, Unicorn Overlord on Steam, and only that, would fix me.

Anyway. Muramasa is a 2D action RPG about tearing through yokai and folklore-inspired monsters while struggling to tear your eyes away from Vanillaware's signature environments. Six protagonists fill out a hugely replayable game with sharp combat and a surprising amount of depth to progression and blacksmithing.

"Experience the side-scrolling action RPG epic from Vanillaware and Marvelous with stunning 4K visuals, all-new English voiceover and localization, new modes and more," the Nintendo Direct trailer reads.

After 26 years, classic JRPG Tales of Eternia returns: the remaster coming this October looks fantastic, and is actually good for the series for once.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is officially official, with Nintendo confirming the project for a 2026 release exclusively on Switch 2.

The 1:38 reveal trailer didn't show a whole lot – it was mostly vibes, really, with some lovely auditory flourishes calling back to that iconic score – but we did get a glimpse of Link, who's apparently been pretty dramatically redesigned from his look in the original game, and of course, that means everyone's freaking out.

In fairness to the Zelda fanbase, Ocarina of Time is one of the most beloved games of all time. Speaking specifically as a millennial who grew up with an N64 controller in my hand, the first 3D Link is one of the most formative characters of my youth and one of the big early drivers of my passion for gaming, and I know that's the same for a lot of gamers in my age bracket.

That's all to say, I get why people are protective of that little blue-eyed polygonal weirdo. He's iconic. But early reactions to the character's redesign, which we see little more than a single frame of in the reveal, are so dramatically opposed to each other that I can't help but wonder if we all need to take a collective deep breath and wait until we see more.

One very common criticism is that Link looks like he has an adult head but a child's body, which, frankly, I'm just not seeing. He looks like HD young link to me, with a big-old head and unformed jawline indicating pre-pubescent boyhood. Other folks say he looks AI-generated (he's not). And then there are plenty of people seeing a resemblance between Link's redesign and the countless Unreal Engine fan remakes of Ocarina of Time that social media algorithms loved to pass off as official Nintendo projects for a few years there.

Other Zelda fans simply hate the new redesign without explicit reason, with one such critic going as far as to call it "the worst case scenario," which I just find hilariously dramatic. Likewise, another reaction calls it "the ugliest redesign I've ever seen in my life."

Not everyone's bummed about the redesign, but there seem to be very few takes between unbridled disgust and full-blown embrace, with one such commenter calling the design "perfect," and another writing in all caps, "LINK'S NEW DESIGN GIVES ME SO MUCH HOPE." I'm exhausted.

I just think this is all a bit much. We saw 15 seconds of the new Link lying down on one side with his eyes closed in dim lighting. Let's reserve judgment for better lighting, gameplay footage, and a full view of a character I have no doubt Nintendo would only work on with the utmost care. The remake is due out this year, so it won't be long before we see more.

Here are all of the upcoming Switch 2 games to keep on your radar

At a fantastic Nintendo Direct June show for RPG sickos, Tales of Eternia Remastered was a lovely bit of news from Bandai Namco. It's coming to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PS4 and PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC (Steam) on October 16.

Originally released in Japan in 2000, and in North America as Tales of Destiny 2 in 2001, Tales of Eternia is the third game in the Tales series. It's the latest in a growing line of remasters that sprung up around the series' 30th anniversary celebrations.

Eternia Remastered follows Tales of Berseria Remastered, a baffling choice that disappointed many fans. Berseria, a 2016 release, was already readily playable and holds up well on its own, so many felt that the remaster added very little. Bringing an older game like Eternia up to speed on modern platforms makes a lot more sense, so today's news has been received much more warmly.

Eternia uses an early, 2D ancestor of the action combat system modern Tales fans are familiar with, and it seems it's been updated considerably for this re-release. Bandai's added a boost function to adjust XP gains and encounter frequency, a high-speed auto-battle toggle, instant battle retry and quick recovery, and an "Extreme" difficulty available from the start paired with a new "Unknown" difficulty setting unlocked by beating the game.

The new visuals and sounds in the remaster can be swapped with the originals whenever you want, which is always nice with remasters. With this news, fans of Eternia have begun praying that the Tales series' recognizable skits will make it into the re-release.

Bandai reminds us all what Eternia's about on the remaster's newly minted website:

"Experience the remastered edition of Tales of Eternia, a timeless JRPG where a band of heroes race to prevent a disaster that could destroy two intertwined worlds ... Rediscover an emotional story filled with charm, adventure, and the signature Tales spirit, perfect for both newcomers and longtime fans."

Xenoblade Chronicles JRPG trilogy gets Nintendo Switch 2 editions this year, and the first one is out today.

The Nintendo Direct June 2026 showcase dropped a familiar theme that immediately consumed all of my attention. Why? Because I instantly knew it was the Spirit Dais theme from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which scores any scene featuring Sothis – a mysterious deity-like figure who's directly tied to protagonist Byleth. By playing it in our latest look at Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave for even just the briefest moment, Nintendo created a palpable connection to Three Houses. And as a Fire Emblem diehard who counts the 2019 entry among my favorite games of all-time, nothing could excite me more.

