Nintendo has officially confirmed a new Nintendo Direct presentation slated for September 2024, sending waves of anticipation through the gaming community. The announcement, made via a brief social media post late last night, comes at a pivotal time as rumors surrounding the long-anticipated “Switch 2” continue to swirl.
While Nintendo has provided no specific details on what the Direct will entail, fans and industry insiders alike are speculating that the upcoming presentation could offer the first glimpse at the company’s next-generation hardware. The current Nintendo Switch system, launched in 2017, is now in its seventh year—well beyond the traditional lifecycle of a modern console. With competitors Sony and Microsoft already deeply entrenched in the current hardware generation, pressure has mounted for Nintendo to signal its future plans.
Speculation reached new heights following leaked developer kits earlier this year, which suggested that a Switch successor could feature upgraded graphics capabilities, faster load times, and improved battery life—elements long requested by fans. Tech analysts have also noted that Nintendo has been unusually quiet through the summer, a possible indication that a larger reveal is being held for a marquee event like the September Direct.
Adding fuel to the fire, several third-party publishers, including Ubisoft and Capcom, have recently postponed game announcements “pending platform clarification,” hinting that some of these projects might be aligned with next-gen Nintendo hardware.
Even if the Switch 2 is not directly unveiled, fans can expect the September Direct to spotlight key holiday releases and possibly long-anticipated updates on games like Metroid Prime 4 and the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Nintendo traditionally uses its September Directs to set the tone for the remainder of the fiscal year, and this one could be historic. Whether it includes a bombshell hardware announcement or focuses on its current software lineup, all eyes will be on Kyoto when the broadcast goes live.