Predicting The September Nintendo Direct

What To Exspect In the September Nintendo Direct

I'd like to add a quick note: at the time of writing this article, no Nintendo Direct has been officially announced. Rumours suggest it could arrive as soon as 10th September, and since Nintendo usually gives us only around 24 hours' notice before dropping a live stream, I thought I'd get my hopes and predictions out there now.

Hopefully these predictions range from the expected all the way to the near impossible. Enjoy!

Paper Mario For Nintendo Switch 2

The series has seen a real resurgence over the past few years. The Origami King came close to delivering the kind of entry fans had been begging for, but Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door on Switch reminded not just players, but Nintendo itself, what makes this series so special. The remake was widely praised for bringing back the classic RPG formula that fans love.

With The Origami King now over six years old and The Thousand-Year Door being a remake rather than a brand-new adventure, it feels like the perfect time to reveal the next mainline entry.

I'm hoping for a trailer announcing a brand-new Paper Mario game, with a release window of summer 2027. Paper Mario has never been Nintendo's biggest blockbuster, but it's one of its most consistent series and would be a perfect fit for a September Nintendo Direct.

Downloadable Content and More Switch 2 Versions

Nintendo's strategy so far has been to give some of its biggest Switch games a second chance on the Switch 2. Series like Xenoblade Chronicles, The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario have all benefited from enhanced versions that breathe new life into games that struggled to reach their full potential on the original hardware.

Now I'm hoping that trend starts spreading to third-party developers. We've already seen that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered can receive a complete makeover for Switch 2, and I'm hoping that's the start of a wider push for older games that are well overdue an upgrade.

Personally, I'd love to see the Batman: Arkham trilogy get another pass. Arkham Asylum and Arkham City run perfectly well, but Arkham Knight is still rough, even on Switch 2. Warner Bros. did release an update, but it's still far from the experience that game deserves.

Another series I'd love to see return is Resident Evil. Resident Evil 9 proved that Capcom can deliver a fantastic experience on Switch 2, so now feels like the perfect time to bring the recent remakes to Nintendo's new console. Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and especially Resident Evil 4 Remake would be huge additions to the Switch 2 library, and I'd happily replay all three on handheld.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Switch 2 Edition Feels Inevitable

Outside of simple Switch 2 upgrades, Nintendo has also been adding new content and features to encourage players to revisit older games. Which brings me to my next prediction, one I'm not sure I'm excited about, but it feels inevitable. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Switch 2 Edition... What a mouthful.

I hate to say it, but I think we're still a long way from getting a brand-new Super Smash Bros. game. A Switch 2 edition would act as the perfect bridge between Ultimate and whatever comes next.

Imagine a beefed-up version with improved visuals and performance, a few new fighters, maybe a returning fan-favourite mode, and a handful of fresh stages. Nintendo would be silly not to cash in on one of its biggest franchises, especially heading into the holiday season.

Considering Super Mario Odyssey received a substantial Switch 2 update at launch, Smash Bros. feels like one of Nintendo's biggest series that's still waiting for some love on the new console.

Mario Kart World Update

I think it's high time Nintendo's Switch 2 launch title got some much-needed new content.

Mario Kart World was... fine, in my opinion. It served its purpose as a brand-new Mario Kart, but it missed the mark in a few areas and didn't quite live up to the years of hype leading up to its release.

Over the past year, Nintendo has slowly been updating the game to help right some of those early wrongs. We've seen quality-of-life improvements, balance changes, and even the recent addition of other tracks to Knockout Tour. It's a good start, but I still think the game needs something a little bigger.

I don't think we'll get a massive paid DLC expansion just yet. Instead, I could see Nintendo announcing a Version 2.0 update during the Direct, bringing smaller but meaningful additions. New costumes feel like an obvious choice, alongside extra kart customisation options, fresh online features, and maybe a couple of returning fan-favourite tracks.