In fact, now that Fable has been delayed into 2027, and Exodus – which is very Mass Effect coded – is also setting its sights on next year, Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave has skyrocketed to the top of my 2026 RPG wishlist. And now that we have a release date which puts it squarely in the same month as the new vampire role-playing adventure, The Blood of the Dawnwalker, I'm calling it right now: September promises to be one to beat this year for anyone who lives and breathes RPGs like I do.

New heroes

I absolutely adore Fire Emblem, having grown up playing the likes of Fire Emblem Path of Radiance on the GameCube, and Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones on the GBA. I also firmly believe Fire Emblem Awakening and Fire Emblem Fates are some of the best 3DS games ever. But, for me, Three Houses has remained firmly at the top of the charts, and I think I've been waiting for another entry to reach the same kind of heights.

Now, I'm not saying Fortune's Weave should be Three Houses: Part 2, but I'm absolutely here for the link between the two, however tangential that may turn out to be. With an older Sothis appearing (and that telltale theme playing when she did), there's some kind of connection. Maybe Sothis will once again act as a goddess of guidance to the new protagonist, or feed into the story in a way that could even reference Byleth. But, before I start spinning more theories, what really speaks to me is the direction Fortune's Weave appears to be going in… and it's one that could make me as invested as Three Houses' academic, student-teacher bonding set-up.

Set in the Dagdan Empire, we'll be stepping into an "intertwining story of strength and steel" as we take part in the "Heroic Games". From the trailer, it's giving gladiator tournament vibes, and I'm here for it. With four main heroes taking part in the games who each have their own motivations for being there, I'm already getting the sense that they could potentially represent different routes, not unlike the way the three student houses in Garreg Mach Monastery in Three Houses do.

With Cai, a young boy who's determined to save his imprisoned father, Dietrich, a swordsman on the hunt for a stronger foe to best him, Theodora, a queen trying to fulfill the dream of her homeland, and Leda, a musician who's out for revenge, I can't wait to sink my teeth into their storylines and see how they're interwoven with each other and ours. Not unlike the Academy, The Heroic Games could serve as the ideal set up to develop lasting relationships, and get invested in the characters as you spend time with them.

I loved the way Three Houses made me feel like I had an impactful role in the lives of the students I helped and taught, and I'm already drawn to Fortune's Weave's "training ground" idea. Surely it'll be all too easy to develop bonds as you train and go through the tests of the "Heroic Games" together.

Of course, only time will tell if Fortune's Weave can steal my heart in the same way that Three Houses did. But I'm already hopeful. And with Fable clearing out of 2026's way, I think it's the RPG I'm most excited about right now – besides The Blood of Dawnwalker. One thing's for sure: September promises to be a memorable month for RPG fans everywhere.

Start warming up for the Heroic Games by working through the 25 best strategy games we've already picked for you

Nintendo has confirmed that Nintendo Switch 2 Edition versions of the entire Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy are coming this year.

While it may have been overshadowed by the announcement of Xenoblade Chronicles Genesis coming in 2027, Nintendo has confirmed that the entire Xenoblade trilogy will be getting a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. That starts today with Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, before Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and 3 get the same treatment throughout the year.

Naturally, they'll all be getting performance boosts, with Nintendo confirming 4K resolution and 60fps docked, and 1080p resolution and 60fps handheld, as well as enhanced resolution and framerates for in-game cutscenes. But what's more interesting are the other things coming to the RPG trilogy.

Xenoblade Chronicles 1's Switch 2 Edition launches today (with a physical release launching on July 30) and will be getting voiced Heart-to-Heart conversations, new equipment designs, and the crown jewel, a "new high-speed vehicle." Nintendo also shows what looks like a racing mode being added to the game featuring these vehicles.

As for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, its Switch 2 Edition is going to launch digitally on July 30, with a physical version set to release on October 1, 2026. This game is getting a new rare Blade and Blade Quest, as well as new equipment designs for Pyra and Mythra. Its big new addition, however, is a new "mercenary squad battles" mode where you control the blades themselves.

Finally, Xenoblade Chronicles 3's Switch 2 Edition is releasing a lot later on December 3, both physically and digitally. This update features a new Hero and Hero Quest, newly voiced event scenes, and "new defensive battles against waves on enemies" which looks like a horde mode. Hopefully they fare better than the disastrous Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X, which fans said actually made the JRPG look worse in handheld mode, but we'll soon find out as people dig into the new version of the first game today.

JRPGs struggle to break 3 million sales, Xenoblade lead once said, and after his hesitance to focus on cutting-edge tech, Xenoblade Chronicles X's wonky Switch 2 edition may have proven him right.

The ongoing saga of Deltarune, Toby Fox's latest RPG continues. A little over one year since Chapters 3 and 4 came out, we've gotten news of when the next part will be out courtesy of a Nintendo Direct, and it's mere weeks away.

Per the latest Nintendo presentation, Deltarune Chapter 5 is coming out worldwide on June 24, 2026. Obviously, this means it's coming to Nintendo Switch 2, and it'll be on PlayStation 5, PC, and all other expected platforms.

