Unexpected Surprise: Nintendo Direct May Arrive Sooner Than Expected
Get ready Nintendo fans! Industry insiders hint that a new Nintendo Direct could be happening as early as July, surprising many with its early arrival
According to a reputable industry source, the upcoming Nintendo Direct could potentially take place in July, which is notably closer to Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Games Showcase than anticipated. Despite having already held two Directs this year, with one specifically centered around The Super Mario Bros. Movie in March, Nintendo's February 2023 Direct was a resounding success, featuring nearly 40 minutes of content from their upcoming games. While the event primarily focused on Switch titles set to release in the first half of 2023, it's widely assumed that Nintendo's second first-party Direct of the year will occur in September, as has been the case in the past.
Industry expert Jeff Grubb recently cast some doubt on the likelihood of a full Nintendo Direct happening in July. During a recent episode of the Giant Bombcast podcast, Grubb alluded to rumors he had heard about "something" coming from Nintendo next month. While it remains unclear whether this will be a full Direct or a Direct Mini focused on partner developers, Grubb suggested that a full Nintendo Direct in July would be unusual, as the company hasn't hosted one in July since 2017. Despite this, Nintendo may still have announcements to make before its typical mid-September Direct, potentially including post-launch content plans for the recently released Zelda game. It's worth noting that Nintendo unveiled the Expansion Pass for Breath of the Wild around two months after its release, so it's possible that Tears of the Kingdom DLC could be announced in July.
With Pikmin 4 set to release on July 21, a Direct Mini focused on the game could showcase more unannounced features. Another possibility for a rumored July Direct Mini is a third-party showcase, though Nintendo's irregular scheduling makes it difficult to predict. Despite this, Nintendo has plenty of upcoming third-party releases, including Disney Illusion Island, Deca Police, and Phantom Trick: Phantom Detective, that could benefit from some Nintendo-sanctioned marketing.
