What to Expect From the September 13 Nintendo Direct

Aside from Super Mario Odyssey, what Switch and 3DS games are on the way?

By Jonathon Dornbush

Nintendo is hosting a brand new Nintendo Direct on September 13 at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET/11 p.m. UK (or 8 a.m. Thursday, September 14 AEST), shining a spotlight on what’s to come for the Nintendo Switch and 3DS.

Other than mention that Super Mario Odyssey will be a highlight of the Direct, Nintendo has said little else about what to expect during the 45-minute broadcast. Still, there’s plenty to speculate on what may be shown for both of Nintendo’s systems.

Wait, when was the last Direct?

Nintendo has started to play fast and loose with its titling, so the technically last “Nintendo Direct” occurred on April 12. But since then, there have been directs highlighting ARMS, Splatoon 2, and Pokemon, as well as a Nindies Showcase last month and, of course, Nintendo’s E3 spotlight.

Nintendo also similarly held a Fall/Winter preview Direct around this time last year. While we didn’t yet know the name of the Switch at that time, plenty of games were still revealed, including Hey! Pikmin, Super Mario Maker for 3DS, Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World, and more.

So what Switch games will Nintendo talk about this time?

Other than Odyssey, there are a number of announced Switch and 3DS games that could be featured in the Direct, depending on how packed Nintendo wants to make the broadcast.

For Switch, there are a few safe bets. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s Champions’ Ballad DLC and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, expected for this year, don’t have release dates, while larger indie titles like Rocket League still have yet to be dated as well.

The Direct is a perfect opportunity to fill out the calendar with those dates, but it’s also a chance to announce new games and further solidify what the Switch library looks like post-Odyssey. Expect some preview of what’s to come at the start of 2018 for the Switch. Kirby and Yoshi games are both expected next year, and this Direct might be an opportunity to highlight them if they’re meant for releases earlier in 2018.

There's also third-party to consider. The recently revealed L.A. Noire for Switch and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, so the possibility of new remasters or other partnerships with major third-party publishers could also flesh out the Switch library.

What About 3DS Games?

Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, as well as the Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga remake, look to be the 3DS’s biggest titles this fall, and both could easily get some of the spotlight during this Direct. A Kirby multiplayer action game billed for a holiday release was also teased later this year, and this Direct seems like a perfect opportunity to debut it.

Nintendo has promised to continue supporting the handheld into and beyond 2018, so a few more releases teased for next year wouldn't be out of the question, either.

What about Switch online services (and that rumored achievement system?

Nintendo hasn’t explicitly said its paid online service would not be discussed, and that system is still on track to be released in 2018. But these catch-all Directs, for the most part, have kept the focus squarely on upcoming games (and amiibo figures to be used with those games) rather than services.

And word coming out that there is also an alleged trophies system in the works is more coincidental than a sign of what's slated for this Direct. While it's certainly possible Nintendo could surprise us, we're not expecting the service to be detailed during this Direct.

Will Nintendo say anything about its next smartphone games?

Despite Nintendo debuting Super Mario Run at the Apple September conference in 2016, the company made no appearance at this year's Apple event. Nintendo of America's president Reggie Fils-Aime reaffirmed at E3 that the Animal Crossing app would be released in 2017, so despite Nintendo saying the emphasis will be on Switch and 3DS, a quick appearance by Tom Nook could happen.

But it's likely the emphasis will want to be kept on the Switch and 3DS lineups, especially if previous Directs are any indication.

Any pie-in-the-sky announcements you want to see?

Speaking of Nook, though, a new Anmal Crossing game for Switch would be great, especially considering the mobile app is meant to connect to existing versions of the game. Whether scheduled for this year or early 2018, it’s a franchise that, following 3DS’ New Leaf in 2013, feels like it’s due for a return to the spotlight.

I'd love to see a new Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (with the original packaged in), and a Super Smash Bros. Deluxe Edition featuring all of the Wii U game’s additional content — and a couple of bonus stages — would be nice too.

What do you think? What announcements do you hope to see during this week's Nintendo Direct? Let us know in the comments

The Nintendo Direct will air on September 13 at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET/11 p.m. UK (or 8 a.m. Thursday, September 14 AEST). Stay tuned to IGN for all of the biggest news from the Direct and analysis on the showcase.

Jonathon Dornbush is an Associate Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

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