Nintendo has confirmed that Pokemon Winds and Waves will be open world, following on from Game Freak's rough first attempt in Scarlet and Violet.

Pokemon hasn't gone through rough times quite like it did with Scarlet and Violet. Sure, the games sold well – it's Pokemon, after all – but the fan reaction to its performance and open world woes was the most negative the fanbase has ever been, which wasn't a great follow-up from the big Dexit controversy that took place with the previous entries, Sword and Shield. So all eyes are on Gen 10 to see what The Pokemon Company will do with the series.

And now Pokemon Winds and Waves is the official name of Gen 10, somewhat matching what was leaked during the massive "Freakleak." We've also had our first look at the yet-unnamed region, which seems inspired by South East Asia, which was also part of the major leaks. And if the trailer didn't give it away with its massive open seas and swamps, Pokemon will once again be going open world with the new Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive entries as confirmed by the Winds and Waves website.

And while you won't have Miraidon and Koraidon to travel around on this time around, many have noticed that the new trainers have an interesting item strapped to their backs. Both the Winds and Waves trainer outfits come equipped with what seem to be hoverboards, that being the classic Back to the Future-like versions, not the two-wheelers that have caused countless videos of people's grandparents falling into furniture.

Given how much water is in the trailer (or to evoke the forbidden texts, too much water), I'd imagine you'll be able to use these boards to traverse the high seas, putting poor old Lapras out of a job after years of service. Let's just hope the performance is a lot better this time around, finally giving an open-world Pokemon the care it deserves.

Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness is coming to Nintendo Switch Online next month, but there's no sign of Colosseum yet

Pokemon Day Deals

Nintendo has confirmed that Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness will be arriving on Nintendo Switch Online GameCube library next month… but weirdly, not Colosseum.

Back when the Nintendo Switch 2 was first announced, we got confirmation that GameCube was on the way for Nintendo Switch Online, arriving alongside the console's launch. While we only started out with three games on the subscription, we were promised a number of others including the likes of Luigi's Mansion, Chibi Robo, and Fire Emblem Path of Radiance, providing ways to play some rarer games without spending a ridiculous amount of money on them.

However, among the announced games were Pokemon's GameCube duology Pokemon Colosseum and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness. And with every passing announcement – especially Wario World, which wasn't even on the original lineup – Pokemon fans were desperate to find out when their games would arrive.

During the Pokemon Presents showcase today, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness was confirmed to be arriving on the NSO + Expansion Pack service next month. It'll be given all of the Switch Online benefits like save states and multiple regional versions being available. Plus, Gale of Darkness is another of the aforementioned extremely expensive GameCube games, so people will finally have a cheap way to play it.

Weirdly, despite being a sequel, its predecessor Pokemon Colosseum seemingly won't be coming to the platform just yet despite being announced for the service alongside the original wave of games. I'm not sure why Nintendo was so keen to release a sequel first, but at the very least we'll have something to tide us over until Pokemon Winds and Waves releases next year.

"We had no idea this would be such a phenomenon": As Pokemon Red and Blue turn 30, here's how Game Freak created one of the most important RPGs of all time

Pokemon Day Deals

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

Pokemon Day 2026 is almost upon us. The annual celebration, which celebrates the release of the original Pokemon games in Japan on February 27, 1996, is the biggest unveiling of Poke-news of the year. Each year, Nintendo and The Pokemon Company drop trailers, giveaways, and new reveals during a Pokemon Presents livestream – and not only is this year no exception, it could be bigger than ever.

2026 marks the Pokemon series' 30th anniversary, and it seems likely that that will mark an upping of the ante – we've already got a good sense of what's likely to happen in a bumper year for the series, and Pokemon Day is where we'll find out for sure. From updates to mobile juggernauts like Pokemon Go to new info on upcoming releases like Pokopia and Pokemon Champions, and even maybe the reveal of a whole new generation of games, here are my top Pokemon Day 2026 predictions.

1. The unveiling of Pokemon Gen 10

Two new mainline Pokemon games are the least I'm expecting from Pokemon Day. Four years out from the Gen 9 releases of Scarlet and Violet, 2026 would likely have been a good time for the release of a new generation even if it wasn't the series' 30th anniversary.

The fact that we're hitting that Pokemon is in a milestone year basically made the release of Gen 10 this year a given, but those games are also an appallingly badly-kept secret. A series of enormous leaks towards the end of last year all but confirmed the existence of the games, thought to be titled Pokemon Wind and Pokemon Waves. The Pokemon 'Teraleak' originally started in 2024, and seems likely to continue in the run-up to the new games. Exactly how accurate they prove to be is something I'm keen to see for myself, but for now, the arrival of a whole new generation this Pokemon Day seems all but guaranteed.

2. A new look at Pokemon Champions

The other major Pokemon release expected this year is Pokemon Champions. An overhaul of the series' competitive scene, which will be home to everything from impromptu contests to the official world championship, was announced during the 2025 Pokemon Day broadcast, with a 2026 release window revealed as part of last year's show.

With Pokemon Champions intended to be used as the home of the 2026 World Championship in August, it seems pretty likely that we'll be getting a release date during the Pokemon Presents broadcast. And with a relatively small window during which that release date can realistically fall to ensure the competitive integrity of that major competition, I think we'll be getting a late-Spring release date for Pokemon Champions.

3. Who's that Pokemon (mobile game update)?

Death, taxes, and mobile game updates during a Pokemon Presents livestream are three of life's constants. Every year, like clockwork, The Pokemon Company takes a chunk out of its biggest broadcast to show off updates to (and give out handouts for) its suite of mobile-first games. What shape those will take I couldn't tell you, but expect Pokemon Masters EX, Pokemon Unite, Pokemon Sleep, and Pokemon Cafe Remix all to make appearances stuffed with various premium currency giveaways. This year will likely include newcomer Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket, which debuted in late 2024 and is the perfect addition to this roster of mobile-first Pokemon games.

4. Pokemon x Aardman animation

Following the success of Netflix's adorable Pokemon Concierge series, a second stop-motion series is on the way. Pokemon's collaboration with Aardman, the creators of Wallace and Gromit, was initially teased at the end of 2024 for a 2027 release. That's still a long way off, but given that we got a short teaser trailer last summer, maybe we'll get to see a little more this week.

The series – The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd and Pichu – has remained well-hidden. Beyond a teaser focused more on a sedate Wooloo than the titular characters, we know almost nothing about the new show. That could change this year, but it's equally likely that we don't get to see more until next year's Pokemon Day. There is, however, a slim chance that we get an announcement of a third series of Pokemon Concierge, a beloved but oh-so-short show that there still seems to be plenty of appetite for.

5. 10 years of Pokemon Go-ing to the polls

2026 will mark the tenth anniversary of Pokemon Go, and that brief period in the summer of 2016 where everyone from the most seasoned Pokemon fan to a total series newcomer was working out how to schedule 10-mile egg-hatching walks into their day-to-day lives. We'll probably never see the like again, but Pokemon Go has remained something of a stalwart for fans who have spent the last decade travelling the world alongside the game's biggest events.

Technically, there's not much left to add to Pokemon Go – every region has been brought to the game, and outside of a handful of more niche legendaries, there aren't even loads of Pokemon left that you can't already get your hands on. But I don't see Pokemon passing up the opportunity to celebrate this milestone birthday of one of its biggest success stories. What shape it will take is anyone's guess, but expect some candles for PoGo.

