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StarTopic Nintendo Direct Speculation |ST|

When will the next general Direct (full or mini) be?

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Metroid Prime is a good Halloween game but the anniversary is in August

wait it's November why the heck did I think that

hmm, yeah put it in the spooky season. November probably needs room for something else...
 
frog said:
Metroid Prime is a good Halloween game but the anniversary is in August

wait it's November why the heck did I think that

hmm, yeah put it in the spooky season. November probably needs room for something else...
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18 of November of 2022.

Still, I don't think Nintendo will make any effort to actually hit the same date. At most I expect them to casually drop one line during the reveal trailer referencing the anniversary and then launch it in whichever spot suits tem.
 
#Team Feburary @Raccoon

January PLA
FebruaryN/A
MarchTriangle Strategy
AprilAdvance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp
MayKirby & The Forgotten Land
JuneSplatoon 3
JulyFire Emblem remakes of 6&7
AugustMario&Rabbids Sparks of Hope
SeptemberN/A
OctoberBayonetta 3
NovemberBOTW 2
December2d Mario
 
Some of y'all are massively underestimating 2022. We normally get a few months a year with multiple releases. Last year for comparison:

January -

February - Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury, Bravely Default 2

March - Monster Hunter Rise

April - New Pokemon Snap

May -

June - Game Builder Garage, Mario Golf Super Rush

July - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

August -

September: Warioware Get it Together

October - Metroid Dread, Mario Party Superstars

November - Shin Megami Tensei V, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

December - Big Brain

Three out of twelve months had multiple releases, and it would have been four had Advance Wars not been delayed out of December. We gotta think bigger.
 
Here's my list for fun.

January - Pokémon Legends Arceus
February - empty
March - Triangle Strategy, Kirby and the Forgotten Land
April - Advance Wars: 1+2 Reboot Camp, 1-2 Switch sequel (the casual stinker)
May - new Fire Emblem
June - Splatoon 3
July - Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
August - Metroid Prime remaster
September - new 2D Mario
October - Bayonetta 3
November - Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
December - Xenoblade Chronicles 3

I'll make an extra prediction for the next Nintendo Direct.

Airs in: February
Opens with: new Fire Emblem
Closes with: teaser for Xenoblade 3

Then for E3 for good measure...

Opens with: 2D Mario reveal
Closes with: Metroid segment that starts with the Prime remaster and ends with a teaser for Metroid Prime 4 with a 2023 date
 
January - Pokémon Legends Arceus
February - Nothing
March - Triangle Strategy/Kirby and the Forgotten Land
April - Advance Wars: 1+2 Reboot Camp, 1-2
May - Casual horse game
June - Splatoon 3
July - Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
August - New 2D Donkey Kong
September - Metroid Prime
October - Bayonetta 3
November - The Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
December - Xenoblade Chronicles 3
 
I'm terrible at imagining release schedules but I will say Splatoon in July, BotW2 in November, and Xenoblade 3 in December somehow feels right.
 
chocolate_supra said:
I'm terrible at imagining release schedules but I will say Splatoon in July, BotW2 in November, and Xenoblade 3 in December somehow feels right.
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Agreed.

From the first party titles I'm looking forward to I'd say...

January - Pokemon Legends Arceus (Just a hunch...)
March - Kirby Forgotten Land
June - Mario Baseball (hopeful)
July - Splatoon 3
August - Mario Rabbids 2
September - Prime Remake
October - 2D DK
November - Botw 2

Slot some unannounced games in there and smaller eshop titles and bam. 2D DK is the biggest wildcard in terms of release date for me, the rest are pretty set based on their franchise history.
 
totofogo said:
Agreed.

From the first party titles I'm looking forward to I'd say...

January - Pokemon Legends Arceus (Just a hunch...)
March - Kirby Forgotten Land
June - Mario Baseball (hopeful)
July - Splatoon 3
August - Mario Rabbids 2
September - Prime Remake
October - 2D DK
November - Botw 2

Slot some unannounced games in there and smaller eshop titles and bam. 2D DK is the biggest wildcard in terms of release date for me, the rest are pretty set based on their franchise history.
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Donkey Kong historically releases during the holidays, especially November. Tropical Freeze broke tradition with a February launch, but it's pretty obvious why Nintendo delayed it out of holiday 2013. They already had a 3D Mario ready for that holiday period, and without DK would've had a totally empty release calendar for the first 4 months of 2014.
 
