With the calendar moving ever closer to 2024, much of the video game industry is watching the dust settle after a busy few months of new releases. 2023 felt especially stuffed with new releases across many genres, with heavy-hitters like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 making up just a few of them. It’s left 2024’s games with a rather steep hill to climb, and it’ll likely be some time until gamers have a concrete idea of what the year will have in store. For Nintendo fans, however, the wait for exciting information on the year ahead may not be very long at all.
For over 20 years, the early part of the summer has been recognized as the time publishers and developers make grand announcements on their future projects. While this is still the case, Nintendo has branched out with its Nintendo Direct presentations to offer substantial updates up to three times a year. Nintendo Directs have become idolized among the gaming community for their potential to offer significant information on long-rumored projects and surprise announcements, with the first of each year usually occurring in February. In the case of February 2024, it may offer a Nintendo Direct fans won’t soon forget.
Nintendo Switch Users Can Now Check Their Year in Review 2023 Stats
Nintendo makes the Year in Review available, and Switch players can find out what their gaming habits were like in 2023 through various stats.
February Nintendo Directs Have Become A Tradition
Ever since Nintendo started its Directs, mid-late-winter presentations have become integral to the company’s marketing schedule. Some years have featured a Direct in early March, but for the last three years, February has been Nintendo’s month for revealing major new projects. There’s currently no official announcement on Nintendo’s next Direct, but if patterns are to be believed, there’s a strong chance Nintendo may have news to share this coming February. Given its track record, that news could also concern projects that fans have been hoping to hear about for quite some time.
Major Nintendo Announcements Made In February
- Splatoon 3 (2021)
- Pyra and Mythra Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC (2021)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (2021)
- Mario Strikers: Battle League (2022)
- Nintendo Switch Sports (2022)
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass (2022)
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (2022)
- Splatoon 3 DLC (2023)
- Game Boy and GBA Nintendo Switch Online libraries (2023)
- New trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)
- Metroid Prime Remastered (2023)
A February 2024 Nintendo Direct Could Offer Some Much-Needed News
If Nintendo does have a new Direct in February 2024, it could have the potential to be one of the most exciting Directs yet. The one piece of Nintendo news that many fans have been clamoring for is the announcement of a Nintendo Switch successor, as the beloved console has been showing its age with its technical limitations. Switch successor rumors have been a dime a dozen over the years, but with 2024 being its seventh year on the market, Nintendo might finally be willing to grow from the console.
A February 2024 Nintendo Direct could also offer some information on games that have experienced lengthy developments, as well as franchises that have remained oddly silent. In regard to the former, many Nintendo fans would take any amount of good news on Metroid Prime 4, whose development troubles have been well-documented. A new Direct could also reveal Mario’s newest 3D adventure, as Super Mario Odyssey is now reaching seven years on the market along with the Switch.
Nintendo Directs can be a thrilling event for fans, and if there is one in February 2024, it has the potential to be the most exciting yet. Fans will likely have to wait a few more weeks before they can truly set their calendars for a February Direct, but Nintendo’s pattern over the years shows it could be a matter of when, and not if.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
A return to the franchise’s 2D side-scrolling roots, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a Nintendo Switch exclusive. Supporting up to four-player co-op and featuring playable characters like Princess Peach and Luigi, Super Mario Bros. Wonder revamps a classic formula with fresh twists, including a mechanic called Wonder Effects that cause stages to come alive.
- Released
- October 20, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
