It’s officially June, and everybody is clamoring for a Nintendo Direct, to say the least. There hasn’t been a general Nintendo Direct since September 2025, and the announcements they have made have been done spontaneously or through the Nintendo Today app.
This approach does make sense from a business perspective, unfortunately. In a Nintendo Direct, a majority of the announcements made wind up overshadowed by something else in the presentation, usually something big like Mario, Zelda, or Smash. When the announcements are spaced out like recent times, they’re given more focus and attention.
But there’s nothing quite like a good old Nintendo Direct, and June 2026 seems like the perfect time to have one. In fact, certain rumors indicate that we’ll be seeing a presentation on Tuesday – though that’s not confirmed currently. Here are some last-minute predictions, assuming a June presentation actually does happen.
What we think might happen
As per NateTheHate’s recent predictions, there’s supposedly a remake of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in development for Nintendo Switch 2. There’s also a Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition supposedly in development, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Nintendo Switch Sports are apparently getting something new as well. It’s not clear whether those are getting Nintendo Switch 2 Editions or all-new titles (or, in Xenoblade’s case, another definitive edition).
NateTheHate has mentioned, however, that he hasn’t offered predictions for Nintendo’s full 2026 lineup – there are still some surprises in store. He’s also mentioned a Kirby: Planet Robobot port or remake in the past, but this was a long time ago, and it still hasn’t happened – but we think it’s definitely possible. Nintendo Switch 1 still has a huge install base, and it’d make sense to release a port of one of the most loved Kirby games while we wait for the next new mainline entry.
Finally, there’s the matter of 3D Mario – according to Nate, it does exist, but it won’t be ready until 2027. That being said, a June Nintendo Direct could show a little snippet of the game as a “one more thing” kind of deal. NateTheHate is really the only reliable Nintendo leaker at the moment, and since Nintendo has been very quiet so far this year in terms of Directs, his predictions wind up having more weight as fans look to the second half of 2026.
There are also going to be tons of third-party announcements at some point – so many titles have been leaked or rumored for Nintendo Switch 2 that it’s impossible to name them all. Just to rapid-fire a few games that have been leaked or rumored: Minecraft, Monster Hunter Wilds, Hi-Fi Rush, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Expedition 33, Mewgenics, and Sonic Frontiers: Definitive Edition, among many others.
There have been so many third-party Nintendo Switch 2 leaks over the past few months that we’d be shocked if there isn’t a Direct coming up. We’d advise you check out our post here for a roundup of every game that’s been rumored for the console.
What we want to happen
Whereas the above section is based on existing predictions and rumors, this section is nothing but speculation. For one, it’s been a little while since Nintendo’s added a new Nintendo Switch Online platform – you can argue that they added Virtual Boy earlier this year, and they did, but is anybody really using that? Thanks to Switch 2’s built-in microphone, Nintendo DS is now a viable option to have its own service. It’s got a fantastic library, too – perfect for drip-feeding to consumers over the course of an additional five years. Speaking of which, we’re really in need of some more GameCube games on the Nintendo Switch Online service; it’s been over a year and still no Super Mario Sunshine, for instance.
Then there’s DLC, which is always nice. Mario Kart World could definitely use some new characters and courses – there’s a ton of potential with the characters. You could include drivers from Donkey Kong Bananza, Luigi’s Mansion, and the like, and connect a few more courses to the open world. Pokemon Pokopia has an absolute ton of content, but there’s no way it’s not going to get DLC at some point – maybe we could see one new area this year or something like that? Moving on to new games, it’d also make sense to get a new Super Mario Maker or Luigi’s Mansion game sometime soon. Next Level Games’ last self-developed title was Mario Strikers: Battle League in 2022, which was already four years ago.
It’d also be amazing to see a new 3D Mario, as mentioned in the previous section – but it’s way too soon for Animal Crossing, an all-new Zelda, or Splatoon. Splatoon is already getting Splatoon Raiders this year, so Splatoon 4 is presumably off the table. Zelda is almost certainly getting at least one remake announcement, but the next 3D entry is likely years away. Animal Crossing’s Nintendo Switch 2 Edition was also likely released to hold players over for another few years, though we’d certainly like to be wrong about that.
In any case, what do you think the next Nintendo Direct has in store? Let us know in the comments down below.
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