Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase live: all the announcements and news as it happened

Hey gamers! We're officially less than a couple of hours away from today's Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. This is the first big Nintendo Direct presentation we've had since the launch of Switch 2. While we're not expecting any big first-party announcements along the lines of Mario, Zelda, and so on, there's likely still going to be plenty of exciting games from third-party developers and publishers. We hope you'll join us for up-to-date coverage as the presentation happens.

The elephant in the room...

I know it, you know it, we all know it. Every Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase and Indie World Showcase is inevitably accompanied by the same question: "Where's Silksong?"

There's a big difference this time, though. We know Hollow Knight: Silksong is scheduled to launch sometime in 2025. And recently, Microsoft has made waves with its announcement of the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. Xbox has also stated that Silksong will be playable on these devices when they launch.

Recent leaks have suggested that the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds could launch during Gamescom 2025, on August 20. This could also mean that Hollow Knight: Silksong will arrive around that same time.

So what does that have to do with this Nintendo Direct? Well, it's entirely possible Nintendo has beaten Xbox to the punch with its own Silksong announcement plans. We also saw around five seconds of the upcoming game at the initial Switch 2 Direct way back in April. So Nintendo certainly has previous with the anticipated indie title.

We'll know for sure (or not) in less than two hours...

What do we know about The Duskbloods?

Nintendo stunned the world when it revealed the Switch 2 would be getting an exclusive title from acclaimed developer FromSoftware. The Duskbloods is set to launch in 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2 only, and will be an asymmetrical multiplayer-focused title.

The game will differ from Elden Ring Nightreign in that it will have a strong PvP element, as opposed to Nightreign's strict PvE gameplay. One similarity, though, is that The Duskbloods will feature preset characters, all with their own skills and backstories.

Quite obviously taking cues from Bloodborne, The Duskbloods explores a gothic horror setting. But there does appear to be more modern elements, such as trains and a railway system.

Game director Hidetaka Miyazaki was interviewed by Nintendo in a Creator's Voice piece. I strongly recommend reading this if you haven't already, as Miyazaki provides a lot of insight into the game and its development.

Whether or not The Duskbloods makes an appearance at this Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase remains to be seen, but I've certainly got my fingers crossed.

What is a Partner Showcase?

At Nintendo Direct showcases, we're used to expecting big first-party announcements. However, Partner Showcases differ in that the focus is less on Nintendo itself, and more on its third-party partners who'll be bringing games to Switch and Switch 2.

On that note, don't expect any big Nintendo-centric announcements here. We don't know when the next big Nintendo Direct will be, but this isn't quite one of them. Even still, Partner Showcases still have the capacity to surprise us. Developers like Capcom, Square Enix and Bandai Namco have shown up in the past to deliver plenty of excitement, and I hope that will also be the case here.

Our Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Bingo Card!

We've made a simple bingo card for the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, which you can see just below. Feel free to play along!

Ubisoft to make a splash?

I (Rob) really enjoyed both Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows - the latter more so - and can definitely see Ubisoft having the intent on getting both onto Nintendo's latest handheld console.

The Assassin's Creed ports on the original Nintendo Switch were pretty successful and ran nicely so there is precedent in those games coming to such systems. And with the Switch 2's beefier specs, it should be more than capable of running Outlaws or Shadows with a bit of optimisation.

What do you think? Would these be good additions to the Switch 2's third-party library?

Should we expect a date for Elden Ring Tarnished Edition?

It's a strong possibility. Especially as we know this Switch 2 version of Elden Ring is due to release in 2025. Tarnished Edition packs the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion into one. There's also going to be new starter classes, customization options for Torrent and even new weapons. These updates will also be coming to other versions of the game on PC, Xbox and PlayStation, so there's no fear of missing out if you don't own a Switch 2.

If we don't get The Duskbloods here, this would be the next best thing from the FromSoft camp. Unless they do something mad and put a King's Field collection on Switch 2. I'd be so down for that.

One hour to go!

Just an hour left before the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase begins!

What about Sonic?

I actually can't believe I forgot to include the speedy blue hedgehog in the bingo card! Something Sonic-related has a very good chance of showing up at today's Partner Showcase.

