If you had “Nintendo finally blowing the doors off the Switch 2” on your bingo card for this week, come collect your prizes. The latest Nintendo Direct wrapped-up, and it was an absolute monster of a showcase, trading heavily on nostalgia while giving us some massive glimpses into the future of hardware and franchises alike.
Whether you’re gagging for a return to Hyrule or desperate to dust off your motion controls, there was plenty to dig into across the jam-packed broadcast. Here are the major highlights from yesterday’s Nintendo Direct presentation.
The Big One: Ocarina of Time Remake Confirmed for Switch 2
Let’s not bury the lede here. The rumours can finally be laid to rest: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is officially getting a ground-up, full remake.
Even better? It is locked in to arrive on the newly minted Nintendo Switch 2 later this year.
We’ve seen plenty of brilliant re-releases over the years, but seeing Hyrule rebuilt with modern, current-gen grunt is something else entirely. Apparently, this isn’t just a simple upscaling job; it’s a complete reimagining built to show off exactly what Nintendo’s next-gen hybrid console can do.
Without a doubt, this was the crowning jewel of the entire Nintendo Direct. And now our most anticipated release of 2026. Could this knock the shine of GTA VI? If anything can, it’s Zelda.
Dusting Off the Joy-Cons for Switch Sports Resort
If you miss the golden era of arguing with your family over a virtual bowling lane, Nintendo has you covered.
Switch Sports Resort was unveiled as the true spiritual successor to the legendary Wii Sports. Packing 12 games in total, it promises to take full advantage of the motion-sensitive Joy-Con controllers.
Expect the usual mix of breezy, casual fun and intensely competitive couch multiplayer that will undoubtedly have us accidentally flinging controllers across the living room all over again. Also……Thumb Wars as a new sport.
JRPG Heaven: Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Xenoblade
Role-playing fans are eating incredibly well after today’s showing. First up, Square Enix announced Final Fantasy Resonance, a cross-generation release launching on both the original Switch and the Switch 2 on 22nd October.
Not to be outdone, we also got confirmation of Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, a brand-new entry in the monster-taming spin-off series.
To top off the massive RPG suite, Monolith Soft took the stage during the Nintendo Direct to reveal Xenoblade Genesis. Touted by the developers as “a new beginning” for the beloved franchise, it looks set to usher in a fresh narrative arc while retaining the sweeping, massive scale the series is celebrated for.
FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods Teased
We got a tantalisingly atmospheric new trailer for The Duskbloods, though Nintendo and FromSoftware are keeping their cards close to their chests regarding concrete gameplay details.
Luckily, we won’t have to wait an eternity to find out how it handles. As reported by GamesRadar, a closed network test has already been announced, meaning lucky players will get a chance to test out FromSoft’s next bleak, punishing world incredibly soon.
Is this a spiritual successor to Bloodborne? Is this going to be the next Elden Ring? Will it follow the footsteps of NightReign?
Kingdom Hearts Makes a Massive Leap
Finally, the Kingdom Hearts franchise is getting some serious love on Nintendo hardware. The series is making a proper jump to the Switch 2 with a brand-new native collection, hopefully leaving the troubled cloud versions of the past behind.
If that wasn’t enough, Square Enix also dropped the bombshell that the highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts IV is officially in development for the platform, capping off a truly legendary Nintendo Direct line-up.
Nintendo Direct
There was so much more announced and shown, but these feel the most significant.
There was no information on Pokemon Wind and Waves, and it was confirmed that the next Splatoon is due to get a dedicated Nintendo Direct in the future.
Presumably, we’ll see the same treatment for the Ocarina of Time remake. But you just never fully know with Nintendo. They know people want these games, and they play their cards close to their chest.
