Nintendo Direct live updates — Metroid Prime 4, Pokemon, and more announced
Get a look at the new games coming to Nintendo Switch
There’s life in the old Nintendo Switch yet.
Ahead of the big Nintendo Switch 2 Direct next week, Nintendo treated us to a surprise showcase dedicated to a bunch of upcoming titles to the outgoing system.
Highlights from the stream included fresh looks at Metroid Prime 4 and Pokemon Legends: Z-A, plus a new Tomodachi Life title.
Nintendo also packed in more trailers and teasers for plenty more upcoming titles (some of which you can play today), and a couple of non-game announcements.
You can find out a little more info about everything that happened in today's direct below.
Nintendo Direct March 2025 — watch the Direct back here
Today's Direct has been and gone, but you can watch it again and flick through all the highlights below:
Writer for five years. Started with the N64 and has had almost every Nintendo system since.
Welcome!
Today’s Direct is dedicated to showing off some new games still to come to Nintendo’s hybrid console in the near future.
We'll be covering all the games shown off in today's livestream, so if you're not quite ready to say goodbye to your current system, look forward to finding out what's still to come to the Switch in the next few months.
Are we seeing the Switch 2 today?
In a word: no.
When Nintendo announced today's Direct, they said as much, writing: "There will be no updates about Nintendo Switch 2 during this presentation."
For a closer look at Nintendo's next system, you'll need to wait for the Switch 2 Direct on April 2.
What games might we see?
Nintendo hasn’t named any specific titles ahead of today’s Direct, so we’re flying blind until the livestream gets underway.
We’ll dive into some of the titles we’re most hopeful for later on, but on the official Nintendo UK and Nintendo Australia websites, the company has shared a list of upcoming games coming our way in April in the region.
Seeing as these titles have had a shout-out from Nintendo already and are due to release soon, I can't help but wonder whether one or more of the following games might get a mention in today's stream:
Star Overdrive - releasing 4/10/25
Promise Mascot Agency - releasing 4/10/25
Rusty Rabbit - releasing 4/17/25
Tempopo - releasing 4/17/25
LUNAR Remastered Collection - releasing 4/18/25
The Hundred Line -Last Defence Academy- - releasing 4/23/25
The Silksong rumor mill is spinning up again…
During a recent Power Block livestream, Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb said that he knew a Direct was happening this week was because of a "partner game" which he expects to generate a lot of chatter.
"The reason I heard about a [Nintendo] Direct originally is because of a a partner game and I think that when we get out of this Direct if, no matter what is the most exciting game there will be one game that causes the most conversation and it won't be about Nintendo necessarily", Grubb said.
Fans over on Reddit have started to question whether this mystery game could well be Silksong, and whether today's Direct might feature a fresh look at the long-awaited game.
Could we see a Kid Icarus: Uprising Switch port?
As reported by Nintendo Life, Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai retweeted the March 27 Direct announcement.
A simple tweet was all it took to send fans into overdrive: his post has been viewed over six million times, and is currently sitting at 60,000 likes and counting.
Whether this means Sakurai’s involved in the show whatsoever remains to be seen. There's been talk of a Kirby: Planet Robobot Switch port for a while now, but I'm hoping this could mean one of my favorite 3DS titles is about to get the Switch treatment, instead.
I sank a ton of hours into Kid Icarus: Uprising over a decade ago, and I'm happy to join the fans having fun interpreting Sakurai's tweet as a hint that Pit's going to be back in action again soon.
I'm still waiting for Wind Waker
Hello! Rory Mellon (TG’s Entertainment Editor) here, and I'm just popping in to say it’s time. Seriously Nintendo, it’s time to do the right thing and bring The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD to Switch.
Wind Waker HD has been confined to the Wii U for too darn long, and seeing as the Big-N has ported over just about every other worthwhile Wii U exclusive to the Switch, it’s a real headscratcher that Link’s beloved cell-shaded adventure hasn’t also made its way over.
Rumors have swirled for practically the Switch’s entire lifecycle of an impending port, but to date, it’s yet to happen. Its companion remaster, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, is also currently stuck on Wii U, so perhaps we could get a dual-pack to see off the Nintendo Switch in style?
To chance to revisit some of the most popular games in the legendary franchise would certainly be a fine way to cap off the Switch’s time in the sun. Plus, as somebody introduced to Zelda via Breath of the Wild, I’m eager to catch up on the franchise’s past in glorious HD.