Most likely, this will be a new trailer for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. Sega has pulled out all the stops when it comes to marketing this game, to the point where it seems like we're getting a new trailer or gameplay snippet every week. It wouldn't be too crazy to expect another one at this showcase, perhaps revealing some new tracks or guest characters.

Half an hour to go!

We're now at the half-hour mark! Just 30 minutes left until the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase kicks off. Remember, this one's only going to be 25 minutes long, so don't expect an absolute abundance of announcements. Still, we're hoping there'll be plenty of top quality games to look forward to over the coming months.

A quick reminder on where to watch

The best place to watch today's Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase is going to be on the official Nintendo YouTube channel. Nintendo of America draws in the biggest viewer numbers, but the UK channel is also a reliable place to watch. You can also watch on the official Twitch page if you prefer. As a pro tip, you may also wish to check out the Japanese version of the Partner Showcase after the fact, as these often show games that you won't see on the Western broadcasts.

15 minute warning!

Just 15 minutes to go before the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase begins, folks! Get your snacks and drinks in now, as well as any last-minute predictions!

And we're live!

The event has begun! And the first announcement is...

Monster Hunter Stories 3!

Capcom has kicked off the Partner Showcase with a first-look at Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection! The game looks absolutely gorgeous and seems to be a lot more open in nature, especially compared to the relatively linear worlds of the first two games. Looks a bit Fire Emblem-y as well!

No release date just yet outside of 2026.

Katamari!

A brand new Katamari Damacy game is coming to Switch! Once Upon a Katamari looks very similar in gameplay to the others in the series, but I'm never saying no to more Katamari. Online multiplayer is supported too!

The game launches on October 24.

Just Dance

Obligatory Just Dance 2026 Edition trailer. No massive surprise here, we kind of expected this!

It's launching on October 14.

Dragonball!

Dragonball Sparking! Zero is coming to Switch 2! It's a bit like the old Budokai games as an arena fighter, really good fun.

Plants vs Zombies

Yep, Plants vs Zombies is coming to Switch systems! Plants vs Zombies Replanted is coming October 23.

Pac-Man World 2 remake!

We're getting another Pac-Man remake. Pac-Man World Re-Pac 2 is coming September 26.

Final Fantasy Tactics!

Some new looks at Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles! Launching on Switch and Switch 2 on September 30.

Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload is getting a Switch 2 release! This is a fantastic remake of a classic PS2 RPG. It's coming to Switch 2 on October 23.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment!

Technically yes, this is a third-party game! Coming from Koei Tecmo and Omega Force, Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment gameplay just got shown off at the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. Expect massive battlefields and cool character abilities.

Still no release date, though!

Madden

Yep, it's Madden! Another EA sports franchise is coming to Switch 2. Madden NFL 26 launches on August 14.

Chillin' by the Fire

A proper cozy little campfire game just got announced. Really like the look of this one. Super chill vibes. Roast marshmallows and keep the campfire going in several different weather conditions. Also supports GameChat and the camera.

It's coming today!

Apex Legends

Apex Legends is also coming to Switch 2! It's coming to Switch 2 on August 5.

Star Wars Outlaws

Outlaws was announced at the initial Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, but we now have a better idea on when we can expect the game to land on the console.

Star Wars Outlaws is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 4.

Cronos: The New Dawn

Bloober Team's next horror game is also coming to Switch 2. The Silent Hill 2 remake developer's sci-fi spookfest definitely has a Dead Space feel to it, so I'm looking forward to seeing what this one does differently. Love the time travel setting.

Cronos: The New Dawn is coming to Switch 2 on September 5.

Yakuza Kiwami 2

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is coming to Switch 2! This is a remake of Yakuza 2, that takes Kazuma Kirui to Sotenbori where he clashes with the tyrannical Ryuji Goda. This one's awesome, so don't miss it if you've recently gotten into the series.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 comes to Switch 2 on November 13.

Montage time!

Too many games to count here! But it's a sizzle reel of several great looking games coming to Switch 2. Borderlands 4, NBA Bounce, Hello Kitty, Romancing Saga 2, Shinobi Art of Vengeance and more are all heading to Switch 2 soon.

