It's crazy to think about, but the amount of time between the airing of the first Nintendo Direct (October 2011) and now (April 2026) is the same amount of time between the launch of the Nintendo 64 in NA (June 1996) and the premiere of this presentation style. Knowing how restless the higher-ups at Nintendo become when confined to the status quo for too long, a question has dawned me: How much longer will Nintendo stay commited to the Nintendo Direct style of presentation? How much longer will Nintendo keep up their February-June-September routine? Has this routine already been phased out?

We are in an age of the internet where people's expectations are higher than ever... and with these expectations comes inevitable disappointment. Specifically, from a highly vocal sect of consumers who do not know how to keep expectations in check. It's not just a Nintendo issue either, but an issue spanning all fanbases at the moment— I still recall "PS5 has NO GAMES!" being a line tauted during 2024, a year which I consider to be one of Sony's finest as far as PS5 exclusive software is concerned (Astro Bot, FFVII Rebirth, Stellar Blade, Helldivers 2, and SM2 having launched not too soon prior).

That all having been said: What do you think Nintendo should do? Should they resume their Feburary-June-September Direct style? Or should they start using Directs more sparringly, reserving them only for whenever they've got a mega release planned (e.g. 3D Mario, 3D Zelda, Animal Crossing, etc.), alongside a steady release of info on smaller releases throughout the year?

Should Nintendo ditch General Directs entirely? Tell me what your thoughts are.

As far as my opinion is concerned? I say Nintendo should stick with the current strategy. It is a winning one: Nintendo Direct presentations cater to a (maybe a tad bit harsh... but I'd use the label of "toxic") crowd of consumers looking to have an opinion formed before a games release date, whereas slowly dripping info to their core audience via Nintendo Today releases gives software a chance to shine organically, through word-of-mouth and not through strong pre-launch marketing.

There's a reason why Pokopia was such a slam dunk and why Tomodachi Life is currently following suit. Not to say that I want Nintendo Direct totally done-and-away-with, though I think one per year is my personal sweet spot.

@bold: this is way too harsh. People just like getting excited about things, and talking about things they love.

And count me among them. I love Nintendo Directs. I love the anticipation, and the unexpected reveals, and the chance to come together afterward and dissect what we all saw. Sure, there are some in the audience who are unrealistic, picky, or there just to downplay, but many more who are genuinely enthusiastic about what's on display.

Nintendo announcing a game or a release date on a random Tuesday just doesn't have the same energy as an organized event that's broadcast worldwide. 

Also, in response to your final comment: it's not like an aggressive pre-launch marketing campaign and post-launch word-of-mouth are mutually exclusive. They reinforce and amplify each other.

I prefer Nintendo Directs (and other gaming showcases) over announcing games on social media. It drives more hype IMO. 

My only issue with some showcases is when they are an hour or 2 long and showcase 50+ games all with short trailer that are 1-2 minutes long. I just forget most games by the end. I prefer a showcase to have fewer titles (20 or fewer) and most of them getting a longer trailer of say 4 to 5 minutes with maybe one or 2 sizzle reals for smaller games.

You're right on that bold part reading a bit too harsh... I guess I didn't proof-read it well enough. I have edited the post.

I think you're comment here is definitely something I can understand, and ultimately boils down to us having a difference in taste. I respect your take here, I really do. I think I'm just at a point in my life (being far younger than most on this site) where I'm trying to figure how much to maintain a level head while using social media. It's gotten a ton better in recent times, but just as an example in recent times, I remember being so hyped following the March 2026 SoP presentation and the September 2025 Nintendo Direct just for the internet to drag my excitement to the ground; meanwhile these mini-reveals Nintendo has done don't draw nearly as large of a crowd to sling mud. And it's not like I'm ever getting too overwhelmed by the hype, but rather, I'm seeing the reveal, pondering on whether this would be a good game to purchase, and then once word-of-mouth comes out, I make an informed decision. And I've been loving every release since!

Thank you for the reply thoughtful response BTW. :)

I agree with the bold. Nintendo Directs can be very bloated— but maintaining a consistent airtime of 40 minutes per presentation is a great way to keep consumers without expectations going in. It's a double-edged sword IMO: Do you want Nintendo Directs with an inflated airtime leading to overexpectation? Or do you want Nintendo Directs that will always only ever meet that 40 minute airtime mark?

Imo, they should only do something when there's enough substantial material to talk about. If that means only a few a year, or less, then so be it.

Astral Chain 2
Xenoblade next
Bayonetta 4
Gears Reloaded port
VanQuish port
Gungrave GORE Remake announced for it. Hoping for any of these.

No they should not abandoned them. Love them. EVen if none of this happens it's exciting for me about the unknown. Sure I have hopes but I am not going to pout either. People need to chill. It's only game.

Nintendo Directs or Sony States of Play or whatever are perfectly fine, they should just hold them until theres actually something of substance to announce, thats all there is to it.

I prefer directs. If a trailer is shadow dropped I'm simply not interested in watching it unless it's a franchise I'm already fan of

I think it is time for Nintendo Direct presentations to end, at least for multiple games from different franchises.
I don't get as invested in the hype cycle as some do but even, I get too high of expectations or wants and virtually always get disappointed. Excluding the Switch 2 unveiling, the last hype moment in a normal Nintendo Direct for me was the TTYD Remake.
Save Nintendo Directs for one game or an anniversary that also reveals games.