Why a Nintendo Direct Is Likely Coming Next Month

Are you ready for another massive showcase of upcoming games? If you are a Nintendo fan, your favorite time of the year is almost here. Historically speaking, September is practically synonymous with Nintendo Direct broadcasts, and there are plenty of strong reasons to believe we are getting a brand-new presentation next month.

Just take a look at Nintendo's track record over the last decade. The company behind iconic heroes like Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong has hosted a special livestream in September in nine out of the past ten years. The lone exception was 2024, but even then, gamers were treated to an Indie World Showcase alongside a Partner Showcase on August 27. When you review previous broadcast dates—such as September 12, 2025, September 14, 2023, September 13, 2022, and all the way back to September 1, 2016—it becomes pretty obvious that September is prime Direct territory.

Beyond simple tradition, Nintendo has some pressing business to handle for this year's schedule. Specifically, there are two massive elephants in the room that still need firm launch dates: The Duskbloods and the hotly anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. Both titles are slated to arrive before the year ends, so it is high time for Nintendo to drop exact release dates and show off more gameplay.

September Directs are also famous for pulling back the curtain on the upcoming year's slate. For instance, last year's September presentation gave us our first look at Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and Pokemon Pokopia, which all arrived in the first half of 2026. Prior to that, the September 2023 Direct unveiled Princess Peach: Showtime (which launched in March 2024) and the remaster of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (which landed in May 2024).

Right now, early 2027 still looks fairly open for Switch 2, meaning Nintendo needs to fill out its release calendar. A new showcase could give us updates on whether Xenoblade Genesis is on the way during that timeframe, or perhaps we might get a surprise look at Pokemon Winds and Waves. Naturally, completely unannounced titles could also make their grand debut.

While nothing is officially confirmed until Nintendo posts that announcement tweet, past patterns paint a very clear picture. With so much to talk about for Switch 2 heading into the holiday season and next year, it is safe to assume big news is coming. Which game are you most hoping to see if a Direct drops next month?