Nintendo will sneak into the Summer Game Fest with a new Direct

Rumors of a Nintendo Direct at the end of June are true, sources at TRG can confirm.

While Nintendo didn't show up at Summer Games Fest proper, a Nintendo Direct later this month would still allow Nintendo to sneak in through the back door of the gaming party. With massive announcements at Summer Games Fest about well-known quantities like Starfield and Diablo 4, and then new surprises like Minecraft Legends, Nintendo has its work cut out for it with a new Nintendo Direct.

In the company's latest Nintendo Direct in February, Nintendo showed off a host of updates, including new tracks for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, an entirely new entry in the Fire Emblem series in the form of Fire Emblem Warriors: Three. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 announcement. Remasters of classics like Chrono Cross and early Front Mission games were more understated that complemented an impressive Direct lineup.

But above all, what will we see in the next Nintendo Direct? Let's put on a power glove, place our hands on my questionably accurate crystal ball, and look for a glimmer of hope.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

There’s no way around the swirling fog of Breath of the Wild 2 in our crystal ball. Everyone’s eager for more information, so it would be nice to get a deeper look at gameplay changes, the story, or even a more specific release date beyond the vague “spring 2023” we have to work with right now. Link and crew are a quieter bunch than Mario, but they’re part of the powerful first-party scaffolding that keeps Nintendo on firm ground.

Deep in our hearts, and hidden behind a few other things in the oracle ball, is the possibility of a Metroid Prime 4 showing up. News of Samus’ final mainline adventure would be a huge reveal for Nintendo. We’ve had nothing but tumbleweeds since we found out in 2019 that Metroid Prime 4 was being scrapped and rebooted with the help of Retro Studios. That’s a long time to wait for a preview, and I’m willing to bet that the latest Metroid will finally get some screen time.

And then, just to hedge my oracular bets, I’m going to put my prediction credentials on the line and say it’s a lock – we’ll be seeing Xenoblade Chronicles 3. With a July release, there’s no way Nintendo wouldn’t benefit from any opportunity to show us more of the latest entry in the sci-fi JRPG series. Another trailer would make the most sense here, given how close we are to launch – especially if it shows off more gameplay, given how co-op play can shine with the new party size of up to seven.

But for now, all we can do is hope and dream of an imminent visit from some of Nintendo's gaming luminaries.