The gameplay shown is typically madcap, ranging from wild minigames to cartoony interactions. And the absurd boss battles, don't forget those.

This chapter is coming out remarkably quick compared to its predecessors. There were three years between the first and second parts, then another four years before chapters three and four were playable.

In that time, several ports were created, including for the newer systems, placing quite a bit of demand on Fox's time and energy. Nonetheless, he's managed to the next installment out in good time.

We already knew that Chapter 5 was set to release at some point this year, though Fox previously expressed that it probably wouldn't be in the first half of the year. Now that it's launching at the end of June, though, he just barely managed to get it over the line before then. Chapter 5 comes as a free update to anyone who already owns the game, too, and it'll be the same for the RPG's future chapters.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake confirmed, coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this year

I can't quite believe I'm writing this, but we just got a brand new look at Kingdom Hearts 4 in today's Nintendo Direct, with Square Enix's long-awaited RPG on its way to Switch 2… at some point.

During today's Direct, we got a fresh look at some cinematics as well as gameplay in Kingdom Hearts 4. It's been a long four years since it was first announced, with very little information released in the meantime – seeing it dropped in near the end of today's stream was honestly a little surreal.

The latest trailer also confirms Kingdom Hearts 4 will be "available at launch on Nintendo Switch 2," but when that launch is is another matter entirely. Square Enix still hasn't given any indication of when it'll be released, but for now, we have almost a minute and a half of new footage to pore over, which should keep ravenous fans fed for a little while longer.

This ended up being a surprisingly exciting Direct for Kingdom Hearts fans – right before the Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer, we also got confirmation that Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5, 2.8 and 3 (plus its Re Mind DLC) are coming to Switch 2 (as well as PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S) on October 8. A full collection is also being launched alongside the individual releases, and anyone with save data from the Switch 1 cloud versions of the games will be able to transfer their progress over.

Obviously, that was very quickly overshadowed by the latest Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer, but hopefully those releases will be able to keep us busy for however much longer we have to wait for the next game in the series.

Be sure to check out our roundup of everything announced at the Nintendo Direct June 2026 to catch up with all the exciting new games.

Nintendo has confirmed the rumors: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is coming later this year.

Earlier this year, we got a blowout of info from leaker Nate the Hate, which was headlined by news of a The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, and after the surprise announcement of Star Fox, fans figured it was all but confirmed. And here we are, in today's Nintendo Direct, Nintendo has confirmed that the 1998 classic is being remade, and it's coming out in 2026

We don't know much about it so far, but we can say that the new version of the game features voice acting, as the trailer opens with what is presumably the Great Deku Tree narrating the opening of the original game, and speaking about the Kokiri and that one boy who didn't yet have a fairy.

We also know that the game will have a semi-realistic art style (at least compared to what we saw from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom). Unfortunately, we didn't actually see anything from the game itself on the gameplay front, but we got a shot of Link as he sleeps at the beginning of the game.

Nintendo did not confirm an exact date for this remake either, with a simple 2026 appearing at the end of the trailer. And other than saying "Ocarina of Time will be reborn on Switch 2" and that "more details will be announced in the future," Yoshiaki Koizumi – who hosted the direct – didn't have much else to say about the remake. Hopefully, we see something in the Nintendo Treehouse, but given how little we saw, I'm not holding my breath.

Xenoblade Chronicles Genesis is coming in 2027, and it looks very different to Monolith Soft's last JRPG trilogy

The Duskbloods, FromSoftware's Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, will hold a closed network test this summer ahead of a still-unannounced launch later this year.

The Duskbloods made an extremely brief appearance during today's Nintendo Direct live show. A few environment and character shots – featuring the likes of Pajama Hammers and Magic Rat, as I've dubbed them – and some light narration leads us right into a simple closed network test reveal.

The test is "coming soon," the trailer description adds, and I'd certainly hope so with summer starting June 21. It's currently unclear how long the test will run, or how we'll be able to sign up to participate.

Notably absent was any trace of a release date. The Duskblood was one of the first games announced for the Nintendo Switch 2, a rare exclusive game for FromSoftware, yet we still don't know exactly when it's coming out.

The Duskbloods is an oddball in more ways than one, and it's come at a strange time for FromSoftware. After the monumental success of Elden Ring, the pinnacle of the dark fantasy action RPGs that the studio's become known for, we've seen the return of Armored Core in Armored Core 6, and the experimental multiplayer of Elden Ring: Nightreign. The Duskbloods, a PvPvE game of some sort, is in a similar space. This has left many fans wondering when the next full-fat, Dark Souls-style RPG will come along. (I wouldn't complain about a Bloodborne or Sekiro-adjacent single-player experience, either.)

The blurb on the new trailer reads: "Step into this new PvPvE multiplayer action game from FromSoftware, where you take on the role of a Bloodsworn. Fight through a world overrun with enemies using unique weapons and abilities, while occasionally forming transient alliances on your path to victory."

