June is considered one of the “sacred months” in the gaming year for a very basic reason. Traditionally, the gaming industry comes together this month and does major events to highlight the games coming out over the next six months and the following year. Previously, this was done via events like E3, but that show is likely dead for good. The Summer Game Fest is taking its place in many ways, and then there are the individual events by the big publishers that will also fill the void. But the question is whether a Nintendo Direct will be one of those events.
In the past, Nintendo has made it a habit of having some kind of presentation in June to go alongside E3 or whatever else was happening during the month. However, many feel that a Direct coming this month is unlikely for multiple reasons. The team at NintendoLife even had a slew of editors note why they felt the presentation wouldn’t be coming until later this year. But are they fair in stating that?
Given what Nintendo has done in the last week, the answer is yes. You see, the reason many people felt that Nintendo would do a Direct in June was because of the release of The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. That game is their “big one” for the year. They have other great titles coming or have already come out this year, but that’s the headliner. The Nintendo Direct that many want is supposed to reveal “what comes after that” and thus put gamers’ minds at ease.
However, in the course of a week, Nintendo revealed two things that put a damper on hopes for a Direct. The first was the announcement of Everybody 1-2 Switch, a sequel to one of the launch titles for the Switch. The game was announced on Twitter without a trailer, and it almost seemed like a joke, except it wasn’t. It’s real and coming at the end of the month.
Then, today, Nintendo dropped a small story trailer for Pikmin 4. It revealed new information about the game’s story and your role in it. While it was nice, that is the kind of trailer that most would agree would’ve worked fine in a Direct. It would’ve been a big part of it even!
So are we getting a Direct? Only Nintendo knows the answer, and they’re infamous for revealing them just a few days before they premiere.
