Nintendo Direct live updates — latest news and rumors ahead of today's extended Switch 2 showcase
The first Nintendo Direct of the Switch 2 era is about to begin
Today's Nintendo Direct is almost here, and it’s set to be a big one. Not only is this the first full Direct since the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 (the showcase in July was technically a Partner Direct), but it’s also been confirmed to run for an entire hour, which makes it a supersized Direct.
Considering the slate of upcoming Switch 2 games is now looking rather thin, it’s pretty exciting stuff, and as this is a headline Direct, we can expect Nintendo’s own first party to have a major presence. Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon Legends are near certain to feature, but there are also rumors of a significant Mario slate to celebrate the iconic mascot's 40th anniversary, and could we also see the likes of Zelda, Kirby and even Super Smash Bros.?
We also expect a glimpse at various popular third-party games being ported to the Nintendo Switch 2, and maybe even an announcement beyond the world of gaming, as the Mario movie sequel is currently dominating the online rumor mill, and its title (believed to be “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”) could be confirmed during this Nintendo Direct.
If you’ve picked up a Switch 2 over the summer, then you definitely won’t want to miss this Nintendo Direct presentation. Even if you can’t watch along yourself, I’ll be covering all the announcements and surprise reveals as they happen. Be sure to stick around for all the latest live updates.
Nintendo Direct September 2025 — here’s how to watch live
Watching along with the Nintendo Direct for September 2025 is super simple.
Just head over to Nintendo’s official YouTube page or Twitch channel, and the showcase will go live today (Friday, Sept. 12) at 6 a.m. PT / 9 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. BST.
However, I've embedded the live feed below, so you don't even need to go locate it yourself; it's right here for you to watch alongside our live blog.
I'm a Senior Entertainment Editor at Tom's Guide, and while I grew up a PlayStation kid, I've also got a soft spot for all things Nintendo, and I'm a day-one Switch 2 owner too. My biggest wish for today's Nintendo Direct is a new look at the upcoming FromSoftware exclusive, The Duskbloods.
Just 10 minutes to go!
This is you 10 minute warning! The Nintendo Direct is about to begin, so now is the time to boot up your live stream (or you can just follow along here as I bring you all the updates). Remember this will be a bumper 60-minutes showcase, so you might want to grab yourself some snacks and a drink while you still can.
The Nintendo Direct feed is LIVE
With just 20 minutes to go unless the Nintendo Direct, the YouTube feed is live. Right now it's playing some calming music and a nifty animation of bouncing boxes. The comment section is also scrolling faster than I can read! There's already 75,000 people watching live, so the interest in this Nintendo Direct is BIG.
Will we see the next mainline Zelda game?
Okay, so while I feel pretty confident that Zelda universe will make an appearance via Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, could we also see the next mainline Zelda game?
I'm not convinced, Tears of the Kingdom only launched in 2023, and we saw a six year gap between Breath of the Wild and its follow-up, so it feels too early for the next flagship title. However, perhaps Nintendo will look to fill the void between mainline entires with a smaller title like last year's The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Or, just maybe, the long rumored Switch ports of Wind Walker HD and Twilight Princess HD (released originally for the Wii U) will finally surface.
Here's hoping there's at least one surprise for the passionate Zelda fans out there.
This is your 30 minute warning!
There's just 30 minutes to go until the Nintendo Direct for September 2025 begins. Remember, it's set to be supersized showcase with 60 minutes of Nintendo gaming goodness. You won't want to miss this first event since the Switch 2 launched, so get prepared, as the stream will be kicking off very soon.
Hyrule Warriors is another likely inclusion
We know that the next installment in the Hyrule Warriors series, subtitled Age of Imprisonment, is on the way, and there's a good chance it'll feature in the Direct.
This sequel to 2020's Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is set in the The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom canon (though it includes time travel and alternate dimensions, so the timeline is a bit messy), and is a spin-off from Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors series. We don't have a firm release date, but it's apparently set to launch between late 2025 and early 2026, so perhaps we'll get a date today!
Pokemon is safe prediction for the Direct
Pokemon Legends: Z-A is set to launch on Switch and Switch 2 on October 16, making it an extremely safe bet for inclusion in the Nintendo Direct.
