Nintendo Direct Highlights: Legend of Zelda, Pikmin 4 and Gameboy
From Splatoon 3 to the Gameboy Advance to Pikmin 4, there was a lot packed into the recent Nintendo Direct. Here are the highlights.
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The latest Nintendo Direct was over forty-five minutes of trailers and announcements for upcoming Nintendo Switch titles. The presentation covered DLC for Splatoon 3 and Xenoblade Chronicles 3, updates on Pikmin 4 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and brand new announcements like Gameboy and Gameboy Advance games joining the roster of Nintendo Switch Online benefits. You can watch the presentation below, but if you’d instead just get the highlights, this is the right place.
The presentation started off with a gameplay update for the highly anticipated Pikmin 4, showcasing a few different types of Pikmin and how they will help the player traverse the landscape. What was perhaps the most unexpected moment of the direct was the Otachi, a dog-like creature that can be controlled by the player. This creature can swim across puddles, smash through objects, and carry heavy objects. It was also revealed that Pikmin 4 will launch on July 21st, news that fans of the franchise will be happy to hear.
Another highlight was the announcement of Gameboy and Gameboy Advance collections joining the Nintendo Switch Online catalog. Gameboy games will be available to anyone with a basic NSO account, but Gameboy Advance games will require the Expansion Pack add-on. The collections include several classic Mario and Zelda titles, along with a few other games to start, with the promise of more to come.
New waves of DLC were announced for Splatoon 3, bringing back Inkopolis from the original game, and a mysterious new addition planned for Wave 2. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 DLC will introduce a new character, along with a rogue-like challenge mode where one character takes on waves of enemies.
The direct ended with perhaps the most anticipated game of all, a new trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The trailer showed new enemies like flying dragon-like creatures, a strange flying machine, and a lot more. With only a few months until the long-awaited sequel arrives on May 12th, there likely won’t be many trailers left.
For a quick breakdown of everything announced during the direct, here’s a list:
- Pikmin 4 - July 21st
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass DLC - February 15th
- Samba de Amigo: Party Central - Summer 2023
- Fashion Dreamer - This Year
- Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC - March 6th (Pre Orders Available Now)
- TRON: Identity - April 2023
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective - Summer 2023
- DECAPOLICE - This Year
- Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon - March 17th (Pre Orders Available Now)
- Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass DLC - Wave 1: Spring 2023 & Wave 2: TBA (Pre Orders Available Now)
- Disney Illusion Island - July 28th (Pre Orders Available Now)
- Fire Emblem Engage Expansion Pass DLC - Wave 2: Available Now, Wave 3 & 4: TBA
- Harmony: The Fall of Reverie - June 2023
- OCTOPATH TRAVELER II - February 24th (Demo Availalbe Now)
- We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie - June 2nd
- Sea of Stars - August 29th (Demo AvailableNow)
- Omega Strikers - April 27th (Pre Orders Availalbe Now)
- Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection - June 1st (Pre Orders Available Now)
- Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp - April 21st (Pre Orders Available Now)
- Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe - February 24th (Pre Orders Available Now)
- Game Boy – Nintendo Switch Online - Available Now
- Game Boy Advance – Nintendo Switch Online - Available Now
- Metroid Prime Remastered - Available Now Digitally, Physical February 22nd
- Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE - June 30th
- Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster - Summer 2023
- Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time - This Year
- PROFESSOR LAYTON and The New World of Steam - TBA
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC - Spring 2023
- Minecraft Legends - April 18th
- Blanc - February 14th
- Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection - April 14th (Pre Orders Available Now)
- Have a Nice Death - March 22nd
- WBSC eBASEBALL: Power Pros - Available Now
- Disney Dreamlight Valley Update - April 2023
- Tales of Symphonia Remastered - February 17th
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - May 12th
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Author: Matt Buckley
Matt has been writing for Gamepressure since 2020, and currently lives in San Diego, CA. Like any good gamer, he has a Steam wishlist of over three hundred games and a growing backlog that he swears he’ll get through someday. Aside from daily news stories, Matt also interviews developers and writes game reviews. Some of Matt’s recent favorites include Arco, Neva, Cocoon, Animal Well, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Tears of the Kingdom. Generally, Matt likes games that let you explore a world, tell a compelling story, and challenge you to think in different ways.
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