No Switch 2, but we might see cross-gen games
Nintendo has made it clear that Switch 2 won't be part of this Nintendo Direct, but that doesn't necessarily mean prospective purchasers of the next-gen console won't see anything worthwhile today.
Don't forget that the Nintendo Switch's biggest launch game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, was actually a cross-gen title launched on both Switch and its precursor the Nintendo Wii U. Could history repeat itself? Perhaps some of the games showcased today will also be heading to Switch 2.
Now, I don't expect to see any flagship Switch 2 launch titles such as the new Mario Kart (this will likely be Switch 2 exclusive), but we could see some smaller indie titles or third-party ports in today's Nintendo Direct that ultimately find their way onto both Nintendo Switch systems.
Plus, let's not forget that the Switch 2 is already confirmed to offer robust backwards compatibility features, so any game presented in this Nintendo Direct should, at least in theory, be playable on the upcoming console too.
Get ready!
If you're looking to tune in live, you've got just 15 minutes left before today's Nintendo Direct kicks off.
Can't watch live? Be sure to check back in later today, as we'll be sharing all the major announcements here
Dragon Quest I& II HD-2D
And we're off! The Direct began with a quick look at Square Enix's HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest I & II.
More details are coming soon, but it's got 2025 release date.
No Sleep for Kaname arrives July 25
Things properly kicked off with a look at an AI: The Somnium Files sequel (and a release date), plus a look at Shin Megami Tensei spinoff, Raidou The Mystery of the Soulless Army.
Bizarre Pac-Man reimagining Shadow Labyrinth followed, along with a trailer for Patapon 1+2 Replay.
METROID PRIME 4!
Here's one of the Switch's big upcoming games; we got a look at Samus in action for Metroid Prime 4, and some of the horrific alien foes she'll be taking down in her next mission.
We also got a look at her new Psychic Abilities... but how'd she get 'em?! Looks like Prime 4 will maybe involve some time shenanigans. Still no precise release date, though. At least we got a snazzy red suit..
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar also got shown off beforehand - it originally released on DS.
Witchbrook (and more)
We got a look at Chucklefish's cute new game, Witchbrook, which looks like it'll be perfect for Stardew Valley fans.
Elsewhere, we got a look at action-platformer The Eternal Life of Goldman, a new Gradius 40th anniversary collection, Gradius: Origins just got shown off (including a new entry). Pre-orders begin today.
Plus, you can start mixing up strange elixirs for iconic Disney villains in Disney Villains Cursed Cafe today. Rift of the Necrodancer launches later today, too.
New Pokemon Legends: Z-A trailer
Next up was a new Pokemon Legends: Z-A trailer.
It was interesting to see more of how battles will work in the Z-A Royale battle zones, too. It hinges on a day-night cycle, where battles will ring out in the evening.
Look forward to working your way to the top rank later this year.
Rhythm Heaven is back!
Okay, this was a surprise; Rhythm Heaven Groove is coming our way, but not for a while; you can start playing it in 2026.
"Virtual Game Cards" are coming in April
Nintendo showed off "Virtual Game Cards", a new software feature that essentially lets you transfer games between multiple Switch systems.
It's too detailed to break down live, but the feature launches in late April.
More announcements, including SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered
After a highlight reel of new games like Fantasy Life i, High on Life and Star Overdrive, the presentation continued with the HD remaster of classic RPG, SaGa Frontier 2.
Better yet, you can pick it up today! Beat 'em up, Marvel Cosmic Invasion got a brief look-in afterward. It's coming holiday 2025.
Tomodachi Life is back?!
Our final announcement of the day (after a look at Everybody's Golf Hot Shots and a look at Monument Valley 1 & 2) was Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, the first new entry in the series for 10 years.
It's coming next year. I did not like the giant Mii at the end.
Last up... Nintendo Today!
Our final announcement wasn't a game but an app!
Nintendo Today is the new way Nintendo plans to deliver daily news, direct to gamers. You can download it on your phone later today.
That's a wrap!
It was an interesting Direct, to be sure!.
We expected surprises, and Nintendo sure threw us a curveball; I was not expecting a Tomodachi Life sequel to appear in today's stream.
Looks like there's plenty of good stuff still to play before we have to change systems to the Switch 2.
