New Nintendo Direct reportedly coming next week, but don't get too hyped for Mario or Zelda - it's rumored to be another third-party showing

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New Nintendo Direct reportedly coming next week, but don't get too hyped for Mario or Zelda - it's rumored to be another third-party showing News By Kaan Serin published 30 January 2026

Already announced third-party games include Elden Ring and 007: First Light

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A new Nintendo Direct seems imminent, and by that I mean it could be coming as soon as next week.

That's based on rumors circulating online from NateTheHate, now corroborated by VGC's anonymous sources, who claim the showcase will take place on Thursday, February 5.

Before you get too excited about the thought of a new Super Mario or Legend of Zelda game, note that all reports also claim it'll be another Nintendo Partner Direct, the sort usually reserved for third-party games coming to Switch and Switch 2, rather than games the publisher makes in-house.

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And before you get too excited about the thought of a new Direct at all, I'll note that all rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, even ones coming from credible folks.

The latest Nintendo Partner Direct aired last summer with new looks at Monster Hunter Stories 3 and Octopath Traveler 0, as well as ports of Star Wars Outlaws and Persona 3 Reload. That's not to say that a Nintendo series won't show up, either, since the last showcase also had Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a spin-off developed by Koei Tecmo Games.

Already announced third-party games that could appear include the likes of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Elden Ring, Resident Evil Requiem, Fallout 4, and 007: First Light. You can read our upcoming Switch 2 games guide for the full rundown. Should the rumors come to pass, you can probably expect a few surprises in there, too.

Metroid Prime 2 and Pikmin 2 aren't coming to Nintendo Switch 2 Online after all, if you believe Nintendo: "We apologize for any confusion"

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Platforms Nintendo Kaan SerinFreelance contributor

Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

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