Mario Kart World is going to be Nintendo's flagship multiplayer game throughout the Switch 2's life cycle, so it needs to keep players coming back. I think Nintendo is deliberately biding its time before introducing a larger paid DLC expansion, making sure the base game continues to grow first.

Updates on upcoming games and lighter announces

If we do get a September Nintendo Direct, we're almost guaranteed an onslaught of new game announcements, alongside updates on titles we already know are on the horizon.

One game I'm really hoping finally gets an official release date is Borderlands 4 on Switch 2. Since its reveal during the Partner Showcase, it's gone strangely quiet. The Switch 2 version was delayed so Gearbox could continue polishing it and add features like cross-save support, but we still don't have a new launch date. A Nintendo Direct feels like the perfect place to finally give us one.

I'd also love to see Enter the Gungeon 2 get another trailer. It took so long for a sequel to be announced that I'm more than happy for the developers to take their time. No need to rush it, just let me know it's still alive!

Red Dead Redemption 2 on Switch 2?

Now for my biggest third-party prediction.

I think Red Dead Redemption 2 finally gets announced for Switch 2.

Rockstar is about to go all-in on promoting Grand Theft Auto VI, but I can't help feeling Nintendo fans have been a little neglected. A Switch 2 port of Red Dead Redemption 2 has been rumoured for months, although Rockstar and Take-Two still haven't officially confirmed anything. Reports continue to suggest it's in development alongside current-generation upgrades for PlayStation and Xbox, but for now it's still firmly in rumour territory.

If it does happen, it would instantly give Switch 2 owners one of the greatest games of the last decade. We've already seen Rockstar bring the original Red Dead Redemption to Nintendo platforms, so it doesn't feel impossible that the sequel is next.

Maybe this is the prediction that ends up making me look like a genius... or the one that ages the worst.

Gamecube Additions

Nintendo Switch Online's rollout of retro games across the SNES, NES, Game Boy, and other classic systems has been spotty, to say the least. Huge first-party games are still missing, and the release schedule feels completely all over the place.

At first, many fans expected Nintendo to follow PlayStation and Xbox by adding a new game every month. Instead, we get random drops with very little consistency, making it hard to know when anything new is actually coming.

It's even more noticeable with Nintendo's latest retro push: GameCube. The library is still surprisingly small, despite it being one of the most requested additions to Nintendo Switch Online.

I'm really hoping this Direct includes a handful of GameCube announcements that become available immediately after the presentation. It always feels like Nintendo treats the retro libraries as an afterthought, when they could easily be one of the biggest selling points of the subscription.

And honestly, don't give us another retro console just yet, just give us the games everyone is asking for. Mario Party 4, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, and Super Smash Bros. Melee would be a fantastic start.

Zelda steals the limelight

I think this presentation is going to be very Zelda-heavy. It's the anniversary of arguably Nintendo's second-biggest first-party franchise, so just like Mario's anniversary celebrations a few years ago, I think we'll either get a dedicated Zelda Direct announced or this presentation will be hijacked by anniversary merchandise, collaborations, and updates on The Legend of Zelda movie.

Now, let's address the elephant in the room.

I think The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake gets an extended overview trailer, giving us our first proper look at the new visuals before ending with a release date. If Nintendo is really celebrating Zelda's anniversary, this feels like the perfect mic-drop moment.

I'm also hoping we get a few more Zelda announcements alongside it. Twilight Princess finally arriving on Nintendo Switch Online would be a huge win, and it would be a great way to celebrate the series' past while building excitement for its future. Lean fully into Zelda's history with remasters, retro releases, and whatever comes next.

Overall, I think we're in for a good Nintendo Direct. The summer presentation was more than a little lacklustre, so Nintendo has something to prove heading into the end of the year. Short of someone leaking the entire presentation again, I'm genuinely excited to see what Nintendo has in store. I hope you've enjoyed the predictions and the ramblings of a slightly mad Nintendo fan.