They can never compete with Elden Ring, but FromSoftware owner says Nightreign "performed strongly" and The Duskbloods is still coming in 2026.

Xenoblade Genesis has been announced with a surprising amount of fantasy RPG in there, and it's coming in 2027.

After four years, a new entry in the Xenoblade series has been confirmed for the Switch 2. And we got a pretty substantial look at the game with a number of cutscenes being shown off. Unlike the Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy which mixed sci-fi and fantasy, this new entry is going hard on the fantasy RPG aspects of the series.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was already confirmed to be the end of the main narrative that began in some very spoilery events in Xenoblade Chronicles 1, so to see something so different here isn't exactly a surprise.

Akin to Fire Emblem: Three Houses, you'll be attending a school named Lekuos, with large-scale battles shown off in various cutscenes, implying you'll be waging war throughout the game. We also saw some of the open world with horse riding and dragon flight seemingly confirmed as traversal options.

Before showing the new Xenoblade game however, Nintendo confirmed that all three Xenoblade Chronicles games will be getting Nintendo Switch 2 Edition releases. They'll all be getting 4K resolution and 60fps docked and 1080p resolution and 60fps handheld boosts, with enhanced resolution and framerates for in-game cutscenes too.

On top of that, the Switch 2 Edition versions of all three games are getting bonuses. The first game is adding a "high-speed vehicle" and voiced Heart-to-Heart conversations, the second is getting "mercenary squad battles, "a new rare Blade and quest, while the third is getting a wave-based horde mode, a new hero and quest, and voiced event scenes.

Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition releases today digitally, with Xenoblade 2 set to release on July 30 digitally. Sadly, fans of 3 have a bit longer to wait as the Switch 2 Edition won't release until December 3. Let's just hope they are better than the Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X.

JRPGs struggle to break 3 million sales, Xenoblade lead once said, and after his hesitance to focus on cutting-edge tech, Xenoblade Chronicles X's wonky Switch 2 edition may have proven him right

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on September 17, 2026, per today's Nintendo Direct live stream.

The next installment in Intelligent Systems' long-running strategy RPG series joins an extraordinarily busy September, with dozens of games big and small all piling into the month ahead of the no man's land developing around GTA 6.

The new trailer features the four main characters participating in Fortune's Weave's central Heroic Games: Cai, a young boy; Dietrich, an older swordsman; Theodora, a warrior queen; and Leda, a battle-ready bard. The end of the trailer is a closer look at the adult form of Sothis, a returning character from Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

We also see a bit more of the social and combat activities available inside the walls of the main city, as well as the turn-based battles raging outside, grounded in the deadline system that challenges you to spend your time wisely. Throughout the video, we see an objective to "Fight in the first main match" in the city of Dagsion, with a deadline of September 1 and 200 turns remaining.

Combat will look familiar to veterans of the series: move your units around and plan their attacks based on damage, critical, and accuracy ratings, as well as weapon and type matchups. Which character you choose to play, how you train them, and who else you recruit to your forces will seemingly alter the course of fights considerably. The main characters have their own special attacks for combat, for one. Cai, for example, has (likely in addition to other moves) an enormous magic AoE blast. Leda, as a bard, unsurprisingly seems to have some support skills in addition to her swordplay.

Additionally, a collector's edition for Fortune's Weave, dubbed the Dagdan Collection, was revealed. It comes with art cards of the main characters (and seemingly several others), a steelbook case, a map of the land of Dagda, an art book, and a standard boxed copy of the game itself.

Xenoblade Chronicles Genesis is coming in 2027, and it looks very different to Monolith Soft's last JRPG trilogy.

The latest Nintendo Direct has unveiled some exciting news and given us a sneak peek at what's in store for the Switch 2 – including a huge Pokemon Pokopia update as well as new paid DLC for the adorable 2026 banger.

That's right, cozy gamers – we're eating good this summer, as Nintendo has a bubbly underwater update in store for Pokopia... and it's coming in August. There's more in store than just that, however. Not only will we get to take our Dittos into the sea to terraform, build, and expand, but we're getting expansions, too.

An expansion pass is dropping today, in fact, and it'll include Bubbly Basin – an (unsurprisingly) underwater-themed DLC – in August, as well as "additional new features" sometime in late 2026 and an "additional new town" later down the line in 2027.

Bubbly Basin itself boasts a new town, with fresh outfits, furniture, and friends – emphasis on the "friends" bit, y'all. That means new Pokemon, and I'm so ready to see Ditto potentially transform into other cute 'mons.

In the trailer, we already see Mudkip and Popplio, for example, which are exciting enough as it is. Who else is coming? I'm not sure, but I can't wait to see.

Thankfully, there's not long left to wait now until the free watery update and the paid DLC start rolling out in August – so we'll see then. I've got my fingers crossed for all the mermaid vibes with outfits and furniture, so I'll be holding on with bated breath.

Searching for something else to wishlist? Here are the best new games coming this year and beyond to look forward to.

Capcom has confirmed that not only is Dragon's Dogma 2 coming to Switch 2, but it'll be arriving alongside the long-awaited DLC expansion.