Gartooth said:
Donkey Kong historically releases during the holidays, especially November. Tropical Freeze broke tradition with a February launch, but it's pretty obvious why Nintendo delayed it out of holiday 2013. They already had a 3D Mario ready for that holiday period, and without DK would've had a totally empty release calendar for the first 4 months of 2014.
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Ah, fair point, I'm curious how they handle that with Botw2.
 
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Peleo said:
18 of November of 2022.

Still, I don't think Nintendo will make any effort to actually hit the same date. At most I expect them to casually drop one line during the reveal trailer referencing the anniversary and then launch it in whichever spot suits tem.
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November 18th, 2022 is a Friday ;)
 
Including some notable third party release:

January - Pokémon Legends Arceus
February - Silksong shadowdrop (yes, I wanna embarass myself)
March - Triangle Strategy, Kirby and the Forgotten Land
April - Advance Wars: 1+2 Reboot Camp, 1-2, casual game
May - Mario Rabbids Sparks of Hope
June - Splatoon 3
July - Xenoblade Chronicles 3
August - Fire Emblem (hoping for a FE IV remake, but who knows), DQ III remake
September - Bayonetta 3, Monster Hunter Sunbreak
October - The Legend of Zelda: the Hand of time, casual game.
November - Metroid Prime remake, something Pokémon (I'd like to see a Pokémon Let's Go 2)
December - nothing
 
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Zelda teaser in spring direct with a title but still with a vague 2022 date

E3 tweet with “tune in for more information on Nintendo switch games launching in 2022 including The Legend of Zelda: [title]”

Book it
 
Phendrift said:
Zelda teaser in spring direct with a title but still with a vague 2022 date

E3 tweet with “tune in for more information on Nintendo switch games launching in 2022 including The Legend of Zelda: [title]”

Book it
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Zelda teaser in spring Direct with a title and 2022 release and then month later this video:


I actually believe it will release this year, i need it
 
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#TeamFebruary here

My bet for 2022:

JanuaryPokémon Legends: Arceus
FebruaryOlliOlli World
MarchTriangle Strategy, Kirby & The Forgotten Land
AprilAdvance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
MayKirby & The Forgotten Land
JuneCuphead D.L.C.
JulySplatoon 3
AugustMario & Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
SeptemberBayonetta 3
OctoberDigimon Survive
NovemberTLoZ: BOTW Sequel
DecemberSonic Frontiers

Green as confirmed
Red as non-Nintendo published games
Failed prediction
 
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I think we'll get a Pokémon Presents in January, with a General Direct the first or second weekend of February. In that Direct, Splatoon 3 will be dated and BotW2 will be given a brief teaser, a title, and a November release month. It'll get a full blowout with an actual date at E3. Kirby will be dated for March in a random tweet/trailer drop in January.

As for possible calendar for the year, I'll guess:

January - Pokémon Legends
February - small eShop game
March - Triangle Strategy, Kirby
April - Advance Wars
May - Xenoblade Chronicles 3
June - Splatoon 3
July - Mario + Rabbids
August - ???
September - Bayonetta 3
October - Metroid prime remake
November - BotW2
December - ???

I could see there being no major releases for August or December. And I'm also very ready for this list to be very wrong.

Actually, I bet there will be some sort of Mario game (whether 2D or a spinoff) in December to have some synergy with the Mario movie.
 
I still believe in a Resident Evil for Switch. Not just because of any insider rumblings but because it just makes sense to me. I see the old RE games in the eshop rankings quite often (in my region at least) so they must be selling okay, and they already bothered to make a Switch friendly version of the RE engine with MH Rise. As big as Monster Hunter is I'd be surprised if they don't take advantage of that for other games.
 
Renmazuo said:
I still believe in a Resident Evil for Switch. Not just because of any insider rumblings but because it just makes sense to me. I see the old RE games in the eshop rankings quite often (in my region at least) so they must be selling okay, and they already bothered to make a Switch friendly version of the RE engine with MH Rise. As big as Monster Hunter is I'd be surprised if they don't take advantage of that for other games.
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I agree and am hoping this exists. Been playing RE Revelations 2 on switch and would love a new switch-first game with a robust raid mode.
 
Can’t wait to see the Metroid Prime remaster. With years worth of Trilogy releasing in Switch and the Prime Remaster being teased since last year, by body is ready.
 