6. More DLC for Z-A?

There's some debate as to just how likely more DLC for Pokemon Legends Z-A might be. While mainline entries Sword/Shield and Scarlet/Violet both received two-part post-launch efforts, Legends Arceus only received one major content update after its release. Legends Z-A has already had its first update, but online speculation suggests there might be a desire from The Pokemon Company to keep fans engaged in the run-up to Champions and the Gen 10 games. There's only limited historical precedent for a second Z-A DLC drop, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.

7. Pokopia deep dive

Finally, the appearance of Pokopia seems like the safest bet of all. With a release date set for just over a week after Pokemon Day, I'd guess that a chunky overview trailer introducing those few fans who aren't already aware of Pokopia to its many charms is basically a guarantee.

If you're one of those unfortunate fans, then all you need to know is this: Pokopia is Pokemon's answer to the Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley-style life sim. Playing as a Ditto, you'll transform your island into the perfect paradise for a variety of Pokemon. If that sounds like pretty much everything you've ever dreamed of, then I've got great news - it's out on March 5, so you won't have to wait more than a few days to check it out.

Catch up ahead of the big day with our list of the best Pokemon games.

The latest Pokemon Day deals

The Pokemon YouTube channel has revealed the runtime for this week's Pokemon Presents presentation, and its 24-minute runtime makes it the longest in two years.

Alongside the announcement that Pokemon Legends: Z-A will be releasing in October, The Pokemon Company unconventionally announced a Pokemon Presents presentation months in advance. And here we are two months later, with the Pokemon Presents stream set to take place tomorrow, on Tuesday, July 22. As we approach the stream, the runtime of the event has been revealed, and it's a long one.

According to Serebii.net webmaster Joe Merrick, the Pokemon Korea YouTube channel has revealed that the presentation will last 24 minutes, with Merrick providing a runtime rundown of all of the previous presentations going back to June 2020 when it debuted. This 24-minute runtime makes this week's showcase the fourth-longest in history behind February 2023, August 2021, and August 2023, respectively.

How to watch the July Pokemon Presents

You can watch this week's Pokemon Presents stream through the Pokemon Company's YouTube channel on July 22 at 6am PDT, 9am EDT, 2pm BST, or 3pm CEST.

While the showcase will undoubtedly feature a look at Pokemon Legends: Z-A, I wouldn't exactly get my hopes up too much for there to be massive announcements because of this runtime. The longest presentation by almost 10 minutes was the August 23 showcase, but other than a deep dive into the DLC for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, there really wasn't much to write home about on the mainline game front.

Pokemon Presents covers everything from the anime series, Pokemon Unite, card games, and the countless mobile games, so the lengthy presentation probably doesn't mean we'll get a Generation 10 announcement or classic games on NSO, but we can hope, right?

Pokemon Black and White fans are back with the remake hopium as Pokemon posts a teaser ahead of its upcoming Presents stream: "The room is completely black and white."

Pokemon Presents makes a grand return next week, and Pokemon Black and White fans are convinced that we might finally see remakes of the Unova region RPGs.

Pokemon hasn't stated what we can expect from the stream of announcements airing on July 22 – another look at Pokemon Legends: Z-A seems like a solid guess since it's releasing this October, but nostalgic fans are hoping for a little more than that. This September will mark 15 years since Pokemon Black and White first launched in Japan, and some wholeheartedly believe the time might have come for us to return to the RPGs on Switch 2.

A new teaser for the Pokemon Presents stream was posted to the official Japanese Twitter account today, showing Pikachu looking at a giant screen while standing in front of some audio equipment. It's probably meant to show the little guy preparing for the big stream, but Unova fans have other ideas.

"The room is completely black and white (I'm totally delusional)," points out fan account Out of Context Unova, promptly kicking off the hype as others flock to back the idea up.

"No no no, you are right, not only that the Pikachu model looks like the one from the Pokemon Black and White anime opening," one speculates, while another agrees: "You're not delusional. They've been posting about BW a ton lately. It's almost definitely happening." One even goes a step further, and suggests that "the architecture too is Gen 5."

Fans aren't wrong, there has been more Unova region posting from Pokemon's official channels lately, but it's worth pointing out that that's more than likely marketing for the new Trading Card Game set, Black Bolt and White Flare. A black and white room for the Presents stream teaser, though? It does seem like that'd be a separate hint, if it's meant to be one at all.

This November, it'll have been four years since the release of Sinnoh remakes Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Looking at the series' history (specifically, from FireRed and LeafGreen onwards), we've seen remakes be released anywhere from three to five years after each other, so the gap isn't totally unreasonable right now.

Black and White remakes definitely aren't games I'd want to see rushed out, though – the originals (and their sequels) are still some of my favorite RPGs of all time, and I'd want to see them done right. Imagining a HD-2D style Switch 2 remake, though? That's enough to make me want to believe Pokemon is hinting at something, too.

In the meantime, be sure to check out our roundup of the best Pokemon games.

A Pokemon Presents is airing next week on August 8, promising 35 minutes of brand-new reveals and announcements.

Just earlier today, August 4, The Pokemon Company announced its next blockbuster showcase. This Pokemon Presents showcase will offer us, as always, a look into what comes next for the mammoth worldwide franchise, and over a lengthy 35 minutes, no less. The showcase will be kicking off at 6 am PT/9 am ET/2 pm BST.

So what can we expect from the latest Pokemon Presents? For starters, we'll likely be getting another new look at the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC packs, which are still slated to be launching later this year. We did see a brief trailer for the two expansions earlier this year at a separate Nintendo showcase, but unfortunately that trailer didn't yield a release date.

This new presentation should give us a new look at Detective Pikachu 2, aka Detective Pikachu Returns. The long-gestating sequel will be finally coming to the Nintendo Switch later this year on October 6 after emerging from a lengthy period of radio silence earlier this year at a Nintendo Direct.

Aside from that, we should also get at least one trailer for Pokemon Horizons: The Series, the new Pokemon anime series which is picking up after the end of Ash and Pikachu's adventures. We previously got a lengthy sneak peek of the first episode, so the new Pokemon Presents may confirm when the series will begin airing for Western audiences.

Check out our upcoming Switch games guide for a look at all the other titles coming to Nintendo's console later this year. 

The Nintendo Direct June 2023 is now over! Announced just yesterday, there have been rumors circulating about a June Nintendo Direct for some time now, but now it's finally all out there. We got a tonne of new announcements, including a new 2D Mario game called Super Mario Bros Wonder, a remake of Super Mario RPG, a new Peach game, and Detective Pikachu 2. And that's not even all of it. 

