It's the triumphant return of Coin Mode, and the reintroduction of those vertically-scrolling stages. PokeFloats is back, bitches!!!

Heh, I feel 2020 was so bad that the first few months of 2021 are devoted to transitioning back to normalcy.  Sure, we have vaccines, but you have to wait your turn.  Sure, we get a 50-minute Direct, but most of it will focus on the few big games releasing between now and Summer.  I am going to assume this means that they have an E3 Direct or equivalent planned in June.  I'm tempering my expectations for this Direct though.  I'm totally cool with this being a transition Direct though.  I welcome a return to normalcy, even if it has to happen in phases.

Well, Nintendo says that they’ll show games for the first half of 2021 in addition to Smash Bros.

So off the bat, we’re probably going to get the next DLC fighter at the start of the Direct with some in depth information about this new fighter.

Then we’ll get more information on games already announced that are coming within the first half of 2021.
- Bravely Default 2
- Persona 5 Strikers
- Monster Hunter Rise
- New Pokémon Snap

We’ll also get the usual montage of indie games.

Also some more 3rd party games, probably the most we’ve gotten in a Direct at this point.
(Persona 5 Royal for Switch, PLEASE!!!)

And finally, 1-2 big surprises for the 2nd half of the year.
Like a new trailer for Breath of the Wild 2, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl remakes or something like that.

I don’t know. Nintendo usually makes directs that focus on certain periods of the fiscal or calendar year so I’m not surprised it’s more focused on the first half of ‘21. They’re not usually ones to show all their cards in one direct. 

If you made predictions in this thread or were planning to do so here or somewhere else, please consider joining the Nintendo Direct League by posting it over there as well to join in on the fun. Be sure to read the rules first (I am updating them as I get suggestions). I plan to have a new leaderboard for each Direct celebrating the most recent winner and also a lifetime leaderboard.

https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread/244332/nintendo-direct-league-submit-before-4pm-central-21721/1/#11

Nobody here mentioning Genshin Impact release though?

Here is the Direct they gave us two years ago in February.

I counted 27 games mentioned (not counting DLC) and 14 of them had a release date of June 30, 2019 or sooner (about half).  Also most of the games released sooner were third party ports.  The brand new, first party games tended to be the ones released later in the year.  The Direct in 2019 was also only about 37 minutes.

So, this Direct is about 50 minutes.  That part is definitely good.  But I don't expect to be teased about a bunch of games releasing in the second half of the year.  That would be cool, but I doubt about half of the games mentioned tomorrow will release after June 30, 2021.  Instead I am expecting a fair chunk of time going toward games like Monster Hunter Rise, Pokemon Snap and other games that are releasing in the first half of the year.  Also a decent chunk of time will go toward DLC of established games like Smash Bros.  If we get a little tease for BotW2 or some other big game coming later, then that will be a nice treat.  But I don't expect too many of those.  I'm tempering my expectations.

I remember the February 2019 direct. One of the better ones. But this has been Nintendo’s pattern when it comes to directs. Some new updates for older games, some new surprises, some ports and other third party/Indie games. They haven’t really deviated from that particular formula outside of E3.

In the end, we shouldn’t expect the world. However, people sometimes react because Nintendo doesn’t deviate too far from what they already expect to present. People are never completely satisfied. Just keep an open mind and if there’s a particular news you like, then it shouldn’t be a bad presentation.

The pokemon company said they will have some reveals the week after the Post Malone and they usually announce their games on their own. Maybe snap will be at the direct but Gen 4 remake nope.