Everything announced during Nintendo Direct March 2025
Here's a comprehensive wrap-up of every game and other announcement that got made in today's presentation:
- Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D remake
- No Sleep for Kaname Date - AI: The Somnium Files spin-off
- Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
- Shadow Labyrinth (a grimdark Pac-Man Metroidvania, linked to that weird "Secret Level" episode)
- Patapon 1+2 Replay
- Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- Disney Villains Cursed Cafe
- Witchbrook
- The Eternal Life of Goldman
- Gradius Origins
- Rift of the Necrodancer
- Tamagotchi Plaza
- Pokemon Legends: Z-A
- Rhythm Heaven Groove
- "Virtual Game Cards" on Nintendo Switch
- High on Life
- Star Overdrive
- The Wandering Village
- King of Meat
- Lou's Lagoon Summer
- Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
- SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered
- Monument Valley 1, 2, and 3
- Everybody's Golf Hot Shots
- Marvel Cosmic Invasion
- Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
- Nintendo Today
Virtual Game Cards: how do they work?
I thought it best to break down exactly what this "Virtual Game Card" system was in a little more detail, as it's easily one of the more left-field announcements from today.
This new feature launches in "late April", and will let you manage digital Nintendo Switch games in a whole new way.
Essentially, it's a way of sharing your digital library in the same way you might lend out a physical Switch game cartridge to your friends or family members.
When the feature launches, if you purchase a new game digitally, it'll be loaded onto your system as a Virtual Game Card, where any registered user on the system can play it as normal.
These digital games will appear in a dedicated new management screen, where you can check which games are on your system.
You can also "eject" Virtual Game Cards so you can move them between systems.. Local communication between systems will be required to link them for the first time.
The biggest boon is that you'll be able to lend out Virtual Game Cards to fellow gamers on your Nintendo Account Family Group (which supports up to eight Nintendo Account users).
Only one game can be lent to each member at a time, and it's only loaned out for 14 days. After that, your Virtual Game Card is automatically returned to you. Again, you'll again need to link systems locally to start sharing games.
Download Nintendo Today now!
During the Direct, Nintendo promised that their new app, Nintendo Today, would be available, well, today. If you can't wait to check it out, you'll be pleased to know it's available now.
From my (brief) time with it, the app functions as a sort of calendar and as a way to get daily updates about all things Nintendo.
Nintendo Today includes news and other content like info about your favorite characters and series, and more. You can even set up a widget to view some content on your device's home screen.
For a full breakdown of everything Nintendo Today does, head to the official Nintendo website.
Nintendo Today app inadvertently reveals C button
The Nintendo Today is available for download now, and it may have accidentally revealed the "C" button that Nintendo has declined to show off yet.
In the app store you can see several images showing off what the app does and one of them has a block with the Nintendo Switch 2 highlighted that also has the "C" button in it.
Previously, Nintendo covered up the C in its reveal trailer from January.
Now all we need to know is what the button actually does.
Today's direct hints at a Switch 2 future
Yes, while today's Nintendo Direct revealed a number of games for the OG Switch, it also showcased a number of games that won't come out until the Fall or holiday season, and some not until 2026.
All of those titles will definitely be Switch 2 games, whether they're launch games remains to be seen.
At the same time, I imagine games like Tomodachi Life and Rhythm Heaven Groove are exciting but may not be the console sellers that get people pumped to invest in a new console. I could see Nintendo showing those off today to highlight bigger titles next week or down the line.
But why not save Pokemon or Metroid? Those titles are already burned having been marketed before as games for the Switch. Plus, with 150 million consoles sold, there will be people pining for a new exciting game for their original Switch and both of those games will sell well on the Switch and likely the Switch 2.
Still, here's what should be available on the Switch 2 basically at launch, whether that's May, June or the rumored July:
- Pokemon Legends Z-A - late 2025
- The Eternal Life of Goldman - 2025 holiday season
- Marvel Cosmic Invasion - 2025 holiday season
- Witchbrook - 2025 holiday season
- Dragon Quest 1 and 2 HD-2D - 2025
- Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots - 2025
- King of Meat - 2025
- Metroid Prime 4 - 2025
- Rhythm Heaven Groove - 2026
- Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (Miis are back) - 2026
The Switch 2 cometh
While the games were exciting and Virtual Game Cards are a much needed feature as the world gets more digital, it's the new console that we're still most excited about.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will get more detailed next week and Tom's Guide will be watching and gathering all the details for Nintendo's latest.
While you wait, check out our Nintendo Switch 2 hub where we detail everything we know about the handheld console including a rumors timeline, predictions and speculation.