Check out all the announcements below:

Biggest reveals

• Pokemon Scarlet and Violet The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC gets fully detailed
• Multiplayer farming sim Palia coming holiday 2023, and also to Switch
• New Splatfest pits vanilla against strawberry and mint chip July 14-16
• Detective Pikachu 2 is real, and it's coming this year
• The Super Mario RPG remake is real, with new graphics and old gameplay
• Princess Peach is getting her own game, but it doesn't have a name yet
• Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon from the 3DS is getting a remake
• The best Batman games are coming to Switch this year
• Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is the series' take on Pokemon but with genetic splicing
• Pikmin 4 gets gameplay walkthrough, confirms interior and underground areas
• Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection is out in October, and it's coming to Switch
• Indie game phenomenon Vampire Survivors comes to Switch with co-op in August
• Wave 5 of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass adds Petey Piranha, Wiggler and Kamek as new drivers
• Hell yes, another WarioWare game is on the way - WarioWare Move It
• Tears of the Kingdom Zelda and Ganondorf amiibos coming this holiday
• Super Mario Bros Wonder revives 2D action this October

Best of the rest

• Sonic Superstars got a new trailer after its SGF reveal
• Mythforce is a game inspired by Saturday morning cartoons
• Gloomhaven coming to Switch on September 18
• More tracks confirmed for Just Dance 2024 
• Silent Hope is a new XSeed action-RPG game coming October 3
• New trailer for fantasy farming sim Fae Farm
• Manic Mechanics is a four-player co-op mechanic take on Overcooked
• Second paid-for DLC for Mario+Rabbids: Sparks of Hope drops today
• HD versions of Pikmin 1 and 2 dropping digitally on the eShop today
• Another trailer for the pigeon game Headbangers Rhythm Royale dropped
• Penny's Big Breakaway is a 3D platformer from the team behind Sonic Mania
• Remake of second Star Ocean game is on the way in November

For now though, you've got me again - Sam Loveridge - to drum up some hype ahead of today's Nintendo Direct. 

And here was me thinking we wouldn't be having another showcase so close to Summer Game Fest! 

Let's start with Pikmin 4 shall we? It's the only game specifically named by Nintendo for a showcase at today's Nintendo Direct. 

Pikmin 4 is due to launch on July 21, 2023 - so not long to go now. It's been in the works for some time now, but from everything we've seen of it so far, it's looking like it'll be worth the wait. 

You'll be playing as a customizable hero working to save Captain Olimar and the Rescue Corp from yet another crash landing.

Players are very excited about the idea that we'll be going inside a house for the first time. Or so suggests some screenshots that have appeared on Pikmin 4 download cards in Japan...

It's also been confirmed that the game will feature splitscreen co-op, which has been a series staple since Pikmin 2.

Honestly I'm just here for this creature.

It's so weird that we've had such limited info for Pikmin 4 officially really, especially considering it's out quite so soon. 

I imagine that today's Direct will feature a lengthy segment on Olimar's latest adventure. 

But, really I wanna see what other games Nintendo counts among those "Nintendo Switch titles launching this year", because it's looking pretty light.

Just a little KLAXON to say the Nintendo Direct starts in less than 30 minutes!!

Obviously the other imminent Nintendo release is Everybody 1-2 Switch, which is dropping on June 30. 

Weirdly enough though, we got a befuddling Everybody 1-2-Switch trailer mere hours before today's Nintendo Direct. It revealed that the some of the game's minigames support up to 100 player at once, with players able to join in with their phones or Joy-Con controllers, in a similar vein to Jackbox.

I'll warn you, it's quite the trailer if you want to watch it - and involves a man wearing a horse head mask for some reason.

If you're following the chat on the Nintendo Direct feed right now, there's some consistency in the pleas from fans right now. 

It's mainly a new Mario game and Metroid... among chants for Mother 3 of course.

When it comes to Mario, I'm so with them. Super Mario Odyssey was so good and so needs a sequel, but I wonder if Nintendo is waiting to drop that with whatever is cooking for a Switch Pro or Switch sequel. Of course, I doubt either of those would drop today! 

However, stranger things have happened...

As for Metroid, where is Metroid Prime 4? Back in May 2022, it did appear on Nintendo's launch schedule but without a year for release even vaguely attached. Originally announced back in 2017, it's obviously been through some development changes / hell since then. 

Developer Retro Studios has been at the helm since January 2019, and has recently been on a hiring spree for development support, so hopefully, that means things are ramping up. 

Personally, I'm just hoping that it's not all focused on remakes or ports. Some fresh stuff amongst the nostalgia is what the Switch does really need. 

Of course, all my free time is currently devoted to Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, so maybe it's a little mean to say the Switch needs more new games.

Just a few more minutes to go now friends!

Are we ready? I don't think Nintendo is...

Spoke too soon, here we go.

First up, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Details on the DLC?

The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero - this is our first proper look at the DLC. 

The Teal Mask is up first, which is the first expansion. 

Carmine and Keiran and a new locale of Kitakami?

The Local Three - three Pokemon that guard the area. 

And one more that's just teased?

The Indigo Disk - that's the second expansion - is up now. 

Looks like battles in giant greenhouses?

No actual updates on the dates for those either. Still 'fall 2023' and 'winter 2023'.

Sonic Superstars up now, which was revealed earlier this month at Summer Game Fest. 

It's coming this Fall 2023.

Palia up now - which is essentially a multiplayer Stardew / farming sim. 

It looks amazing!

Free to play and launches this holiday 2023.

That's the first release window we've had for that game!

Pre-orders begin for Persona 5 Tactica ahead of its November 17 release date.

Mythforce is a game inspired by Saturday morning cartoons.

Launching 2023.

New Splatfest inbound for Splatoon 3 - Vanilla vs Strawberry vs Mint Chip. 

Mint Choc Chip.... surely. 

And it's none of those - it's Salted Caramel ftw.

NEW DETECTIVE PIKACHU GAME KLAXON

Pikachu is talking and he's such a grump without his coffee. I'm obsessed.

You'll have to work together with Pokemon to solve crimes and mysteries. 

October 6!!! 

Oh hello Princess Peach and Mario

SUPER MARIO RPG. What a back to back reveal.

Oh wow, it's a true RPG too, with turn-based combat. 

Ah I'm guessing this is a remake of the original Super Mario RPG then? I was getting hyped for something truly new there. 

Coming November 17, 2023. Pre-orders begin today.

"Returns with brand new graphics". 

And we're also getting a Prince Peach game! 

Brand new game, no title, but something happens when she steps on a special spot on the stage...

Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon from the 3DS is getting a remake too. Coming next year along with that Princess Peach game.

"More details will be revealed in the future". 

Batman: Arkham trilogy coming to Switch this fall.

Gloomhaven video game coming to Switch too - September 18.

Just Dance 2024 Edition on now. New songs confirmed, including I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston. Tune.

New songs will drop all year round via Just Dance+.

That's coming October 24.

Silent Hope from XSeed Games just got revealed. It's an action RPG game, and it's coming October 3, 2023.

Now we've got another new trailer for fantasy farming game, Fae Farm. 

Console exclusive launch on Switch September 8. We already knew that though.

I missed which game that was, but Manic Mechanics up now. It's a four-player co-op mechanic game  with an Overcooked vibe.

Second paid DLC for Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. New areas, new enemies. IT's called The Spark Hunter and it launches later today.

Alongside a demo for the base game.

New Dragon Quest game will see you combining monsters to use in battle as you become "the master of monsterkind". Is this Dragon Quest Pokemon? No but close.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince - coming December 1.

Ah and here's Pikmin 4!

Oatchi the pup. I'm here for you boy!

Nice overview of the basic Pikmin mechanics for new players here. 

Plus, Oatchi can help you out by helping to carry things, attack and fight, carry Pikmin over waters, and more. 

Pikmin 4 will have you going inside, but also underground to discover different kinds of puzzles. 

Turns out you'll also be doing Dandori Battles, where you have to collect more items than your opponent to rescue the castaway. Doing these will get you more options at base camp, including the option to train up Oatchi. 

