Nintendo on September 23 rolled out a40-minute Direct presentationthat featured news on its slate of winter games. That included updates on Switch games we already knew about, likeMetroid Dread, but it also brought a few surprises. We got to see a new Kirby game, the first gameplay footage forBayonetta 3, and a closer look atSplatoon 3. We even got a true surprise in the news that N64 and Sega Genesis games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online.
Was it enough to satisfy Nintendo’s constantly disappointed fans? For the most part, it went about as well as expected. While we didn’t get any gigantic new reveals, the information we did get was surprisingly significant considering the stream was mostly focused on games coming this winter. We even got some surprise shadow releases, like theCastlevania Advance Collection, which is always a nice touch.
Here’s every bit of news from Nintendo’s Direct presentation so you can make up your own mind about the show.
Nintendo 64 games finally come to Switch Online
Nintendo is releasing Switch-compatible wireless N64 and Sega Genesis controllers as part of the launch. They will cost $50 each and be available for Nintendo Online members to purchase. There’s currently no release date or price for the Expansion Pack program.
The Mario movie gets its cast
Shigeru Miyamoto popped up on the stream, but not to show off a video game. Instead, he offered details on the upcoming Super Mario Bros. movie. It’ll release on July 11, 2025 in the United States and on unannounced 2022 dates in other regions.
More importantly, we got casting information about the animated film. Mario will be voiced by Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy is Peach, and Charlie Day is Luigi. The star-studded cast also includes Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogan as Donkey Kong, and more. Mario’s regular voice actor, Charles Martinet, will lend his voice to the film, too, but only in a cameo capacity. Ouch.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is confirmed
After leaking ahead of the Direct (and spurring a bizarre internet debate about spoilers for marketing events),Kirby and the Forgotten Landgot an official reveal. Set for a spring 2022 release, this is Kirby’s first full Switch adventure since 2018’sKirby: Star Allies.The game is a major departure for the series. It appears to be a 3D open-world game where Kirby explores an abandoned world. The trailer shows him waddling around a derelict mall and other areas. It essentially looks likeSuper Mario Odyssey, but with Kirby.
Splatoon 3 still looks fresh
We got another look atSplatoon 3, which is still scheduled to launch in 2022. This time, we got a closer look at multiplayer and some of the new weapons coming to the game, including an ink-spurting drone and a bow. We also got our first peek at its single-player mode, which is calledReturn of the Mammalians.In it, players will uncover the mystery of why all the mammals in the game (save for two cats) have disappeared. The game does not have a firm release date yet.
Bayonetta 3 coming in 2022
As indicated earlier by Nintendo’s Japanese website,Bayonetta 3is finally coming. The game will launch sometime in 2022, though it still doesn’t have a firm release date. We did get an actual gameplay trailer for the game, though that showed off its hack= and-slack action. Notably, Lappy from developer PlatinumGames’ Switch exclusiveAstral Chain, makes a cameo in the trailer.
The Roost comes to Animal Crossing
New content is coming toAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, though we don’t fully know what it is yet. Nintendo says that it’s going to hold an Animal Crossing Direct in October to reveal the game’s November update. What we do know is that it’llbring The Roost back, which was a café that appeared in previous games. Brewster, the Roost’s bird bartender, is coming back alongside the update.
Castlevania Advance Collection revives GBA classics
In the weeks building up to the Nintendo Direct, we’d seen rumors of a new Castlevania collection that features the series’ Game Boy Advance installments. Lo and behold, that’s exactly what we got.Castlevania Advance Collectionbrings four classic games to the Switch (plus, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC), includingCircle of the Moon,Aria of Sorrow,andHarmony of Dissonance. It’ll also feature the SNES titleCastlevania: Dracula Xfor good measure. TheCastlevania Advance Collectionis available on the Switch eShop right now. Surprise!