Alright, mr @Raccoon: #TeamMarch because things never comes they way I want and Im hoping for a blast Direct in the second week of January and the opposite to that is crap Direct in the last week of March.

Plus Im in a bad mood because I gotta go back to work tomorrow.
 
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January: Pokemon Legends Arceus
February: NSO exclusive game (maybe pushmo?)
March: Triangle Strategy, Kirby and the Forgotten Land
April: Advance Wars, Wind Waker or Twilight Princess
May: Splatoon 3, Detective Pikachu
June: Mario Strikers
July: Fire Emblem (new or remake)
August: Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Xenoblade Chronicles 3
September: Metroid Prime Remake, 2D Donkey Kong
October: Bayonetta 3
November: BotW 2
December: NADA.
 
LonkFromPA said:
January: Pokemon Legends Arceus
February: NSO exclusive game (maybe pushmo?)
March: Triangle Strategy
April: Advance Wars
May: Splatoon 3
June: Kirby and the Forgotten Land
July: Metroid Prime HD
August: Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
September: Xenoblade 3
October: Bayonetta 3
November: Zelda HD trilogy collection
December: NADA.
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My take on the list
 
Magic-Man said:
Some of y'all are massively underestimating 2022. We normally get a few months a year with multiple releases. Last year for comparison:

January -

February - Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury, Bravely Default 2

March - Monster Hunter Rise

April - New Pokemon Snap

May -

June - Game Builder Garage, Mario Golf Super Rush

July - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

August -

September: Warioware Get it Together

October - Metroid Dread, Mario Party Superstars

November - Shin Megami Tensei V, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

December - Big Brain

Three out of twelve months had multiple releases, and it would have been four had Advance Wars not been delayed out of December. We gotta think bigger.
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Even this is a weird list because a) it's missing multiple Nintendo titles and b) it mixes in Monster Hunter, which Nintendo didn't publish. This year from Nintendo:

January: Buddy Mission BOND (Japan only)
February: Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, Bravely Default 2 (international release)
March: -
April: New Pokemon Snap
May: Miitopia, Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir, Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind
June: DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power, Mario Golf Super Rush, Game Builder Garage
July: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
August: -
September: WarioWare: Get it Together!
October: Metroid Dread, Mario Party Superstars
November: Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, Shin Megami Tensei V (Europe)
December: Big Brain Academy

Multiple Nintendo-published titles per month happened several times this year - February, May, June, October, and November. Some of that is inflated by eShop release and third-party titles getting published by Nintendo in some territories, but that's why we can expect a release schedule of somewhere around 15 to 20 games in 2022. That's pretty standard on Switch and the final total this year might be higher. When you throw in notable exclusives like No More Heroes 3 and Monster Hunter Rise, you've got exclusive software launching on Switch every month of the year in 2021.

Certainly, though, there are going to be months with multiple releases and periods with multiple titles concentrated there in 2022. It wouldn't surprise me to see Kirby join Triangle Strategy in March, with Advance Wars then following up in early April, for example.
 
Jannyish said:
I don't think Mario+Rabbids would be so early in fhe year so put that in August, Bayonetta in September , Metroid Prime HD in October and scratch Fire Emblem. Idk, after it took Three Houses 1 1/2 years from announcement to release I don't believe in an FE game getting announced and released in the same year anymore.

I also would pur Xenoblade 3 in December rather than July. I think a 5 month marketing cycle (if we expect a February Direct, and we all should lol) is too little for an expansive game like that with lots to show off. The marketing cycle for Xenoblade 2 from announcement to release was 11 months. Xenoblade DE even had 8-9 months from announcement to release. There is no way they are only giving 5 months to Monolith Soft's first core team release since Xenoblade X (from what I hear the team was divided between helping with BOTW and developing Xenoblade 2 last time so...).

Otherwise, I an agree.
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I don't think June would be too early for Mario + Rabbids. Remember: it was initially revealed last E3, so June would still be an entire year after reveal. Three Houses also got delayed from Spring to Summer 2019. Let's say it was originally a April game. That would've been 10 months after its reveal, whereas a September or October release of a new FE that was revealed in a February Direct would be 7-8 months later—so not really that much shorter of a time frame. Plus, Emily herself said a new FE is supposed to come in 2022 (and other trustworthy people have said Nintendo is planning a huge 2022) so I think that's where a lot of the FE predictions are coming from (although I've personally been predicting FE 2022 since way back when 3H just released so I still would've put it on my 2022 calandar prediction regardless lol).