You'll also be able to go on night missions for the first time, which apparently makes the monsters mad. There's a new Glow Pikmin type too, specially for the night missions.

HD versions of Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2 launching digitally later today. 

Plus, a Pikmin 4 demo dropping June 28.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 1 is coming to Switch too! 

There's a lot in this collection! Strategy guides too!

Launches October 24, 2023.

Vampire Survivors is coming to Nintendo Switch, alongside four-player co-op, on August 17, 2023.

Now we've got a new trailer from Headbangers Rhythm Royale, originally announced at our own Future Games Show!

Over 20 mini-games included in this rhythm-action battle royale that drops October 31.

Penny's Big Breakaway is a 3D platformer from the team behind Sonic Mania. 

Available early 2024.

Wave 5 of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass - Petey Piranha, Wiggler, Kamek all joining as new playable drivers.

Available this summer!

Remake of second Star Ocean game is on the way.

You can play as either main character, battles happen in real-time. New combat features including allies not in your partner attacking as support. 

Available November 2.

Another Warioware game?

Seemingly all about motion controls - including drying your shell, dancing, and sliding along as Mario. 

Warioware Move It launches November 3.

Over 200 minigames in Warioware Move It!

Seattle's getting Nintendo Live 2023 on September 1-4.

Tears of the Kingdom!!!!!

New Zelda and Ganondorf amiibo coming this holiday. 

NEW 2D MARIO

Mario's got a little flower friend here. Glorious new art style - slightly more cartoon-esque than normal. 

Wonder Seed?

Super Mario Bros Wonder it's called. 

Overworld as normal. Can also play as other characters.

Four-player co-op confimred.

Coming October 20, 2023.

Excuse me? Elephant Mario???

When you touch a wonder flower, anything can happen apparently. 

Oh I am so hyped for that!

Well that was a great Direct! Lots of new reveals, fresh games. It's all looking up for Nintendo's second half of the year.

Let's round-up everything that was announced shall we?

The Nintendo Direct February 2023 showcase is done and dusted, with almost 50 minutes of updates, reveals and more. 

Let's recap everything we saw, starting with the biggest reveals:

• Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gets a new trailer
• Pikmin 4 got a July 21 release date
• Splatoon 3 Battle Pass revealed as paid-for DLC with two waves
• Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp finally coming out April 21
• Game Boy games coming to Switch Online, and GBA too for Expansion Pass subs
• Metroid Prime: Remastered was announced and the digital edition is out today
• Tiny tease for new title - Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
• Xenoblade Chronicle 3 Vol 3 Expansion Pass detailed, including new character Masha
• Promising JRPG Sea of Stars finally has a confirmed release date. 
• Samba de Amigo: Party Central was announced
• Fashion Dreamer is a new game about being a fashion influencer
• Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania got a new trailer
• TRON: Identity is a visual novel, launching first for consoles on Switch
• Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective coming to Switch this summer
• Deca Police is an anime detective game where you train in the metaverse
• Bayonetta: Cereza and the Lost Demon got a new gameplay trailer
• Disney's Illumination Island is coming July 28
• Fire Emblem: Engage is getting Veronica from Heroes as DLC
• Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a brand new game from DONTNOD coming this June
• Octopath Traveler 2 got another trailer and a demo drops today
• We Heart Katamari Re-Roll coming June 2, with demo available now for Switch online subscribers
• Magolor epilogue confirmed for Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe
• Master Detective Archives: Rain Code got announced and is coming June 30
• Remaster for Game Cube card RPG Baten Kaitos
• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time announced
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 4 coming Spring 2023 and brings Birdo with it

You can read all the details as they happened below, including our (mostly wrong) Nintendo Direct February 2023 predictions below.

As has been fairly common from Nintendo when announcing the Nintendo Directs of the recent past, it has gone out of its way to try and set some expectations ahead of time. Notably, the initial announcement for the new Nintendo Direct states in no uncertain terms that the event will be "mostly focused on Nintendo Switch games launching in the first half of 2023."

Technically, this doesn't mean there isn't going to be a surprise or two included in the announcements, but it does mean we should really expect more from what's coming between now and June 2023. Given that, there's one particular title that stands out from the rest…

ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM

Here is what we currently know about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

• It is the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
• It takes players into the skies.
• It is set to release on May 12, 2023.

…and that's roughly it. Despite the fact that the new Zelda title releases in just three short months, there's been essentially no significant amount of explicit information released by the company. Pretty much everything at this point is speculative at best with question marks hanging over every aspect.

As our own Ali Jones argues, this Nintendo Direct must go big on Zelda. It's such a beefy event that it seems like the stars have finally aligned for a full-on reveal of whatever it is that Nintendo has been hiding all this time.

OCTOPATH TRAVELER 2

Octopath Traveler 2, the sequel to Octopath Traveler, is coming to Nintendo Switch on February 24. Given the upcoming release, it seems only natural to assume that at least some of the Nintendo Direct's time will be spent on it.

Lending this further credence is the fact that the announcement didn't explicitly state that it would be all about first-party Nintendo games, and Octopath Traveler 2 is from Square Enix. It seems likely that a gameplay showcase of some kind might feature within.

ADVANCE WARS 1+2: REBOOT CAMP

It's still radio silence from Nintendo when it comes to Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp. While it had initially been set to release back in 2021, it was delayed once for improvements and then delayed further due to the Russian war with Ukraine. Given that the war is ongoing, and Nintendo has made no indication of exactly when to expect the rebooted Advance Wars compilation, it's hard to say whether today's Nintendo Direct will or won't include it.

Surely Nintendo can't sit on a completely finished Nintendo Switch game from an iconic franchise forever… right?

PIKMIN 4

Beyond a big Zelda blowout, the title with the highest probability of showing up and having a release date announced during the Nintendo Direct seems to be Pikmin 4. Even before the official announcement of the Nintendo Direct, a retailer listing for Pikmin 4 cropped up online indicating a May 23 release.

Will May 23 be the official date? It's hard to say as retailer listings are notoriously hit-and-miss when it comes to getting it right. Will Pikmin 4 get a release date today? That seems more certain.

METROID PRIME 4

Let's first and foremost acknowledge that video game development takes a long time, and doing it right can take even longer. Nobody here is claiming that making these things are easy or even straightforward. OK, with that out of the way, it has also been over four years at this point since Metroid Prime 4 restarted development.

If ever there was a time to lift the veil on the long-awaited title, it seems like in the wake of a reduced profit forecast might be a good idea. It does seem a bit unlikely that Nintendo would reveal and release a new Metroid between now and June, but we live in hope.

BAYONETTA ORIGINS: CEREZA AND THE LOST DEMON

A somewhat cutesy take on the Bayonetta series, and an origin story to boot, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is almost certainly set to make an appearance during today's Nintendo Direct. It's known that the game takes place long before Bayonetta became, well, Bayonetta, and that it will involve solving puzzles and fighting fiends, but this latest Nintendo Direct should include the best look yet at whatever the game actually includes.

POKEMON SCARLET AND VIOLET

While it is known that there are updates waiting in the wings for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it seems unlikely that Nintendo will share anything during the Nintendo Direct about them. If you're at all familiar with the cadence of these things, you'll know that Pokemon-related announcements are often relegated to their own events, and with Pokemon Day 2023 swiftly approaching on February 27, it seems more likely that there will be news then rather than here and now.

Just under an hour to go!

Are you ready for the hype train?

SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY 2

With the animated Super Mario Bros. Movie on the horizon, it seems like a hugely missed opportunity to not have a Mario game coincide with it. Unfortunately, and as GamesRadar+ Global Editor-In-Chief Sam Loveridge notes in our predictions, there's nothing really tangible to suggest that a sequel to Super Mario Odyssey could be announced…

But that won't keep stalwart fans from getting their hopes up regardless. Which, honestly, good for them. It's good for there to be a bit of completely unrealistic hope in the world.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST DIRECT?

 As a reminder, the last significant Nintendo Direct back in September 2022 officially gave The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom its name and release date, revealed Fire Emblem Engage and Octopath Traveler 2, and officially showed off Pikmin 4 as coming this year. Given how long people waited for the Breath of the Wild sequel, it wasn't exactly beefy but still satisfying. 

WHAT HAPPENED LAST FEBRUARY DIRECT?

Prior to that, the February 2022 Nintendo Direct revealed Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, a new (since-missed) Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp release date, the reveal of Mario Strikers: Battle League, more on Splatoon 3, and much more.

With how long today's Nintendo Direct is, there's a good chance that it would be more like the February 2022 one with a bunch of smaller announcements but equally as good a chance that a significant chunk is taken up by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

HOLLOW KNIGHT: SILKSONG

It's a new Nintendo Direct, which means there's a renewed request from fans for more on Team Cherry's Hollow Knight: Silksong. While these desperate pleas are a common refrain for every Nintendo Direct, there's at least some indication that this will, in fact, finally be the one.

Essentially, it is understood that Hollow Knight: Silksong is set to release before June 2023. Given that this Nintendo Direct is explicitly about video games releasing on Nintendo Switch by that point, it would seem natural to conclude that Silksong would be there – and hopefully with a firm, definitive release date.

30 MINUTES TO GO

What snacks we rocking?

E3 SKIP RUMORS

It's been previously reported that Nintendo is skipping the new-and-improved E3 later this year, and that the company might not even have enough major releases to show if it did attend. It's unclear whether this is true, but it might also be a moot point.

Increasingly, big developers and publishers have been skipping major trade events that might have skewed towards the press in favor of simply hosting their own digital versions. The Nintendo Direct itself, as a construct, is a perfect example of this bypassing. Even if Nintendo does completely skip out on summer showcases hosted by others, it doesn't necessarily mean anything as the company continues to march to the beat of its own drum.

SWITCH PRO RUMORS

It is impossible to have a Nintendo Direct without also considering whether the long-running Switch Pro rumors will actually pan out. At some point, it is clear that Nintendo will announce a successor to the Nintendo Switch, and if the pipeline of upcoming major games is really as thin as the reports make it out to be it certainly seems like it might be sooner rather than later. What that might look like, and when it might actually get announced, is anyone's guess, but there is always the chance that today really is the day. 

15 MINUTE WARNING 🚨

Get your thoughts together because we're kicking off in 15 minutes

UPCOMING SWITCH GAMES

 To summarize a bit, here are the known upcoming Nintendo Switch games set to release in the time period this Nintendo Direct should cover.

• Octopath Traveler 2 on February 24
• Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe on February 24
• Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon on March 17
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on May 12

While the company could, in theory, talk about all of these and only these, it seems most likely that at least a couple more titles will have release dates revealed.

Let's a go!

And it's time. Don't forget you can tune into the Direct via the official Nintendo YouTube channel. 

Hell yes for some Pikmin 4 fun up first!

Garden-based antics getting the showcase here, with Ice Pikmin taking the stage

What is this adorable doggo? 

That's a July 21 release date for Pikmin 4!

Xenoblade Chronicle 3 Volume 3 Expansion Pass deets up now

Masha is our newest hero. Challenges with roguelike elements being added too, with heroes and special abilities as rewards.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central is what leaked earlier and looks like a cute Parappa rhythm action game

Well that was Fashion Dreamer... a fashion influencer game?

A little reminder that Dead Cells is getting a DLC / mini-expansion called Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania

Wow this is going fast!

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective coming to Switch this summer, and there was a Tron game back there!

DecaPolice is up now - got Professor Layton vibes but as a cop and with more.. combat?

Coming sometime in 2023.

As expected, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is getting a new trailer and extended gameplay demo. You'll control both a young Bayonetta (aka Cereza) and Cheshire the demon cat. Cereza can't attack but Cheshire can. 

Gotta say, I love this art style so much!

That's coming out March 17, as we already knew, but obviously just around the corner now somehow

Splatoon 3 inking it up now

It's time for a Splatoon 3 Battle Pass - a paid expansion with two waves of content. 

Ghost Trick trailer here if of interest!

Wave 1 is Inkopolis. Original location from the first game is back! New shops and items too. 

It's coming this spring - the first wave anyway.

What's this Side Order for the Expansion Pass all about? It's Wave 2, and as our own Rollin states "you got your Splatoon 3 in my Nier Automata"

Disney's Illumination Island is up now, which was originally announced back at the Marvel Gaming showcase last year. It looks adorable, and like a great co-op adventure. That's coming out July 28, which is a new announcement. 

Oh wow and we're onto Fire Emblem: Engage now and Veronica from Heroes is coming to the game as DLC (plus a whole load of others). This is Wave 2 and it's launching today! 

There's a brand new game from DONTNOD (of Life is Strange fame) coming this June called Harmony: The Fall of Reverie and it's coming this June! Looks great, and all story and decision making. 

Octopath Traveller got a new trailer, and there's a new Katamari game?!

Sea of Stars got another showing too ahead of an August 29 release date, alongside multiplayer air-hockey inspired title Omega Strikers. That's coming April 27 though

The first three Etrian Odyssey games are coming to Switch too

Coming June 1 as both a trio package and sold individually.

Strategy fans were are you? Nintendo needs you because Advance Wars finally has some news

Advance Wars 1+2 ReBoot Camp coming April 21! At long last

Adorable little segment for Kirby: Return to DreamLand Deluxe here, reminding us how cute the original was

Kirby's Return to DreamLand Deluxe demo dropping after this Direct!

Oh OG Game Boy my old friend!!!!

Original Game Boy games coming to Switch Online! This is HUGE FOR ME

The games are:

Tetris, Super Mario Land 2 6 Golden Coins, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, Gargoyles, Game and Watch Gallery 3, Alone in the Dark, Metroid 2: Return of Samus, Wario Land 3, Kirby's Dream Land

There are three game filters, and more games are coming in the future.

Game Boy Advance games are being added to the Expansion Pack!

The games are:

Super Mario Bros 3, WarioWare Inc, KuruKuruKuruin, Mario Kart Super Circuit, Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga, Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap.

Local and online play supported too. 

More games being added soon too.

Both Game Boy (standard Switch Online tier) and Game Boy Advance (Expansion Pass) will be available later today.

Original Metroid Prime is being remastered for Nintendo Switch

Originally released on the GameCube, we're now getting Metroid Prime: Remastered on the Switch, with all its different visors and lock-on ability.

New dual-stick controls too. 

and the digital version of Metroid Prime: Remastered is out TODAY (physical next month).

Master DEtective Archives: Rain Code got announced and is coming June 30. 

Remastered versions of Baten Katos - read more from the earlier leak here because I know nothing about this one 

New Fantasy Life game revealed too, Fantasy Life i: the Girl Who Steals Time

TINY LAYTON TEASE

Wave 4 for Mario Kart coming, and is bringing Birdo back! Spring 2023 release date.

