Nintendo Direct: Major Announcements

It truly is the summer of gaming, with tons of exciting showcases revealing upcoming triple-A titles and indie darlings, like the PlayStation Showcase at the beginning of June. Surprises were in store for fans who tuned in to watch the Nintendo Direct live stream on June 21 at 7 AM PT/10 AM EST/3 PM BST. 

Nintendo Direct was 40 minutes of exciting announcements and gameplay reveals of some exciting upcoming and future Nintendo Switch titles mostly in 2023, including details on Pikmin 4, set to release on July 21, the first new Pikmin since 2013! Check out the full VOD of the stream below

Without further ado, let’s dive into some of the key announcements and reveals from Nintendo Direct!

Sonic Superstars

Speed through the iconic Sonic universe in a side-scrolling adventure reminiscent of the old-school games collecting rings and harnessing the power of the Chaos Emeralds!

Play as Knuckles, Tails, Amy, and even the speedy sonic-blue hedgehog himself and summon tons of clones! Local co-op is available for up to four players; combine your powers and take on classic villain Dr Eggman! 

• Release date: Fall 2023

Pikmin 4

The game Nintendo Switch fans are all waiting for Pikmin 4. An exclusive gameplay trailer showed these garden creatures accompanying Pitchman and Ochi on their adventures.

New to the Pikmin series is the Nighttime Expeditions, allowing for new wildlife and even adorable fluorescent Glow Pikmin!

With hidden treasures, plenty of exploration and more surprises to uncover, Pikmin 4 is not a game to miss! HD versions of the original Pikmin games will also launch today (June 21) on the Nintendo Shop. 

• Release date: July 21, 2023

Super Mario Wonder

Expect the unexpected in Super Mario Wonder. This game is the latest fantastical release into the iconic Super Mario franchise, taking players and Mario on a whirlwind, crazy side-scrolling adventure.

Players get to take on the role of Mario, Peach, Daisy, Luigi and more in classic Mario hijinks. In a world where he can do anything, Mario can even become an elephant with talking flowers, moving ground, and more! 

• Release date: TBA. 

Just Dance 2024

The latest Just Dance game will launch, featuring hit tracks like Miley Cyrus’ Flowers and AWOLNATION’s Sail. Belt out these songs and boogie to your heart’s content, with new songs being released all year round! 

• Release date: October 24

Mario Kart 8: Booster Course Pass Wave 5

A new course added, the Squeaky Clean Sprint, sees players zooming onto a course decked out in squeaky-clean bubbles, soap, and sponges for a fun-filled and fast-paced course. 

Wave 5 of the Booster Course Pass also sees classic Mario characters brought to Mario Kart 8, like Wiggler, Kamek, and Petey Piranha! Don’t forget that a Nintendo Switch Online subscription is needed to play with friends online. 

• Release date: Summer 2023.

Gloomhaven 

Gloomhaven is a fun and gothic-looking, with turn-based card battles and RPG elements. Unleash combos and wipe out any forces standing in your way. Hone your deck, set up mercenaries and rain hell down upon your enemies! 

• Release date: September 18

Super Mario RPG

Dive into a top-down adventure with the iconic Italian plumber himself, embarking on a journey across lands far and wide. Team up with Mario characters like Princess Peach and unlikely ally Bowser to conquer any foes that get in your way!

With turn-based combat and party-based mechanics, this is a Super Mario game unlike any other! 

• Release date: November 17

Manic Mechanics

In a quirky co-op game similar to Overcooked or Fall Guys, this game sees players running around a chaotic scrapyard, working to build and repair objects while avoiding the hazardous environment. 

• Release date: Preorders begin today on Nintendo Shop

Vampire Survivors

The hit 2D rogue-lite game is finally coming to Nintendo Switch. Survive onslaughts of various monsters, gain incredible power-ups and slash your way through the hordes. Make it to 30 minutes and conquer Death himself! Unlock permanent collectables and secret characters! 

New to the Vampire Survivors series is the ability to have a four-player local co-op - join forces and emerge triumphant! 

• Release date: August 17

Detective Pikachu Returns 

What cases will Tim and Detective Pikachu get up to next? The newest Detective Pikachu game is still under development but is undoubtedly on the way in the future, potentially with a 2024 release date. Someone get Pikachu his coffee! 

• Release date: TBA

Untitled Princess Peach Game  

Speaking of Princess Peach, she gets to star as the main character in her own game, with more details to be revealed in the future!

• Release date: TBA

Final Thoughts

That was most of the important announcements from the Nintendo Direct live stream. Rivalry is the place to be for all things gaming - we have the best Minecraft girl skins, OW2 hero unlock guides, pro-Valorant player gear lists, and tons more!