I agree that the XB3 reveal to release window is too short, I just couldn't find anywhere else good to put it lol. Unless Nintendo is adament about release every new XB game in December, I don't think they will since it would be too close to BotW2 (assuming a Nov. release), and I don't think Nintendo would want 2 open world games back to back, especially considering the latter is obviously a lot less popular and could be negatively affected by releasing too close to BotW2 (i.e. overshadowed).
Peleo said:
This would easily be Nintendo's strongest 7 months in history in terms of 1st Party core-oriented releases.
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Craziest thing is: it's a pretty realistic release schedule given what we know
 
ika said:
But that "11 month marketing cycle" was just a trailer in January, radio silence until E3 in June, and more radio silence until the fall Direct... and then finally some proper marketing a few weeks before release IIRC... If they were releasing tidbits on twitter or an official website ala Smash Bros then I'd agree, but other than one or two tweets on the Japanese MonolithSoft account with that cute Nopon plushie they did nothing. Not exactly an engaging marketing cycle.

They definitely could do a shorter and better marketing campaign if they reveal the game closer to launch (when the OST is complete and west voice recording is near complete). That way the footage would be more polished (textures, lightning, user interface and menus, even cutscenes) with English voices, final arrangements of the music and, more importantly, without months of silence between updates.

Release every week some artwork of the main characters with their names, age, occupation... images of the first areas, some music tracks, a basic theme of the game with some developer background (like the Metroid Dread campaign) by Takahashi. That kind of marketing would hype the game more in four months than the "11 month cycle" they did with XC2 or XCDE that was a bit exasperating.
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You're right in that there wasn't much marketing in those marketing cycles. But I also don't think a shorter cycle would alleviate that in a packed year like 2022 is gearing up to be. Nintendo has this habit of only focusing on one title marketing wise, and it is usually the one closest to release. The only exceptions are what they deem to be their most ambitious game of the year - that was Metroid Dread in 2021, hence the focus across months. This year, that will be BOTW2.

So there really isn't much space left if you think of BOTW2 as their big title that they are gonna advertise throughout the year and then how they have a big title almost every month that they need to focus on more immediately. The only place Nintendo extensively markets games that have been announced but are further out from release and are NOT their "big" game of their respective year, are, as far as I can tell, their Directs. And so it would make sense to announce Xenoblade 3 early to at least have another Direct or two between it's announcement and release, so they can do "marketing light" before going all in circa a month before its release.

If they announced it in February and released in July all the marketing it would get would be in that last month up to its release and that's it, and even that would be jeopardized by whatever bombs they drop at E3 in June.

But that's also only true if Nintendo's marketing patterns as I see them stay like they are.


LuckyNumber69 said:
I don't think June would be too early for Mario + Rabbids. Remember: it was initially revealed last E3, so June would still be an entire year after reveal. Three Houses also got delayed from Spring to Summer 2019. Let's say it was originally a April game. That would've been 10 months after its reveal, whereas a September or October release of a new FE that was revealed in a February Direct would be 7-8 months later—so not really that much shorter of a time frame. Plus, Emily herself said a new FE is supposed to come in 2022 (and other trustworthy people have said Nintendo is planning a huge 2022) so I think that's where a lot of the FE predictions are coming from (although I've personally been predicting FE 2022 since way back when 3H just released so I still would've put it on my 2022 calandar prediction regardless lol).

I agree that the XB3 reveal to release window is too short, I just couldn't find anywhere else good to put it lol. Unless Nintendo is adament about release every new XB game in December, I don't think they will since it would be too close to BotW2 (assuming a Nov. release), and I don't think Nintendo would want 2 open world games back to back, especially considering the latter is obviously a lot less popular and could be negatively affected by releasing too close to BotW2 (i.e. overshadowed).

Craziest thing is: it's a pretty realistic release schedule given what we know
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You're right in everything you say about FE, but my opinion on a new FE is coming from a place where I expect an (internal) delay. I think they announced Three House's existence - no name or footage though - as far back as February 2018 in a FE Direct where they revealed FE Heroes ans FE Echoes. It wasn't more than a "a new FE game for the Nintendo Switch is in development", but that's what I personally consider its announcement. And from that to Spring 2019 - its original release window - would be more than a year, and then it ended up being a year and a half. So yeah they announced it way too early and they aren't gonna make that mistake again.