Round-up of a load of games here coming to Switch in the near future... 

Is it Zelda at last?

Wahoo! It's Zelda time. If they delay it, I will cry.

A fresh look at Hyrule here, rather than the sky jumping we've seen in previous trailers. Much more interesting look at the game than we've had so far in my opinion. 

Still a bit of sky jumping though... obviously

Was that a grind rail back there?

PHEW. No delay for Zelda there

New Link amiibo also coming the day of release for Tears of the Kingdom - May 12.

If you're wondering how to watch the February 2023 Nintendo Direct, we've got you covered. 

Just like it does every year, Nintendo has announced it is hosting another Nintendo Direct this February. This showcase is set to feature 40 minutes worth of announcements and reveals which are "mostly focused on Nintendo Switch games launching in the first half of 2023" - you know what that means Legend of Zelda fans. Ahead of the big event, why not check out our Nintendo Direct predictions.

To watch the showcase live, fans should head to the official Nintendo YouTube channel on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 2PM PST / 5PM EST / 10PM GMT. You can also bookmark this page and come back to it at the time above as we've embedded the very same video just below. 

So what should we expect to see during this direct? Well, as we know Nintendo is "mostly" planning to show games that are launching in the first half of 2023, so a lot of the entries in our upcoming Switch games list are likely to appear during the showcase. This would include games like Octopath Traveller 2, Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe, and the one we've all been waiting for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - which is due to release on May 12, 2023. 

It's important to remember though that the announcement made by Nintendo specifically says "mostly" so there's always a chance we'll get something none of us were expecting or something that's due to release at a much later date. One thing's for certain though, Hollow Knight: Silksong fans have probably already got their hopes up.

Find out what other non-Nintendo games we have to look forward to with our new games 2023 list. 

The Nintendo Direct September 2022 showcase has wrapped. It was crammed full of trailers and very little waffle, but still felt a little muted. There were four major announcements there:

• Breath of the Wild 2 got a name - Legend of Zelda: Tears of Kingdom
• Octopath Traveler 2 got announced
• Fire Emblem: Engage also got revealed
• Pikmin 4 is coming in 2023

Before the showcase kicks off, we're going to run through some of our biggest Nintendo Direct September 2022 predictions. If we're right – we told you so. And if we're wrong… well, you know, it would be rude to bring us up on it.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2

Nintendo delayed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 back in March, pushing the game to 2023. While it remains one of the most anticipated upcoming Nintendo Switch games, there has been very little information released so far – it still doesn't have an official title. That's why we're anticipating a Breath of the Wild 2 blowout at the September Nintendo Direct, including a fresh look at the expanded overworld and some of the new combat moves Link has learned since we last saw him in 2017. Of course, Nintendo could decide to hold onto the big Breath of the Wild 2 reveal until the new year, but given that it has been over 200 days since the last full-fat Nintendo Direct – held in February 2022 – we're hoping Ninty has something big to show. 

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD

Last year, The Legend of Zelda celebrated its 35th anniversary – and it passed with surprisingly little fanfare. That's not to discount the rather wonderful The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, which will almost certainly have close thematic ties to the skyfaring adventures in Breath of the Wild 2, but we were expecting Nintendo to release the full suite of Wii U Zelda games on the Nintendo Switch. There have been some murmurings that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD are set to arrive as a belated anniversary present – and given that they are two of the best Zelda games of all-time, I wouldn't have any complaints. 

Bayonetta 3

Bayonetta 3 is set to release as a Nintendo Switch exclusive on October 28, but PlatinumGames hasn't exactly been forthcoming with new information. We're seeking clarity around the time-twisting story, not to mention how the developer has expanded Bayonetta's fluid combat and outrageous flair since Bayonetta 2 launched in 2014. The long-awaited sequel to one of the best action games of the modern era deserves a big showing, so we're hoping that Nintendo gives PlatinumGames the platform it deserves here. 

30 MINUTES TO GO

With just 30 minutes to go, now is the time to get yourself settled for the 40 minute showcase.

Metroid Prime 4

Will Metroid Prime 4 get re-revealed? It's a great question, and one we don't have the answer to… not yet anyway – come back to us in an hour for that one! Despite being announced in 2017, Metroid Prime has had a pretty tumultuous development and is still a little ways away as a result. Development was rebooted in 2019, with Retro Studios taking over production. Personally, I think it's a little early for us to see Metroid Prime 4.

Metroid Prime Trilogy remaster

But... it may be more likely for us to see Retro Studios release the long-rumored remastered Metroid Prime trilogy for Switch. Now that would be something we are 100% up for. November is actually the original game's 20th anniversary so it feels prime for 

15 MINUTES TO GO

If you need to use the bathroom, you need to go now. 

Octopath Traveller 2

According to a new resetera post, GreenManGaming has leaked one of the announcement ahead of the Nintendo Direct September 2022 stream - Octopath Traveller 2. 

STARTING NOW

Alright, it's all happening! Nintendo Direct September 2022 is starting now

Are we starting with Fire Emblem? Seems so

We fought and imprisoned the Fell Dragon, but apparently he's back folks! 

"So glad you're awake" - he's been asleep for 1000 years. Very Breath of the Wild of them

Fire Emblem Engage is launching January 20, 2023.

More information is "coming in the future"

It Takes Two is coming to Nintendo Switch

Coming November 4, pre-orders go live today

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse - originally released on the Wii - is also coming to Nintendo Switch early 2023. This is the first time it's been released in the west.

Wave 2 of the season pass for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has also been revealed. It'll introduce a brand new hero called Ino, who's mechanical rather than human. 

More heroes are coming later. 

This will drop on October 13.

Spongebob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is coming to Switch next year

Fitness Boxing: Fist of the North Star coming 2023. Sorry there folks, missed the date on that one

Ubisoft's Oddballers and the brilliant Soulslike Tunic are also coming to the Switch. Oddballers next year, and Tunic on Sept 27.

Front Mission is getting two remakes of the original duo of games, one this year, one next. Plus also Front Mission 3 remake coming at some point. 

After nearly 20 years after the original release, we're getting a remake of Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life on Nintendo Switch. 

It's coming Summer 2023.

Splatoon 3 is up next - the game launched just last week exclusively on Nintendo Switch. 

The first post-launch Splatfest is coming. Would you bring Gear, Grub, or Fun to a deserted island. The first Splatfest Date is set for 5PM PT Sept 23 to Sept 25

Octopath Traveler 2 has now officially been revealed. Eight new travellers are going on a journey this time. 

It's launching February 24, 2023.

More headlines now!

Fae Farm is going to offer you the option to have a fairytale life. It's another farming simulation RPG that combines combat and farming. 

You'll befriend a lively cast of characters. 

Coming to Switch Spring 2023.

A Final Fantasy rhythm action game is coming too, with over 300 songs to play through. It'll have a two-player local and four-player online

Theatre Rhythm Final Bar Line is it's name. 

After launch even more songs from other franchises will also be added, which will be another 90+ songs for the list.

Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is here now - hot on the heels of the Ubisoft Forward September 2022 event at the weekend. 

Shops will allow you to buy battle items. Every battle will let you get XP to upgrade your characters. Each of the titular Sparks have unique abilities. 

Can Mario, Rabbids, and friends put an end to the darkness?

It's dropping October 20 don't forget. 

And there will be a gold edition.

