Games Inbox: Will the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct be a disappointment?

The Wednesday letters page is excited and anxious about today’s Switch 2 news at the Nintendo Direct, as one reader is unimpressed by the Xbox Asus team-up.

To join in with the discussions yourself email [email protected]

PLEASE NOTE: We will have very limited time to put together the Games Inbox on Wednesday, so please get your emails in as quickly as possible, especially if you’re planning to comment on the Nintendo Direct. Otherwise the next Inbox will be on Friday.

The day today
So here we go, the biggest Nintendo moment in eight years: the full reveal of the Switch 2 and all (some? a couple?) of its games. I don’t know what’s going to be there anymore than anyone else does but I can tell you I feel that tingle of excitement in a way I haven’t in a long time.

We don’t need to go over what a disappointment this generation has been again, but this is the sort of thing it’s been missing: a big event, that probably isn’t going to disappoint, and will have tons of new things to talk about and look forward to.

When was the last time we had something like that? For me The Game Awards just don’t do it, they’re just paid ads and what is shown is almost always pre-rendered and very brief. I’d probably have to go back to the unveiling of Elden Ring for the last time I was anticipating things this much and that wasn’t hyped up like this.

Maybe that will hurt it in the end, if it means Nintendo can never do enough to please people, but I have a good feeling about it and I certainly plan to get no work done between 2pm and 3pm today.
Onibee

One hour
60 minutes of Nintendo Direct? Now we know they’re serious. I’d worry that a lot of that is going to be waffle but Nintendo are the masters of the Direct format and a lot of that is due to fast pacing and being very lean, with no wasted time and never staying on anything for too long.

Maybe they’ll suddenly switch strategies, but I doubt it. This is their moment and I hope for their sake, my sake (as a fan), and the games industry’s sake they make a proper job of it. This has been such a rough generation, where the great games seem to almost be in spite of Microsoft and Sony, not because of them.

I want to see Nintendo reset the clock and show what video games are about: an affordable console that’s clearly different to the last one, unique and imaginative games that don’t cost the earth, and no live service trash – or at least a bare minimum, I know Nintendo has dabbled with it.
Lofty

Dream team
My wish list for today: Mario Kart (a given), 3D Mario, F-Zero, a new Zelda remake, and two new IP. Might seem a bit of a tall order to some but I think there’s a reasonable chance it might come true. The Mario games are obvious, but I think some kind of Zelda representation, even if it’s a cheap remaster of The Wind Waker, is very likely.

Nintendo must have some new IP, I think, and even if one is a smaller thing like 1-2-Switch hopefully we still get something. And then F-Zero… well, we’ve had some rumours about GameCube support recently so maybe it’ll be F-Zero GX on Nintendo Switch Online. If it’s a brand new game then I promise to pre-order a Switch 2 the second you can.
Hester

Email your comments to: [email protected]

Cheap advice
This Xbox crossover with Asus seems so cheap. I know that’s a strange word to use for something that’s probably going to cost £600+ but the ROG Ally does look cheap and that whole teaser trailer thing looked like an ad for DLC, not a hyper expensive handheld console.

I can sort of see the idea that Microsoft wants to get their foot in the door with portable consoles, but most people aren’t even going to know this exists, let alone buy it. So what does Microsoft gain from that?

As usual they’re trying to take a shortcut, because they want a portable next gen console out now, but it’s not going to be ready, according to them, for a few years. You would’ve thought they’d learn by now, after so long making the same mistakes again and again, but no.

Just do the groundwork and success will come to you. There is no shortcut and if there was it certainly wouldn’t be slapping an Xbox logo on a weird portable console that only plays PC games.
Gaza

Too obvious
Given Nintendo’s new obsession with the number to, that a reader pointed out a few weeks ago – releasing a 2:22 long video at 22:02, having 2 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days between announcements – I wonder if someone with a sense of humour at Nintendo UK has considered setting a trailer to this version of the appropriately timed Song 2, which I remember being mentioned in the Inbox years ago.

Though presumably it needs updating with Kevin Afghani’s vocals now.
astropause

GC: Perhaps we’ll find out at 2pm today.

Solid nine
I’m quite surprised by your comment on Final Fantasy 9 not being a popular game. I remember it getting rave reviews at the time of the release (in fact Metacritic still has a 94% rating on the game). I remember thoroughly enjoying the game at the time (even if the story got a little weird towards the end!). I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone disparage it (except in the general Japanese role-playing game way).

I’m very hopeful for a remaster, but not in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake style of super realistic graphics and a totally new battle system. Refine the existing game and improve the graphics, certainly, but don’t go so far as Remake did. Maybe add some new content or expand the story. Definitely give us an expanded Tetra Master! Loved that mini-game!

Anyway, I wrote in way back (January maybe?) saying the top port in the Switch 2 could be to enable dual screen with the old Switch. Glad the current rumours are agreeing this is what it’s for, but I wait with bated breath for the actual reveal!
Solabound

GC: We just meant it wasn’t necessarily a series favourite, but we have nothing against it.

Genie in a bottle
If some developers are crying because they haven’t been given devkits I think I’m prepared to believe that Nintendo is right to deny them. We haven’t had a single serious leak that didn’t come from the production line and I for one am glad of that.

I hate leaks and rumours, and it annoys me no end that they spoil everything before you get a proper reveal. I realise that once the information is out there it’s pointless to pretend it isn’t but if Nintendo is being extra suspicious with who they trust then good for them, it clearly worked.
Waldorf

Mappa mundi
I am currently playing the excellent Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown on Switch. Having a great time 15 hours in and so far would place it in the top tier of Metroidvanias, alongside Hollow Knight and Metroid Dread.

One minor issue I am having though is constantly pausing to look at the map. I have this compulsion with all similar games, to continually check I am in the right place or to look for clues in branching paths, etc.

The rumoured Wii U-esque feature for Switch 2 has really caught my eye for this reason. Back on the Wii U I played another brilliant Metriodvania in Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition. Here the map was on display on the GamePad, with touchscreen functionality. I loved this set-up at the time and was always disappointed when other Wii U games didn’t replicate it (Breath Of The Wild was a huge missed opportunity to display the map on the GamePad’s second screen)

It sounds minor but would be an excellent quality-of-life feature if developers were to take advantage.
i.e.mcr (NN ID)

GC: We suspect Nintendo downgraded the GamePad’s functionality in the Wii U version of Breath Of The Wild, so it didn’t seem better than the Switch.

Inbox also-rans
I could almost imagine Rockstar releasing the GTA 6 this week or next, except that I think that weirdly they have quite a good relationship with Nintendo. I’ll laugh if the Direct starts with Rockstar logo, that would certainly set the tone.
Bosley

What if Metroid Prime 4 isn’t in the Nintendo Direct but a 2D sequel to Metroid Dread was? I would not be disappointed.
Lockwood

Email your comments to: [email protected]

The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

ArrowMORE: Games Inbox: Which Switch games will get Switch 2 upgrades?

ArrowMORE: Games Inbox: Was the Nintendo Direct worth watching?

ArrowMORE: Games Inbox: When will GTA 6 Trailer be released?