Update: Nintendo has now hosted its Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase with Pac-Man, Persona, Portal and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope all shown off.
While Bayonetta 3 didn't make an appearance, my prediction surrounding Persona, Mario and Dragon Quest Treasures came true, so I can keep my job for another day.
The full presentation can be watched below:
Original Story: At last! After weeks of speculation and rumours, a new Nintendo Direct has been announced with lots of new Nintendo Switch games expect to be revealed for the platform.
The new Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase will feature 25-minute of announcements for upcoming third-party games coming to Nintendo Switch. So while we shouldn't expect anything from Nintendo's first-party studios – effectively ruling out the likes of Pokémon Scarlet / Violet, Splatoon 3 and Breath of the Wild 2 – there's still plenty to be excited about.
First off, let's confirm when the Nintendo Direct is happening. You can tune into Nintendo's YouTube channel from 6AM PT / 9AM ET / 2PM BST / on July 28th, 2022 to watch the livestream in full. That means it's less than 24 hours away before we're treated to some Nintendo goodness.
The last Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase took place in October 2020 with Control, Hitman III, Immortals Fenyx Rising, No More Heroes III and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity all shown off. Meanwhile, Nintendo also hosted a Xenoblade Chronicles 3-focused Direct last week, ahead of its July release.
"A new Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase is on the way! Watch on-demand via our YouTube channel starting at 6 a.m. PT / 9 a.m. ET on June 28 for roughly 25 minutes of info on upcoming third-party Nintendo Switch games," said Nintendo in a press release sent to T3.
Now onto the interesting bit – what to expect? The big one is Mario + Rabbids Sparks Hope from Ubisoft, a sequel to the bizarre yet brilliant 2017 Nintendo Switch game. It was first announced at E3 2021 and we haven't heard a word since the first initial trailer. With the turn-based strategy game still scheduled to launch sometime in 2022, this would make the perfect opportunity for it to reappear.
Bayonetta 3 is another one, although I feel it's not as certain as Mario Rabbids. This all depends on how Nintendo treats the game, whether it considers Bayonetta a second-party or third-party release. The upcoming action title is owned by Sega but is being developed by PlatinumGames and published by Nintendo, so it's not entirely clear. I'd wager it has a better shot than not due to its 2022 release date.
Following the unexpected announcement in early June that Persona 3, Persona 4 Golden and Persona 5 Royal would be coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox and PC, I think it's a safe bet to assume that these three beloved JRPGs will come to Switch as well. All three titles are set to launch on those systems this October, so a similar release date is likely.
Finally, Square Enix is undoubtedly set to show up in some capacity. I'd love to see the much sought-after Final Fantasy pixel remasters announced for Switch, although my gut tells me there's a better chance of seeing the new Dragon Quest Treasures RPG. Not long now until we know for sure.
The Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase is due to take place at 6AM PT / 9AM ET / 2PM BST / on July 28th, 2022. Looking for something new on Switch? Here are eight new and exciting Nintendo Switch games to play during the heatwave.
Also, make sure to check out T3's Mario Strikers: Battle League review to see if the frantic football game is worth picking up.
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