More Nintendo 64 games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online.

Pokemon Stadium and Pokemon Stadium 2!!! Amazing

GoldenEye is coming soon with online play?! Hello!

Various Daylife is an immersive RPG that's launching on Switch later today.

Switch is also getting a release of the highly popular Steam title Factorio on October 28.

A game set in an art gallery where you get drawn into a painting. It's called Ib and it's coming to Switch in Spring 2023.

Mario Strikers is getting a second update this month adding Diddy Kong and Rosalina.

Oh wow that was quite the title. 11 heroes though, and quite the RPG

Wave 3 for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is also en route. DS Peach Gardens is one of them. 

It is dropping this "holiday" season. 

Nintendo Switch Sports is getting golf soon, with 21 holes form the Wii Sports series added. 

This is available to play locally, or with up to eight other players online in "Survival Golf". The update has been delayed from fall to winter too. 

Quick update on the Mario movie there, but mostly that it's just happening. 

Pikmin Bloom eh? That's still a thing. 

Miyamoto has over 700 Pikmin don't you know! #humblebrag

Pikmin 4? Is it finally time?

Pikmin 4 - there it is. 

It's coming out in 2023... a long long time after it was originally teased. No gameplay to show, but you will be able to play it from the perspective of the Pikmin. 

It'll be strategic as you'd hope.

Just Dance 2023 here - again after a reveal at the Ubisoft Forward event at the weekend. 

It's coming November 2022. 

Square Enix's Harvestella is up now - which looks like a brilliant blend of Final Fantasy and Stardew Valley. 

It's coming to Nintendo Switch on November 4 - along with other platforms too.

Bayonetta 3 finally here. Luka, Viola, and Jeanne are three new characters that'll join Bayonetta on this globetrotting journey. 

A new gameplay trailer is dropping separately after this Nintendo Direct.

From the creators of Danganronpa - Master Detective Archives: Raincode.

Stars a young boy called Yuma haunted by a spirit called Shinigami - he's an amnesiac detective. Sounds very much like it's inspired by Phoenix Wright to me!

Resident Evil Village: Cloud edition coming October 28.

Resident Evil Village Winters' Expansion coming December 2. 

Resident Evil 1, 2, and 3 remakes also getting cloud editions for Switch "this year".

Sifu coming to Switch on November 8. Pre-orders start now.

Crisis Core - Final Fantasy 7 - Reunion remaster getting a little spotlight now, and coming to Switch on December 13. Again, along with other platforms.

Radiant Silvergun also coming to Switch - a classic title. Launching later today. 

Endless Dungeon coming to Switch next year.

Also, Tales of Symphonia Remastered coming to Nintendo Switch in early 2023.

Lego Bricktales coming Fall 2022 - that's a new date for that exciting new Lego puzzler.

Fall Guys Season 2 coming September 15.

Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe is coming to Switch too! 

It's been a big year for Kirby's 30th anniversary. 

Four-player co-op also getting added, along with a collective of sub-games. 

Coming February 24, 2023. Pre-orders begin today.

Oh god, finally. The one more thing is Breath of the Wild 2 at long, long last. 

Link's seen diving from the sky down into Hyrule and then climbing back up using floating rocks. 

He's got some sort of hang-glider too

There's the title - Legends of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Coming May 12, 2023. 

And that's a wrap everyone.

Breath of the Wild 2 reveal definitely redeemed that Direct to be honest!

Although it was only 14 minutes long, that didn't stop today's special Pokemon Day Pokemon Direct dropping a whole host of exciting updates for fans. From Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, two brand new games dropping in late 2022, to a major update for Pokemon Legends: Arceus, it's a brilliant time to be a Poke fan. Here's everything announced at today's Pokemon Day Direct. 

Pokemon Go getting the Alolan Pokedex

Pokemon from the tropical Alola region will be making their way to Pokemon Go, starting from March 1. Until then, the comically-tall Alolan variant of Exeggutor will be appearing in the game, letting you catch them right now.

Pokemon Masters EX

Celebrating two and a half years, Pokemon Masters EX is kicking off a massive conglomeration of trainers. With almost 150 trainers in the game, some of the most powerful sync pairs from a number of regions will be heading to Victory Road to test your skills. Completing that classic challenge will let you team up with variations on Red, Blue, and Green in their Sigma Suits, and grant 5,000 free gems.

Elsewhere, new pairs will be heading to the game. May and Latias will arrive starting tomorrow, offering Psychic terrain in battles. From March 2, Skyla and Tornadus will bring flying-type boosts, and they'll be followed by Rihan and Flygon's weather-related abilities on March 4. To celebrate the 2.5-year anniversary, players will be able to scout up to 100 sync pairs at no cost, and from now until March 27, you'll get 3,000 gems just for logging in.

Pokemon Cafe Remix

Pelipper and Victini are making their way to Pokemon Cafe Remix, the former offering new delivery features and introducing new Pokemon to the game, and the latter offering a boost to the new puzzle mode arriving early this year. On top of that, events inspired by Bulbasaur and Piplup are on the way, with more information coming ahead of the game's second anniversary in June.

Pokemon Unite

A Pokemon Day event is kicking off in Pokemon Unite right now. Commemorative items will be available to all, as will mythical Pokemon Hoopa, albeit for a limited time. On top of that, there's a new quick-time battle mode to enjoy. That's not all, either, as Nintendo also teased the arrival of Duraludon as the game's next new addition - albeit with no date in tow. 

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Nintendo said it would soon be sending out Oak's Letter to players as a Mystery Gift, allowing them to meet the OG Pokemon Professor in game. More important than that, however, is that the item will also allow you to encounter the mythical grass-type Pokemon Shaymin - who looks like a cute, grassy hedgehog, and add them to your team. You'll be able to claim the gift starting today, and it'll be available until March 27.

Pokemon Legends Arceus update Daybreak

Head back to the Hisui region with the Daybreak update, a free download available later today. Focused on a new investigation causing a number of Mass Outbreaks, the update will also introduce a suite of new Pokemon Battles at the training ground. To make the most of the new content, you'll also be able to get 90 free balls - 30 each of Ultra, Gigaton, and Jet - by using the password ARCEUSADVENTURE.

Nintendo also announced a new online animated series focused on the Hisui region to release later in 2022, which seems to focus on Hisuian Zorua.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Pokemon Gen 9 has been confirmed. In a new trailer, we got our first look at a new region - potentially inspired by Spain - described as "open-world," as well as a bunch of returning Pokemon. Most importantly, however, we got to see the game's starters - a grass-type cat, a water-type duck, and a fire-type reptile that might be based on some kind of dinosaur. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are due to release in late 2022.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have been announced as part of today's surprise Pokemon Direct, along with the first three Gen 9 Pokemon. The trio don't yet have names, but we're loving the duck in the Mario-esque hat. 

Capping off today's direct, the duo of games was revealed for a late 2022 drop on Nintendo Switch, and it looks to be offering a very similar open-world structure to January's Pokemon Legends Arceus.

According to the YouTube description it seems it might actually be truly open-world too, as it mentions that phrase twice:

"Welcome to the open world of Pokémon. Embark on an open-world adventure in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, arriving on Nintendo Switch in late 2022."

However, unlike the early timeline slot for Pokemon Legends Arceus, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will offer a more modern storyline, complete with cities to accompany the more open, countryside areas. 