But I don't think a new FE game (not a remake) just 2 1/2 years after the final DLC of the last one released is quite realistic, what with the pandemic and all. I think Emily is a reputable source, I just have my personal doubts about this one. If these were normal times? Sure. But like this? I really have my doubts. But hey, I would love to be proven wrong on this one, I love me some FE.

I believe Mario+ Rabbids could be ready by June no doubt. I think it not releasing would be more company politics than anything else. For one, Ubisoft wouldn't want it to be buried by Nintendo's own first party releases, but more significant to my argument is the fact that I think Ubisoft wants to do all the major reveals about it themselves. Much like with the original game AND last E3 where they were the ones who dropped the bomb (well.. Nintendo ruined it but that's another story), not Nintendo. And I am not that into Ubisoft as I am Nintendo but I don't expect another Ubisoft Forward from them until E3. So I think they might just withhold it so they can make sure to be the ones who make the grand reveal and not have much less informed than us people think it's actually a Nintendo game. They want this for their marketing glory I feel, so... that's mainly why.


You're right in that Xenoblade 3 might be overshadowed by BOTW2 in December. Especially since there is certainly quite some overlap in the target demographic of those two games. I for one am very much looking forward to both and would have to cancel sleeping if they came out that close to each other. Plus Xenoblade is quite niche so it can use all the spotlight it gets. I have nothing on those arguments, I completely agree. I just don't think earlier than September makes sense for it either, but then that's already stacked with released probably, so idek...
 
I know it's probably a safer bet to expect BOTW2 to show up at E3, but i think we should consider the possibility of a BOTW2 dedicated Direct, especially if Nintendo plans to keep the E3 Direct for other announcements (Fire Emblem, Donkey Kong, maybe a new Metroid Prime 4 trailer or Mario?). BOTW2 is big enough for a show of its own, with name reveal, trailer, gameplay presentation Treehouse-style.
 
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#TeamFebruary here, I have a feeling we'll get a dedicated Splatoon 3 direct not long after too.
 
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Instro said:
Fire Emblem in 2022 seems unlikely to me. A 3 year turnaround after Three Houses, in the midst of COVID, doesn't sound realistic.
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Depends on the developer and the game, I’d say. I wouldn’t automatically assume that it's another KT game.
 
For me there are two issues with all the calendar everyone is posting.
1) The Mario movie will be released in december and I can't think of Nintendo not releasing a major Mario game (2D or 3D) in holidays 2022, especially considering the only Mario game scheduled for this year is Mario X Rabbids 2, not even developed by Nintendo.
2) I can't think of BoWT2 + Xenoblade 3 releaisng both in november and december. That's why I keep thinking we'll get : Mario in november, Xenoblade 3 in december, then BoTW2 in early 2023. Obviously, I'd be happy with BoWT2 in holidays 2022 and Xenoblade 3 a few weeks after, before christmas, but it would mean no Mario game (which wouldn't bother me, tbh, but as I said, I just can't imagine Nintendo not releasing a Mario game + releasing two major adventure game in just a couple of weeks).
 
LuckyNumber69 said:
I agree that the XB3 reveal to release window is too short, I just couldn't find anywhere else good to put it lol. Unless Nintendo is adament about release every new XB game in December, I don't think they will since it would be too close to BotW2 (assuming a Nov. release), and I don't think Nintendo would want 2 open world games back to back, especially considering the latter is obviously a lot less popular and could be negatively affected by releasing too close to BotW2 (i.e. overshadowed).
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This actually got me thinking. Xenoblade being overshadowed by BotW didn't happen in 2017 because BotW released in March, so XB2 had the spotlight that season. But back-to-back BotW and XB would probably hurt the latter's visibility... SO, I went back and checked, and it looks like Xenoblade games have historically released much earlier! 1 and DE in June, Torna in September, X in April. XB2 was the fluke, not the norm.

So since they're radically different games and likely won't bump too hard into each other, what would we think about Xenoblade 3 and Splatoon both being the big summer games, then BotW2 and Prime being the big holiday games? Both would be a pairing of open world(-ish) RPG(-ish)s and shooters that probably won't overshadow each other.
 