After many of us had lost hope that Dragon's Dogma 2 would get a Dark Arisen-like expansion for 2024's most underrated game, following the base game being series creator Hideaki Itsuno's last project at Capcom before leaving in 2024, some anniversary artwork earlier this year inspired a little bit of hope.

And in a Nintendo Direct of all places, Capcom has finally announced that Dragon's Dogma 2 Dark Arisen will be released on October 9, 2026. The footage showed off a new region to explore named Norgan, a snowy region not seen in the original game.

Capcom released another trailer for the expansion on its YouTube channel, showing some of the new beasts we'll be scrapping against in the land of Norgan, most notably a new ice dragon enemy and another that summons armies of the dead to attack you. This trailer also confirmed that the expansion will release as a separate DLC on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on the same day that the Nintendo Switch 2 edition releases.

A Switch 2 version of the game is set to release on the same day, Capcom confirmed, alongside the announcement that Onimusha: Way of the Sword will also be arriving on the console. And considering how much Dragon's Dogma 2 struggled performance wise on the base PS5, I'm concerned about the Switch 2 version, but optimistic Capcom has managed to update it to make it work.

The original Dragon's Dogma's Dark Arisen expansion took that game from a solid RPG to one of the best there ever was, so for a game as already as good as Dragon's Dogma 2, I'm already feral. And unfortunately for the 500 other games coming out in September and October, this is going to be my go-to.

Former Devil May Cry and Dragon's Dogma 2 director says he can't make "the kind of games I'd most like to" as "they'd be too out there" and "probably wouldn't sell"

Now that we know there is a Nintendo Direct tomorrow, the rumor mill is abuzz with suggestions on what will be announced. The big expectation everyone has is the reveal of a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, but someone else might steal the show - Wario.

Even before this week's Direct was officially revealed, Nintendo leakers were already talking about what projects are due for announcements. On June 7, prevalent leaker noarmsandnolegs took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a gif of Wario and Link. This backs up previous leaks that indicated a new Wario Land title could be coming in 2027.

Noarmsandnolegs previously served as the main source on the Rayman Legends Retold and Spyro: A Realm Beyond leaks, both of which were later officially announced over the course of Summer Game Fest. Following their initial post, the leaker then made a more direct statement on the rumors, saying outright, "A new Wario game is coming. Wahahaha." They then elaborate, saying that they cannot confirm if it will be a new entry in the Wario Land series, though they point to the apparent uptick in Wario appearances lately. That includes Wario World on Nintendo Switch Online and a Wario Land track in Mario Kart World.

If it is not a new Wario Land game then the most likely announcement will be a new WarioWare title, assuming there's a Wario reveal coming at all. The last title in that series, WarioWare: Move It!, released in 2023. So it hasn't been that long in the grand scheme of things, even if I'd never say no to a new entry.

WarioWare: Move It is the Smooth Moves spiritual successor I've always wanted

Nintendo has confirmed that the rumored Nintendo Direct for June 9, 2026, will be happening as Summer Game Fest continues.

Last week, rumors emerged that a new Nintendo Direct – the first proper one since last September – would be airing this week on June 9, and despite the Nintendo Today app missing its usual update time, Nintendo went for the swerve as it has now announced that the rumors are true, and a Nintendo Direct will be on the air at 7am PT / 10am ET / 3pm BST on June 9, 2026.

In a follow-up post, Nintendo confirms that the Nintendo Direct will run for 50 minutes. In a press release, it states that the Direct will be "focusing on games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch this year."

Directly following the stream is a new edition of Nintendo Treehouse: Live, which will run for a further 95 minutes – presumably showing off some of the big surprises from the Direct in more detail.

Obviously, we don't know exactly what games it will focus on, but it's probably a given that titles releasing in the near-future like Star Fox, Rhythm Heaven Groove, and Splatoon Raiders will show up. Plus, there's the rumored Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and new Switch Sports release, which are likely on the cards after similar leaks have come true in recent months. Plus we're overdue updates on The Duskbloods and Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave.

Monster Hunter Wilds is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, and we hope this goes better than the PC port.

As Summer Game Fest season continues on, of course Nintendo Direct rumors are picking up steam, with one reportedly happening next week.

Nintendo has largely been on a February, June, and September Direct schedule for years at this point, however, the company has been going a bit rogue recently. Last year, we got March, April, and September Directs, whereas the year before – and this year – February was skipped entirely. So, the destined Nintendo Direct schedule is no longer a given.

Some people have even thought that Nintendo Directs are going to become a rarity as Nintendo has been dropping random announcements like Star Fox and Splatoon Raiders through the Nintendo Today app. However, from the sounds of things, we'll be getting a June Nintendo Direct this year as part of the overall Summer Game Fest festivities.

Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb spoke on an episode of his podcast Last of the Nintendogs saying "I've heard Tuesday" for a potential direct, specifically "Tuesday morning," which would fit the 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm BST Nintendo Direct timing that the company has had for its last few presentations. However, Grubb clarifies that "things get a little messed up," and that there's potential for it to be on Wednesday, instead.

