The first major Nintendo Direct in the Switch 2 era delivers more than an hour of big, bewildering announcements. Here are the headlines that left me hyped—and scratching my head.
The Nintendo Switch 2’s first summer is winding down. After its big June launch, the next-generation hybrid system delivered several notable games, including the excellent Mario Kart World and game-of-the-year candidate Donkey Kong Bananza. But with the 2026 holiday season on the horizon, gamers are wondering what’s next. Today’s lengthy Nintendo Direct dropped many surprises for Switch and Switch 2 owners looking to expand their game libraries.1. Super Mario Galaxy Descends From the Heavens
September marks the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., so the Nintendo Direct was heavy on Mario news. In particular, Super Mario Galaxy fans have a lot to look forward to in a few weeks. Finally free from the limited release Super Mario 3D All-Stars, the original Super Mario Galaxy is coming to Switch 1 and Switch 2 on Oct. 2, along with Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Tied into that, the Mario movie sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, is headed to theaters next spring. Nintendo plans to release a physical version of Rosalina’s storybook, too.2. Metroid Prime 4 Puts Samus on a Motorcycle
The newest trailer for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was surprisingly brief, but confirmed a release date: Dec. 4 for both Switch 1 and Switch 2. The footage revealed protagonist Samus Aran traversing a rain-soaked planet on a stylish motorcycle called Vi-O-La. I’m curious to see how this impacts the franchise’s trademark exploration.3. The Virtual Boy Is Back!
Nintendo Switch Online is getting a new retro console: Virtual Boy! Nintendo is reviving its infamous failure of a VR headset.