We got hints of what the world will look like, with the city area filled with color and flowers, with windmills adorning a hillside. It doesn't look to be a Pokemon region that we've seen before, so expect a brand new locale alongside those Gen 9 critters.

By the looks of some of the buildings in the teaser footage, it could well be an area that's based on Spain, as the church in the city definitely has a Sagrada Familia vibe to it. 

It's also certainly got a Mediterranean feel to some of the buildings too. 

Many were convinced today's Direct would be used to reveal the next generation of Pokemon - as it's now been three years since Pokemon Sword and Shield, which debuted Gen 8. Turns out Game Freak is true to their three-year cycle and didn't disappoint today. 

For now, there's the first major update for Pokemon Legends Arceus dropping today, Software Update ver 1.1.0 aka Daybreak.

Looking for how to watch Pokemon Presents Direct? Well you're at the right place to learn more about today's (August 18) showcase. 

Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are airing a special Pokemon Presents livestream, focused on new games and updates for the historic franchise. Just below, you can see that the Pokemon Presents livestream will be kicking off at approximately 6AM PT/9AM ET/2PM BST, and you can catch the action over on The Pokemon YouTube channel - or watch it above!

As for what the Pokemon Presents livestream is going to feature, we already have a pretty good idea. Chiefly, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl will be on display during the showcase, and we should see more gameplay and new details of the remakes that are due to launch later this year in November for the Nintendo Switch.

Elsewhere, we're guaranteed another look at Pokemon Legends Arceus. This is the big new venture from the Pokemon franchise, taking up after Breath of the Wild to offer players a new open-world adventure with a big focus on real-time action combat. Pokemon Legends Arceus is due to launch early in 2022, but here's hoping we see new gameplay from the exciting title later today.

Additionally, perhaps we'll see more of Pokemon Unite during the Pokemon Presents showcase today. The MOBA-like brawler launched last month in July for Nintendo Switch, but has received a relatively steady stream of patches and updates since launch, with newcomers like Gardevoir joining the roster. We could hear more of The Pokemon Company's plans for the future of the brawler later today. Either way, this promises to be a special showcase for the Pokemon series at large.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus Starters | Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokedex | Who is Arceus in Pokemon? 

Looking for details on how to watch today's Pokemon Direct?

Earlier this week, The Pokemon Company announced a 20-minute presentation. While there's been no word on what we should expect, fans are certainly hoping for some big news, as today is just one day shy of Pokemon's 25th birthday (Red and Blue first released in Japan on February 27, 1996).

If you want to make sure you're around to catch the news as it drops, then you'll want to head to the Official Pokemon YouTube channel, where the presentation is being streamed, or check out the broadcast below. The digital event kicks off at 7am PT/10am ET/3pm GMT, but if you want to board the hype train early, you can wait for the show to begin right now.

Fan expectations for the event are pretty high, with many hoping to see remakes of the series' fourth generation games, Diamond and Pearl, or a Let's Go-style remake of the second-generation games, Gold and Silver. Rumours of the former have been swirling for a while, but another leak, posted last night, claimed that as well as "weird chibi 3D" Gen 4 remakes, fans can expect to see an "open-world" game set in a "feudal" version of the Sinnoh region.

We'll have to wait until the show kicks off for official confirmation, of course, but it's looking like fans of Diamond and Pearl could be very well catered-to by Nintendo today.

While we wait, check out our list of the best Pokemon games ever.

An insider with a prior track knowledge of revealing Pokemon-related plans claims there'll be a new Nintendo Direct next month, focusing on Pokemon.

Twitter user Kelios has previously leaked information regarding upcoming Pokemon announcements, and in the tweet below, they're making a new claim. This time, the leaker claims that a brand new Nintendo Direct will air at some point next month, and it'll be focusing on Pokemon.

The fact that it's essentially Pokemon's 25th anniversary next month in February could be seen as a no-brainer for a Nintendo Direct on the franchise. Traditionally, the Pokemon Company regards February 27 as "Pokemon Day," celebrating the launch of the very first Pokemon games in Japan.

On top of Pokemon's birthday next month, this year marks 25 years since Pokemon debuted in 1996 in Japan. It's not exactly a stretch, therefore, to imagine a Nintendo Direct celebrating the franchise airing at some point next month.

The official Pokemon Twitter account has actually begun teasing plans for the series' 25th anniversary celebrations earlier today. As of right now, the Pokemon Company will be relaunching a series of anniversary-themed trading cards sporting original designs for Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and more later this year, and there's also a skateboard collecting debuting later this year from Bear Walker, as well as a musical collaboration with Katy Perry.

Whatever Nintendo has planned to celebrate Pokemon this year, we'll have to wait and find out for more information. Here's hoping there's plenty to look forward for celebrating the historic franchise this year.

For a list of all the games coming to Nintendo's console, you can check out our upcoming Switch games guide for more.

A Pokemon Direct livestream is taking place today, will last for around 20 minutes, and give us some "new Pokemon information."

Head here to watch today's Pokemon Direct January 9, which starts at 06:30 PT / 14:30 GMT / 9:30 ET 

While the promise of new Pokemon information is pretty vague, it's certainly enough to get us excited. We can't say for certain what will be shown, but there are plenty of potential Pokemon-related ground it could cover. The first possibility is getting more info on the upcoming Pokemon Home app that was  revealed during the Pokemon conference in Tokyo last year. 

Pokemon Home is a cloud service that lets players bring all their Pokemon together and connects with Pokemon Bank, Pokemon Let's Go, Pokemon Go, and Pokemon Sword and Shield. Given that the app was given the expected release date of early 2020, this direct could very well give us more information about it or even offer a solid release date. 

Alongside Home, Pokemon Sleep could also be covered since it was also announced during the conference last year with a potential 2020 release date. Sleep is said to involve sleep-related gameplay that will be tracked when you're getting your 40 winks. We don't know a great deal about how it works, so we're keen to see if any new info is shared about the app on the app. 

During the very same conference, it was revealed that a new Detective Pikachu game would be coming to Switch in future. Not many details were shared about the new experience with our favourite yellow mouse's sleuthing antics, so maybe we'll get our first proper glimpse of the game during the livestream. 

We could also be getting some news about Pokemon Sword and Shield in the shape of the new Gigantamax forms or Wild Area events heading our way. The current Gigantamax forms will stop appearing the day of the Direct, so even if it's not the main event, Nintendo could very well give us an update about the new Gigantamax Pokemon we can try to face and catch. 

In other news, Pokemon Go kicks off 2020 with a new hatchaton event featuring Pokemon in party hats.

Update: The Pokemon Direct has turned out to be a Pokemon trailer! The 2 minute long highlight reel shows off the Galarian forms of classic Pokemon, alongside a better look at the new rivals you'll be facing off against, Bebe, Marnie, and, uh, Marnie's fan group known as Team Yell. 

Check out the full trailer for yourself in the video link below: 

We're basically counting down the days until Pokemon Sword and Shield hits Switch on November 15 later this year, and now we're going to find out more gossip about the duo of new Pokemon games at a special Pokemon Direct today. The official tweet called the Direct a Galar Research update, which should mean we get eyes on some new critters being added to the Gen 8 Pokemon Pokedex. 

Although there's no specific link as yet, there will apparently be a live stream to tune into, so keep your eyes peeled on the Official Pokemon YouTubue channel. 

Until Pokemon Sword and Shield arrive, why not try out these games like Pokemon to keep you busy?