Nate The Hate – who has become a big name in the Nintendo leaks community over the last year or so – also plans to release a podcast later today in which the Direct timing will be talked about, which could potentially back up Grubb's comments. Presumably, this Direct is where we could see his remaining leaks like the rumored The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and new Switch Sports release, after his Star Fox leak already came to fruition.

Be sure to take a look at our Summer Game Fest schedule to see what game showcases are already announced, and when they're happening.

Yoshi is having a bit of a moment right now beyond the imminent arrival of Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. He's appearing in 2026's biggest film, which means he's also all over toy-store shelves and popcorn buckets and every other possible merchandising opportunity. And yet it's somehow been seven years since he last headlined his own videogame.

Since Yoshi's Crafted World in 2019, he's been stuck at the back of the queue while Kirby, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach and the Jumpman himself have all taken their turn to star in platforming games of one kind or another. I come to my first hands-on with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book wondering if that leaves any room for our little green dino.

It's a crowded roster, and with Mario the undisputed king of the genre, every other platforming mascot has to specialise in some way. They have to find their thing. Kirby, and latterly Peach, have cornered the market on transformations, while DK has recently pivoted into an extreme form of landscape gardening. So what exactly is Yoshi's thing?

You might point to the very particular set of moves he's been packing since 1995: the floaty jump, ground-pound, and gobbling of enemies. But, well, that sounds a lot like Kirby, doesn't it? The two are on similar turf in other ways, too, both being little cuties, both offering a more approachable way into the genre for younger players. I'll admit that, as an alleged "grown-up", I can find the latter a bit offputting – my gaming palate prefers the sophistication of Mario Mario, thank you very much.

OK, how about Yoshi as the art connoisseur of the group? Since the crayon aesthetic of Yoshi's Island, every new game has come with a fresh twist on the handcrafted visual style. And Yoshi and the Mysterious Book continues that tradition: each level exists inside the pages of a book, rendered in a kind of sketchy colored-pencil effect. In play, this actually proves to be a bit of an aesthetic step down from Crafted World's incredible art-supply dioramas – to my eye, it looks more like the watercolor filter you can apply in Donkey Kong Bananza's Photo Mode than a true bespoke visual style.

And yet, having bounced off every previous Yoshi game before the credits rolled, put off by their soft-play approach to platforming, after a couple of hours in Mysterious Book's company I'm convinced things will be different this time. And it's all thanks to Mr E, helping Yoshi to finally find his thing.

Booksmarts

Mr E drops onto Yoshi Island and politely introduces himself by his full name: Mister Encyclopedia. (Yes, 'Mr' is short for 'Mister' and yes I do find that delightful.) With his beady eyes, giant moustache, and monocle, he looks like Mr Monopoly (short, presumably, for 'Mister Monopoly') but try not to hold that against him. He's had a tough time recently, after some of his contents were mysteriously erased, and now it's up to the Yoshis to fill his pages back in.

This begins with Mr E opening up to a cutaway illustration of Wildwoods, a shaded undergrowth habitat that is essentially the first overworld of Mysterious Book. Using Mr E’s monocle as a magnifying glass, you pick one creature from the landscape to zoom in on, and are then transported into a more traditional side-on level.

I say 'traditional' – you don't beat these levels by making it to a finish line a few screens to the right, Mario-style. They're more open-ended, and completed by making a discovery. What exactly that discovery might be… well, if you knew in advance, then it wouldn't really be one, would it?

As you work your way towards this primary objective, you'll come across a lot of smaller discoveries, marked up on screen as you do with a cute little diagram and text description – kind of like if encyclopedias had achievement notifications. Generally, the first discovery you'll make in each level is: what does this critter taste like?

Yoshi still has that same moveset at his disposal, but now each action is a way of prodding at your subject and seeing what happens. Mlem! The tongue goes out, and now you know that this little beastie is bitter or sweet in the mouth. If you then try swallowing it into an egg, or spitting it back out… you might learn something else about the creature, all of which have at least a few interesting properties to be discovered and played around with.

Animal magnetism

There's this one species of beaky creatures with a leaf on their head, like a missing link from the Lotad-Ludicolo Pokémon evolutionary tree. Bounce on their heads and they'll sing a note, moving up the do-re-mi scale based (I think) on their color. One discovery waiting to be unlocked in their introductory level involves getting them to play a simple tune. But, I'll be disappointed if less tone-deaf players haven't got these leafy lads belting out Chappell Roan numbers by the summer.

Another example you might have seen in the Nintendo Direct trailer that revealed Mysterious Book to the world last September: these little dandelion-looking things that scatter into the air when you run through them and take root wherever they land, with different effects depending on what kind of surface it is. Grass causes them to grow huge and yellow, for some reason. Alighting on a boulder, they'll soften the rock up for a ground-pounding. And if you can nudge them into a pond, they'll become absorbent, allowing you to control the water levels depending on how many you plant. Precisely manipulating their movements is a pain – it's like trying to control the wind – and yet even on a tight preview deadline I can't help but persisting until I've tried out every possible combination.