New HD-2D RPG!

Square Enix has announced an all-new game in its HD-2D engine: The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. It's definitely got the Octopath Traveler flavor to it, featuring big explorable areas. As an action RPG, combat looks like it takes place in real time, as opposed to turn-based of Octopath and Dragon Quest.

The game will launch in 2026, with a demo available now.

Octopath Traveler 0

A brand new Octopath Traveler game! Octopath Traveler 0, judging by the title, could be a prequel to the other two games in the series. It seems to have a different gameplay focus. While turn-based battles remain, there are some city building elements and what appears to be a character creator.

It's launching on December 4.

And that's a wrap!

That's it for the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. Absolutely tons of game announcements here, so much that it was admittedly hard to keep track!

Quite a lot to look forward to, though. Monster Hunter Stories 3 and Octopath Traveler 0 were very big surprises. I'm also looking forward to Persona 3 Reload and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.

No Duskbloods or Hollow Knight: Silksong, though. We'll have to wait a touch longer for more info on those!

Our bingo card results

Honestly, I did bloody awful. Hope you guys did a bit better in your predictions!

If you're looking for a complete list of everything shown at the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, we did our best to cover absolutely everything shown. On this page, we now have a comprehensive list of all the games with some preliminary info. So if you were late to the show or unable to catch it, be sure to scroll back through our live blog to see everything you missed!

I need Just Dance 2026 Edition in my veins

Hello gamers! Hardware Writer Dash here.

I've been asked to pick out my personal game of the show, and I can't pretend that it's anything other than Just Dance 2026 Edition.

I've been a huge fan of Just Dance since it made the leap over to a full live service, and a new annual song pack is just what's needed to get me back climbing the leader boards once again.

This is the first Just Dance game making its way to Nintendo Switch 2 too, if you don't count previous backwards compatible entries, so I'm interested to see how it will make use of the console's features.

Will we see full Nintendo Switch 2 Camera support? I certainly hope so, as it could lead to much more accurate and responsive scoring online.

The Japanese Direct had quite a lot of stuff, too

The Japanese Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase broadcast had quite a lot of games that didn't feature in the Western versions.

Chief among these was a full trailer for Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake, as well as upcoming RPG Varlet. A HoloLive game featuring iconic VTubers was shown, as well as a cute cafe sim and an eclectic board game title.

You can check out the full Japanese broadcast here.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment can't come soon enough

I'm an absolutely massive Musou fan, and a pretty big Zelda fan, too. Hyrule Warriors combines these worlds and gameplay styles together, and Age of Imprisonment is no different there.

The best revelation for me is that the game will be a canon entry in the Zelda series, unlike Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which was annoyingly relegated to being a non-canon side story / what-if scenario.

I've been on a real Warriors kick lately, revisiting games like Dynasty Warriors 8 Xtreme Legends, Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition and Warriors: Abyss. Here's hoping that Age of Imprisonment can match the quality and longevity of the original Hyrule Warriors.

It's coming to Switch 2 sometime in the winter. So expect it late on, maybe November or December time.

If I were a Switch 2 player...

It's me, the Ubisoft-liker again.

Sadly, I can't use Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 hardware for accessibility reasons, but if I were able to, and if I were a Switch 2 player, then I'd be champing at the bit to jump back into Star Wars Outlaws.

It's a world and game that I can imagine translating to the small screen of the Switch 2 - as long as it can be optimised adequately and appropriately. We all remember how that game launched anyway, but with some time to cook on this hardware (one assumes), I reckon this could be a cracker!

I can imagine there's nothing more satisfying than playing a big open world game (natively) on a handheld and neatly chipping away at its contents... That's certainly what I found on the PlayStation Portal when playing Outlaws last year, too.

Curious about Elliot?

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales – Announcement trailer (Nintendo Switch 2) - YouTube

Watch On

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 next year. This HD-2D action RPG from Square Enix differs in that combat takes place in real time, ditching the turn-based gameplay of titles in the engine like Octopath Traveler.

If you're curious about the game like I am, a demo is available on Nintendo Switch 2's eShop from today, where you'll be able to check out what is presumably an early gameplay snippet.