Nintendo Direct June 2024 Recap: Zelda Surprise, Metroid Prime 4 Reveal, and More

Nintendo delivered a show-stopping Direct this morning, packing major announcements into its June 2024 presentation and setting the stage for a thrilling second half of the year for Switch owners. Headlining the showcase were long-awaited updates on beloved franchises, with The Legend of Zelda and Metroid stealing the spotlight.

To the delight of fans, Nintendo pulled off a major surprise with “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of the Lost Kingdom,” a brand-new 2D installment in the famed series, launching this November. Positioned as a spiritual successor to “A Link Between Worlds,” the game features a dual-realm mechanic and a striking hand-painted aesthetic. While much of the story remains under wraps, Nintendo teased that players will control both Link and a mysterious new heroine named Iria.

Arguably the most explosive moment of the Direct came with the long-awaited reveal of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. After years of silence and a 2019 development reboot, Nintendo finally showcased a full cinematic trailer and confirmed a release window of Spring 2025. The footage offered a glimpse into Samus Aran’s latest adventure, which appears to blend classic Prime exploration with large-scale space battles. Developed by Retro Studios, the game will reportedly be the Switch’s most ambitious technical showcase yet.

Other announcements included a new Mario Party title, “Super Mario Party Jamboree,” coming this December with over 100 mini-games and online tournament support, and the long-rumored remaster of F-Zero GX, now polished in HD and scheduled for early 2025. Additionally, third-party highlights featured the unexpected Switch debut of Hollow Knight: Silksong, launching this August, ending years of anticipation.

With rumors swirling about the next-generation Nintendo hardware, this Direct made it clear the current Switch still has fuel in the tank. Whether celebrating nostalgia or forging bold new paths, Nintendo seems intent on closing out the Switch era with some of its strongest offerings yet.