Now, imagine what happens to those combinations once the game starts introducing multiple creatures into a single level. At one point I end up riding a living skateboard across water, with a bubble-blowing frog riding on my back. It's a total accident, and I've no idea if this counts as a discovery, but I can confirm it's the most I've giggled at a videogame in a while.

You might have noticed I've not used actual names for any of these weird little dudes, and that's because Mysterious Book lets you come up with your own. You can take this responsibility very seriously indeed, or else treat it as a Jackbox-style prompt to write a little joke.

There are robust profanity filters in place, naturally, but it's still a surprise to be handed naming rights by a company so infamously protective of its brands. Especially when the creature you're studying is a Shy Guy, but you've decided it should be Maskette or Colin or KaneNLynch instead, and the game just starts referring to them by that name from then on.

The only name I try that does get turned down is 'Yoshi' (my personal justification being that this is the only word in Yoshi's vocabulary). Mr E gently shuts that one down, pointing out that things are going to get confusing. It's a little thing, but I love when a game sees you coming like this, and has something ready in response – the kinds of moments that Yoshi and the Mysterious Book seems poised to deliver to curious players.

There's this lovely quality of experimentation that has long been part of Nintendo's best games, back to the bombable walls and secret exits of NES-era Zelda and Mario, but has really come to the fore since The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. And here it is again, albeit on a much smaller scale, presented in a way more approachable to the younger audience that'll no doubt be coming to it straight from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. But none of that stops me, a jaded old man, from taking the same kind of joy in it, as I poke at things just to see what will happen.

So this is Yoshi’s thing, at least for this one game. He’s a naturalist, leveraging his very particular set of skills to observe exotic lifeforms and record his findings in a book. The Charles Darwin of the Mushroom Kingdom. I can't quite believe how sold I am on that combination, nor just how impatient I am to gobble my way through a Yoshi game. Mark it down: a new discovery!

Take a look at our upcoming Switch 2 games list for more to play!

Nintendo knows we all want a new Nintendo Direct, but hopes have been somewhat dashed after it announced the release date for its next big game on social media and its news app.

People ask for a Nintendo Direct pretty much every week, but given that Nintendo hasn't held a traditional one yet this year, some assumed that we'd need to be getting one soon. This is mostly down to the fact that Pokemon Pokopia was the latest Switch 2 game with a date on the release calendar, with dates for Splatoon Raiders, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave unaccounted for.

But you can now cross one of those off the list, as Nintendo decided to celebrate Mario Day by releasing a new trailer for Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, which in turn revealed that the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive platformer will be releasing on May 21, 2026.

The trailer shows the Yoshi clan discovering the titular Mysterious Book: Mr. E, who allows Yoshi to travel into his pages and discover different creatures. The trailer mainly focuses on a weird frog-like creature that can blow bubbles for Yoshi to ride in, with little notes appearing as the creature is interacted with. It apparently tastes bad, but feeding it different items will change how its bubbles work.

Notice how I've said "the creature" all this time? Well, that's because it's up to you to name it. You can take Mr. E's suggestion – which for the bubble blower is Glubbit – but Yoshi is allowed to name the creature. Nintendo didn't reveal how you do this, but barring a case of pre-selected words being used for the mechanic, I imagine you'll be seeing some very NSFW names hit the web within 10 minutes of the game's launch.

Super Mario Galaxy Movie reveals Donald Glover as the voice of Yoshi and more new casting in a star-spanning trailer.

Pokemon Day is fast approaching, and with it a Pokemon Presents showcase that's set to announce new info about the series – perhaps even generation 10? We can only hope.

In what is a yearly tradition at this point, a Pokemon Presents (basically a Nintendo Direct solely about the series) will be airing on Pokemon Day, February 27, which marks the day that Pokemon Red and Green launched in Japan. Since 2016, The Pokemon Company has been airing a showcase every year, announcing the likes of shows, TCG expansions, DLC, re-releases, and, of course, games.

This year's celebrations started early with Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen getting a surprise reveal for Nintendo Switch, with both set to release on Friday, allowing people to re-experience the games that started it all – even if it's a bit of an expensive way to do so. Given how these showcases go, I expect the majority of it will be updates to the countless Pokemon mobile games, tournament info for TCG and the games, new stuff for Pokemon TCG, and maybe TV show stuff like a new Pokemon Concierge season. Pokemon Pokopia is sure to show up too, ahead of its release next week.

And I fully expect to see Pokemon Winds and Waves (the rumored names for Generation 10 following a GameFreak leak). The 20th-anniversary Pokemon Presents was where we got our first glimpse of Sun and Moon, and since then, every new generation has been announced at a Pokemon Day showcase.

How to watch the Pokemon Presents Pokemon Day showcase

The Pokemon Presents will air live on Friday, February 27 at 6am PT, 9am ET, 2pm GMT on the official Pokémon YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and TikTok channels. The showcase will run for 25 minutes, as confirmed by the Japanese Pokemon Twitter account.

I joined 75 Pokemon fanatics in a sea of retro consoles for 18,508 glorious shiny-hunting encounters combined.