This will almost certainly be the last showcase before it's launch next month, so Nintendo will surely want to give it a big final push, and Pokemon is always uber-popular so I'm sure another insight into this new RPG experience will be warmly received.
Could we perhaps see some extras confirmed, like say a limited-edition Switch 2 console or Pro controller, or maybe even a set of Amiibo? We'll have to find out.
Returning to the Mario Galaxy
Mario is an ever-present at any Nintendo showcase, but with the red-capped plumber set to celebrate his 40th anniversary later this year, we're expecting this new Direct to be dominated ever more than usual by the iconic mascot.
Back in September 2020, Nintendo released Super Mario 3D All-Stars for the original Switch, this nostalgia-stuffed collection included Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy. But one title that was curiously lacking was Super Mario Galaxy 2. There was much online speculation that it would be added down the road in the form of DLC, but such a release never came.
Perhaps now is the time to Nintendo to either port Super Mario Galaxy 2 to its newest hardware, or perhaps release an upgraded version of the Mario 3D All-Stars package which includes Galaxy 2. As somebody who missed Mario Galaxy 2 on Nintendo Wii, I'd certainly welcome the chance to circle back and enjoy it.
I'm hoping FromSoftware has a BIG presence
On my personal wishlist is plenty of appearances from FromSoftware. The Dark Souls developer has already confirmed it's developing a Switch 2-exclusive, The Duskbloods, and its uber-popular open-world title, Elden Ring, is being ported.
I would love a fresh look at The Duskbloods, though I wouldn't be putting any money on it popping up. It's not launching until 2026, so it might be a little too early for its next marketing push. However, Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition was playable at Gamescom last month and is reportedly set to launch in 2025.
I've already played Elden Ring three times, including portability via my Steam Deck OLED, but you better believe I'll be jumping into The Lands Between all over again on Nintendo Switch 2. So a 2025 release date would be very welcome!
Mario Movie 2 could get a name at Nintendo Direct
Naturally, the Nintendo Direct is going to be primarily focused on video games, but we could also get an update from the world of movies, and specifically the already confirmed sequel to "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."
According to the online rumor mill, the follow-up to 2023's $1.3 billion grossing smash hit animated flick could be called "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie." This rumor has been swirling after it was revealed NBC Universal (the movie's distributor) had registered the online domain supermariogalaxy.movie.
Of course, company's regularly register a rafter of domain names for IP protection reasons, so this shouldn't be taken as a confirmation. But it's certainly an intriguing clue, and the Nintendo Direct may give us further details on the next Mario movie.
It's time for a Metroid Prime 4 release date (right...)
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has been a long time coming. After years of fan demand, Nintendo confirmed it was in development back in 2017, before development was restarted in 2019 as Nintendo was concerned about its quality.
In the summer of 2024, we got our first proper look at the hotly-anticipated game, and this year it's even been playable at numerous events including the Switch 2 Experience and Gamescom. All of this is to say, it's been a long road for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but we appear to be in the homestretch at this point.
Nintendo has been steadfast in saying it will launch in 2025, and if that is to be the case, then it would be very surprising if we didn't get a Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date in today's Direct. So watch out Metroid fans, the date you've been waiting almost a decade for could be confirmed in just a few hours time.
Nintendo Direct September 2025 — here's what Nintendo have said
Join us on Sept 12 at 6am PT for a #NintendoDirect! Tune in for roughly 60 minutes of information on upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch games.Watch here: https://t.co/JMTr0DNsL7 pic.twitter.com/C3zNyoU10jSeptember 10, 2025
After persistent online rumors, Nintendo confirmed it's next Direct earlier this week on Wednesday (Sept. 10). As always the Big-N was fairly coy with details, but did confirm it will offer up "roughly 60 minutes of information on upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch games." This will be the first full-fledged Direct since the launch of the Switch 2, so I'm expecting some big surprises.
Welcome!
Nintendo Direct is back, after a summer of Partner Showcases and Indie World Directs. The full-fleshed Nintendo Direct is returning today (Friday, September 12), and Nintendo is promising an entire hour of new announcements and fresh looks at upcoming Switch 2 games. Expect plenty of hype reveals. And Tom's Guide is here to guide you through the showcase before, during and after the Direct.