January: Arceus
February: Nothing
March: Square Enix Month
April: Kirby Apocalypse + Advance Wars
May: BOTW2
June: Nothing
July: Splatoon 3
August: Mario + Rabbits
September: Bayonetta 3
October: Nothing
November: Pokemon Gen 9
December: Next 3D Mario

Not sure if I forgot any game that was already announced
 
Lant_War said:
March: Square Enix Month
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Oh dang, I like this. This is where Chrono Cross Remastered should release.
Have I graced this thread with my Chrono obsession yet? I figured I aughta go ahead and get it out of the way.
 
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Hey all! I’m definitely #Team February. I do r expect a direct before Pokémon, and March feels too late with why we know is coming. Here are my predictions for the year:

January: Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Feb: E-Shop Shadow drop during the direct
Mar: Triangle Strategy, Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Apr: Advance Wars 1+2: Reboot Camp, Casual Game from EPD 4
May: Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
June: Splatoon 3, (Silksong shadow dropped during E3 direct)
July: Fire Emblem XVIII
Aug: Smaller E-Shop Release (Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak)
Sept: Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Oct: New Super Mario World, Metroid Prime: Definitive Edition
Nov: The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon Legends: Arceus Expansion
Dec: Bayonetta 3

Looking forward to a great year!
 
I would really like to see that New Super Mario World. Handdrawn graphics, but the same great gameplay just with new levels/worlds.
3D Mario can wait for the Dane Switch ;)
 
I am kind of surprised to see people putting Bayo 3 towards the end of the year on their lists. I see that as more of a summer game. July, maybe August at the latest.
 
Coco98bisFR said:
For me there are two issues with all the calendar everyone is posting.
1) The Mario movie will be released in december and I can't think of Nintendo not releasing a major Mario game (2D or 3D) in holidays 2022, especially considering the only Mario game scheduled for this year is Mario X Rabbids 2, not even developed by Nintendo.
Click to expand...

Just bear in mind the movie is dropping on the 21nd of December. Within that context do you think Nintendo would benefit from having a Mario game released before or after it?
 
Jannyish said:
You're right in that there wasn't much marketing in those marketing cycles. But I also don't think a shorter cycle would alleviate that in a packed year like 2022 is gearing up to be. Nintendo has this habit of only focusing on one title marketing wise, and it is usually the one closest to release. The only exceptions are what they deem to be their most ambitious game of the year - that was Metroid Dread in 2021, hence the focus across months. This year, that will be BOTW2.

So there really isn't much space left if you think of BOTW2 as their big title that they are gonna advertise throughout the year and then how they have a big title almost every month that they need to focus on more immediately. The only place Nintendo extensively markets games that have been announced but are further out from release and are NOT their "big" game of their respective year, are, as far as I can tell, their Directs. And so it would make sense to announce Xenoblade 3 early to at least have another Direct or two between it's announcement and release, so they can do "marketing light" before going all in circa a month before its release.

If they announced it in February and released in July all the marketing it would get would be in that last month up to its release and that's it, and even that would be jeopardized by whatever bombs they drop at E3 in June.

But that's also only true if Nintendo's marketing patterns as I see them stay like they are.





You're right in everything you say about FE, but my opinion on a new FE is coming from a place where I expect an (internal) delay. I think they announced Three House's existence - no name or footage though - as far back as February 2018 in a FE Direct where they revealed FE Heroes ans FE Echoes. It wasn't more than a "a new FE game for the Nintendo Switch is in development", but that's what I personally consider its announcement. And from that to Spring 2019 - its original release window - would be more than a year, and then it ended up being a year and a half. So yeah they announced it way too early and they aren't gonna make that mistake again.

But I don't think a new FE game (not a remake) just 2 1/2 years after the final DLC of the last one released is quite realistic, what with the pandemic and all. I think Emily is a reputable source, I just have my personal doubts about this one. If these were normal times? Sure. But like this? I really have my doubts. But hey, I would love to be proven wrong on this one, I love me some FE.

I believe Mario+ Rabbids could be ready by June no doubt. I think it not releasing would be more company politics than anything else. For one, Ubisoft wouldn't want it to be buried by Nintendo's own first party releases, but more significant to my argument is the fact that I think Ubisoft wants to do all the major reveals about it themselves. Much like with the original game AND last E3 where they were the ones who dropped the bomb (well.. Nintendo ruined it but that's another story), not Nintendo. And I am not that into Ubisoft as I am Nintendo but I don't expect another Ubisoft Forward from them until E3. So I think they might just withhold it so they can make sure to be the ones who make the grand reveal and not have much less informed than us people think it's actually a Nintendo game. They want this for their marketing glory I feel, so... that's mainly why.