Pokemon Day Deals

Two more Nintendo trademarks have been updated, spurring on speculation about an upcoming Nintendo Direct.

Despite the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase taking place just yesterday, fans are convinced that there will be a full-blown Nintendo Direct in the near future. While there are rumors, there's no concrete evidence or reliable leakers to point to it being a thing just yet. But an updated Splatoon Raiders trademark recently released copium into the world that this rumored general Direct could be coming sooner rather than later.

Much like with Splatoon Raiders, Twitter user MikeOdysseyYT has spotted some trademarks with a "publication date" of this month, including Rhythm Heaven Groove – or as it will be known in December, 2026's Game of the Year. However, it's set for the following week on February 24, 2026, as opposed to Splatoon's February 17 trademark publication date. We haven't seen Rhythm Heaven since it was first announced back in March 2025, so it was a bit of a given that – barring a delay from its 2026 release date – the next Nintendo Direct might give us a look at it regardless of trademark status.

However, February 17 also has a trademark filing for "Mario & Wario" which is an obscure Japan-only SNES game developed by Pokemon creator Game Freak. Which would be interesting and somewhat exciting, had that game not already been made available on Nintendo Switch Online back in October of 2025. Its inclusion has me a bit less convinced that these trademark filings actually mean anything, in fact, its application filing date even matches up with the date it came to NSO. Of course, with the Switch 2 mouse controls, there's always a chance that Nintendo has decided to remake the game, but I wouldn't hold my breath there either.

Fallout 4 arrives this month on Switch 2, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming in May

Special agent Leon Kennedy. In a creamy leather jacket. Smoldering. Aiming his gun at the ceiling like he's a baby who's been left alone for too long in the latest Nintendo Switch 2 preview for Resident Evil Requiem.

Something is severely wrong with this picture. Actually, several things are wrong: Why did this morning's Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase bring up Resident Evil if it wasn't going to show any blood? Are we supposed to be soothed by all those visibly ragged edges around the Green Herb? Who put my husband Leon in such an embarrassing situation? Watch the new Switch 2 trailer below and decide for yourself:

Some people have, I think, correctly determined that Nintendo wants to avoid demonstrating anything more violent than a Goomba stomp during its livestreams, since the developer has spent its recent history abandoning weird and embracing full family friendliness. The great Indiana Jones can't manage to sink a single bullet in his new Showcase trailer, either.

"Are you censoring this one too?" asks a comment under the YouTube listing for Resident Evil Requiem's Switch 2 preview. GamesRadar+ has reached out to Nintendo for comment.

Once you look past the choppy animations I didn't notice during my Resident Evil Requiem preview on PS5, you'll notice Nintendo Leon gritting his teeth and shooting directly left of a mutant's head, aiming down sights and firing straight into the dirt, or spin-attacking the air with a chainsaw.

"With his physical prowess," a trailer narrator adds. All right, I'll keep telling myself that.

Resident Evil Requiem won't suffer from RE6's multi-protagonist issues, director says, as Grace and Leon pair together like fish and rice: "We're the 'inventors of sushi' here."

Although Bethesda Game Studios left us a bit (perhaps an understatement) disappointed with its Skyrim port on Switch 2, there's still a chance the newly announced Oblivion Remastered release on Nintendo's new console might impress… right?

Todd Howard, the Bethesda boss himself, made a short appearance during today's Nintendo Direct – but did he announce anything about The Elder Scrolls 6? The answer is no, and I'm not sure why I do this to myself anymore.

What he did unveil – amid a Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition announcement and a look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on the Switch 2 – is a new port of Oblivion Remastered on Nintendo's latest console.

If you remember the Skyrim port on Switch 2, which arrived in December, then you might also recall players discussing how it "runs like wet ass" and is overall a "horrendous" release.

It wasn't a good look for Bethesda, not to mention all of the jokes about how it's like the 117th time or so that the studio has re-launched Skyrim on a new platform, but who knows – Oblivion Remastered might prove to be different.

It's set to launch sometime this year, announced alongside a simple "2026" release date thus far, featuring all the revamped visuals and horrifying Oblivion faces you know and love from the 2025 remake.

Although we've not seen too much of it yet, from what was showcased during the Nintendo Direct, it looks… okay. The framerate could be better, of course, and it's obviously not as nice-looking as it is on the PC, but I love a good handheld game.

Comments under the clip of the new trailer show that fans are a bit wary right now – and understandably so, if you ask me. "I'm going to wait," writes one. "After the lazy Skyrim 30 FPS port, I need to see how the game runs." Another adds, "No release date is crazy."

There are also plenty of excited stans, though, with some exclaiming that they "can't wait" to play the Oblivion Remastered port on Switch 2, whenever it arrives.

Here's hoping that when it does finally drop on the new Nintendo console, it is indeed a better experience than Skyrim has been thus far. I might enjoy poking a bit of fun at Bethesda, but I love The Elder Scrolls myself and am admittedly going to shell out for yet another port.

Need more to look forward to while you wait to replay Oblivion Remastered… again? Browse through our roundup of the coolest new games coming this year and beyond.