Summary
Several sources have suggested that a Switch 1-focusedNintendo Directwill be happening really soon, possibly in late March 2025. Regardless of the veracity of this rumor, historical precedent suggests that at least several moreSwitch-focused Nintendo Directs will take place in the future, even though the Switch 2 is now close to hitting the market.
WhileNintendo Directs are usually announced a day in advance, there was a break from this pattern on January 16. That date saw Nintendo reveal the Switch 2 and schedule the console’s first-ever Direct livestream for April 2. This unusually long gap between the event and its announcement is believed to stem from Nintendo’s desire to give third-party publishers ample time to reveal their Switch 2 games before sharing more details about the device itself.
However, it’s now looking like the company could be planning another event preceding theSwitch 2 Nintendo Direct. This possibility was recently raised by several sources, including VGC Editor-in-Chief Andy Robinson. Responding to a March 23 Bluesky post praising Nintendo for not holding a Switch 1 Direct ahead of the Switch 2 one, Robinsonsharedthe thinking face emoji—hinting that this might not actually be the case.
Switch 1-Focused Nintendo Direct Could Be Happening on March 26
A less cryptic claim was recently offered by Weibo user 荷姆荷姆嗼 (roughly translated to “nom nom munch”), who previously leaked thedate of the June 2024 Nintendo Direct. In a March 23 post, the leaker asserted that a Switch 1-focused Nintendo Direct will happen in three days. Assuming this claim is accurate, the March 26 Direct is almost certainly going to be announced tomorrow, March 24.
The Switch still has two big first- and second-party exclusives that should be showcased a bit more ahead of their debuts. One of them isMetroid Prime 4: Beyond, a project that was initially announced in 2017 but ended up being rebooted under Retro Studios by early 2019. The other isPokemon Legends: Z-A, Game Freak’s latestPokemonspin-off focused on exploration and catching pocket monsters rather than battling. Both of these titles are officially slated to launch in 2025 but are still waiting for concrete release dates.
Switch 1 Nintendo Directs Could Continue Until At Least 2026
While the Switch is pushing nine nowadays, the console isn’t likely to be abandoned immediately after theSwitch 2 releases, not least because of its massive installed base. In terms of first-party product showcases, the console could continue appearing in Nintendo Directs until at least 2026. For reference, the final Nintendo Direct that included 3DS games was held in September 2018, a year and a half after the Switch was released. While the Wii U was abandoned much sooner, that was mainly because it was a commercial flop—something that simply doesn’t apply to the Switch.
