Here’s What You Missed From The 2024 Nintendo Direct

Comprising 40 minutes in length and lacking any information about Nintendo’s successor to the Switch, the Nintendo Direct showcase that took place today was chock-full of enthralling new reveals and announcements, including a new iteration in the iconic Metroid Prime series. However, if you happened to miss the event and are looking to get yourself all caught up on the major announcements, I’ve got your back. 

Every Major Announcement From The Nintendo Direct

After a long line of rumors, info drops, and whatnot, the Direct finally occurred, bringing forth the following reveals for Nintendo fans and followers. Let’s get a closer look at all the announcements worth knowing about ahead. 

1. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom

Following the titanic success of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo has come up with another Zelda game, but this time, it switches things up drastically, and for the first time in the franchise as well. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom finally fulfills a longing wish of every Zelda fan—it’s going to let you play as Zelda now.

Talk about every grandma being able to guess the main character of a Zelda game right. 

The trailer shows off the beloved hero Link trying to free Princess Zelda in the start, probably for the gazillionth time, but ends up falling down a rift of some sort, still freeing Zelda in the process. Afterward, Link is missing, and it’s time the saving-the-world part is handed to Zelda herself. It’s going to be exciting, I’m sure, as the game makes landfall on September 26.  

2. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD 

Donkey Kong Country Returns first came out for the Wii back in 2010, and now, the Switch will receive an HD version of the game in 2025, boasting better-than-ever visuals, bonus levels that were later released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013, and even 2-player local multiplayer as well. I have to admit the graphics look crisper than ever, and we’re likely in for a really fun time with this 2D platformer.  

3. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Judging from the trailer, all hell seems to be let loose in the in-game world of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but that’s not the only thing on fire right now. Folks are hyped to the brim that after several years of waiting, a new Metroid game is real and in sight, targeting a release window of 2025. Speculation has it that by the time the title comes out, we’ll also have Nintendo Switch 2 at our disposal.

4. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake

Dragon Quest 3: The Seeds of Salvation is a classic RPG, now getting redone and remade for the Nintendo Switch, with a release date of November 14, 2024. Not just that, but the devs intend on remaking the first two Dragon Quest titles as well, but those are intended to be launched sometime next year. The 2-dimensional RPG is looking flat-out amazing, and I know it’s going to be an instant hit on launch. 

Similar to the forthcoming Mario and Luigi: Brothership, the art style stands out substantially, with fantastic attention to detail, and a highly vibrant environment that’s, well, truly in high-definition.

Travel through vast worlds and discover where the legendary DRAGON QUEST franchise began with the stunning DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D remake and the newly announced DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake!” 

5. Mario & Luigi: Brothership

Mario & Luigi: Brothership seems like a fairly co-op heavy platformer, though one with admirable visuals, nice enough gameplay, RPG elements and a release date of November 7, 2024. At the start of the trailer, it’s shown that the brothers accidentally travel to a distant world, ending up in a predicament. There’s turn-based combat in there as well, so the RPG side of the series is back in full flight as well.   

The bond between brothers has never been stronger! Set sail for an island-hopping adventure with the Mario Bros. in Mario & Luigi: Brothership!” reads the official description of the title. 

6. Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

So, Nintendo has knocked it out of the park with this announcement, really, and I can’t tell you how much over the moon I am in the wake of what we have at our disposal now. After a decade of exercising excruciating patience, the moment we all longed for is finally here in the name of Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, bringing not one or two, but 7 retro hits to modern-day platforms. 

The games included are: 

• X-Men Children of the Atom
• Marvel Super Heroes
• X-Men Vs. Street Fighter
• Marvel Super Heroes Vs. Street Fighter
• Marvel Vs. Capcom Clash of Super Heroes
• Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 New Age of Heroes
• The Punisher