NintendObs Thinks: I... don't think there's going to be a Nintendo Direct this month.
For now it is all about Metroid Dread, and low-key about the OLED too.
It’s September, and we’re about to enter the middle of the month this week. This is usually the time when Nintendo airs their last full-fledged Nintendo Direct of the year, officially kicking off their drive towards the holiday season. Everybody expects there to be a Nintendo Direct, everybody wants there to be a Nintendo Direct, and I’m here to tell you, I’m pretty sure it is not going to happen, and I’ll also tell you why. I might be wrong, the Nintendo gamer in me hopes that I’m wrong since I am fondly and desperately craving for new Nintendo game announcements, but the pragmatic writer and editor that I also am sees no purpose for Nintendo to release a Nintendo Direct at this time.
First and foremost, the schedule for this holiday season is already complete, roughly since E3 2021. Obviously subject to change as always, right now that’s Metroid Dread and Nintendo Switch (OLED model) on October 8, Mario Party Superstars on October 29, Shin Megami Tensei V on November 12, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Pokémon Shining Pearl on November 19, Advance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp and Big Brain Academy Brain vs. Brain on December 3. Pretty packed if you ask me when it comes to Nintendo Switch retail exclusives, but more important is each of these titles already has a release date. If any other game needs to be announced, just like Big Brain Academy Brain vs. Brain the week before, Nintendo can just drop their specific news when they want. And if any detail on an existing game is required, just like they did on Friday with Metroid Dread’s overview trailer, Nintendo can drop a single video out of nowhere all the same.
A very strong argument can be made that Nintendo could use a full-fledged Nintendo Direct around Metroid Dread and Nintendo Switch (OLED model) to gather the most eyeballs across Nintendo fans and Nintendo onlookers to promote what are effectively their cornerstone items in the coming crucial quarter, but I wouldn’t be so sure that it would be to their advantage. Both Metroid Dread and Nintendo Switch (OLED model) at this time are actually aimed for niche audiences and not for the massive gathering of Nintendo’s flagship presentation. Objectively speaking, not everyone can play Metroid Dread, and given the premium nature of Nintendo Switch (OLED model), not everyone can afford to impulse buy it either. These two products now being Nintendo’s focus until October 8, in my opinion they have no interest in marketing them to the wrong audience, and they also have no interest in dishing out competing reveals that would divert the attention of the people they’re courting away from the coming two simultaneous releases.