Nintendo is known for doing the absolute opposite of what one expects, and alas, it’s proven to stay true to its old ways with the announcement of a Nintendo Direct for the Switch just a week ahead of the big Nintendo Switch 2 presentation.
Rumours surrounding this seemingly ‘last-hurrah’ for the outgoing hybrid began to percolate mere days ago, but now that discussion has formally turned into reality following Nintendo’s confirmation.
Curtain call
Nintendo has announced that the March 27 presentation will be a full Direct; not a charmingly titled ‘Direct Mini’ or ‘Partner Showcase’ as it has done in times past to signify a smaller occasion.
This has added fuel to the already massive inferno as fans scramble to understand the purpose behind this seemingly outlandish strategy.
When the Nintendo Switch 2 was formally revealed back in February, alongside an announcement of a special dedicated Direct set for April 2, attention naturally turned towards that date. The time for one last presentation for the outgoing console came and went, further adding to the belief that Nintendo was squarely communicating it is turning the page over to Switch 2. Yet, here we are.
What will it be?
Nintendo’s first-party 2025 release calendar for the original Switch is notably light as of right now; that seems like it will be changing rather dramatically with tomorrow’s presentation. It’s anyone’s guess exactly what new announcements will be present, though no doubt third-party and indie titles are to be expected. No new updates surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 will be part of this Direct; all that information is being saved for that special presentation on April 2.
Considering that Nintendo has emphasised that the Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with (most) software from the original Switch, all the new announcements will absolutely not go to waste for potential Switch 2 customers.
And, therein lies the intriguing situation that’s manifested as a result of this announcement.
Setting the stage
Console transitions are always a hard move to pull off. With all the time and resources spent in gearing up a new system, attention naturally wanes for the old. Still, considering there are over 150 million Switch consoles out in the wild and its user base is still actively making game purchases, this market is not yet ready to abruptly close up shop.
These customers will still need software to placate them, even as the Switch 2 looms on the horizon. Nintendo seems keen to nail a smooth exchange between these two generations, seemingly attempting to avoid falling into a severe software drought, as it has done many times before with past transitions.
Another likely scenario behind the timing of this Direct is to give the original Switch one last proper showing in the limelight before it steps back and all eyes point to its successor.
This way, existing Switch owners will stay tapped right on up until the launch of the new system. Again, any purchases made between now and then will carry right on over, so it’s a win-win across both camps.
As if it needed any help, Nintendo’s 2025 just got even more interesting.
Read more:
Nintendo plays it safe with Switch 2, and that’s just fine | Nacon reveals slew of Nintendo Switch 2 accessories | Nintendo Switch 2 — Official image gallery