You're right in that Xenoblade 3 might be overshadowed by BOTW2 in December. Especially since there is certainly quite some overlap in the target demographic of those two games. I for one am very much looking forward to both and would have to cancel sleeping if they came out that close to each other. Plus Xenoblade is quite niche so it can use all the spotlight it gets. I have nothing on those arguments, I completely agree. I just don't think earlier than September makes sense for it either, but then that's already stacked with released probably, so idek...
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Mario + Rabbids 1 was pretty popular, imo it wouldn't have any problems with being overshadowed by 1st party releases, especially since it's still a Mario game at the end of the day anyway. My main reasoning for putting it in June is to properly space all of the SRPG's releasing in 2022; if FE is indeed a 2022 game, and in September or October as I'm predicting, then I think M+R 2 in June would space it, FE, and AW and Triangle Strategy well enough so that there isn't a huge barrage of SRPG's in too short of a time frame.

As far as FE goes, there is apparently another studio helping Intelligent Systems develop the game. I don't think it has ever been specified who this studio is (so not neccesarily Koei Tecmo again), and IS themselves haven't even made an FE game since 2017, so I don't think FE 2022 is too far-fetched imo.
chocolate_supra said:
This actually got me thinking. Xenoblade being overshadowed by BotW didn't happen in 2017 because BotW released in March, so XB2 had the spotlight that season. But back-to-back BotW and XB would probably hurt the latter's visibility... SO, I went back and checked, and it looks like Xenoblade games have historically released much earlier! 1 and DE in June, Torna in September, X in April. XB2 was the fluke, not the norm.

So since they're radically different games and likely won't bump too hard into each other, what would we think about Xenoblade 3 and Splatoon both being the big summer games, then BotW2 and Prime being the big holiday games? Both would be a pairing of open world(-ish) RPG(-ish)s and shooters that probably won't overshadow each other.
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tbf, Xenoblade X released in NA in December 2015, so I think the "Xenoblade in December" line of thinking comes from that and XB2 releasing back-to-back in December in NA. Still, though, you're right that XB is generally released in Spring/Summer (don't forget XBDE releasing in May!) which was kinda my line of thinking when placing it in July. I still think a Summer time frame would be too short of a marketing/hype cycle, though (assuming XB3 is revealed in the February Direct), which casts doubt on a July release imo. I dunno, Nintendo works in mysterious ways, so we'll just have to wait and see I guess lol
 
MissingNo. said:
I am kind of surprised to see people putting Bayo 3 towards the end of the year on their lists. I see that as more of a summer game. July, maybe August at the latest.
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Summer is a bit of a dead time for big releases due to vacations and people spending more time outside.

October would be nifty to align the marketing with Halloween
 
MissingNo. said:
I am kind of surprised to see people putting Bayo 3 towards the end of the year on their lists. I see that as more of a summer game. July, maybe August at the latest.
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Bayonetta 2 was an October game, and I think another part of the reasoning is that the game could still need more time like BotW2, hence it being near the end of year.
 
MissingNo. said:
I am kind of surprised to see people putting Bayo 3 towards the end of the year on their lists. I see that as more of a summer game. July, maybe August at the latest.
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Bayo would do well as a September/October game. It's got a Halloweeny feel to it.
 
shoptroll said:
Summer is a bit of a dead time for big releases due to vacations and people spending more time outside.

October would be nifty to align the marketing with Halloween
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And that is exactly the reason I am expecting Bayo 3 to be a summer game. Don't get me wrong Bayo is big for those who enjoy the series/genre, but it is not exactly a big seller, and could therefore benefit from releasing during a more quiet period with more eyes on it. I could see them going as late as September, but I don't think releasing during the busy period at the end of the year would do it any favours.

Gartooth said:
Bayonetta 2 was an October game, and I think another part of the reasoning is that the game could still need more time like BotW2, hence it being near the end of year.
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There is that as well, yes. If it takes more time, I think it might be better to delay the game to early 2023 for the same reasons I outlined above. I think Astral Chain might have benefitted from being a (very late) August game, so I could see them aim for a similar slot for Bayo as well.
 
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