In the middle of summer, Nintendo once again gathered the attention of players and media with the celebration of the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase of July, an event focused on Upcoming third-party games for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2After weeks of rumors and leaks pointing to a presentation before August, the Japanese company finally confirmed the date, giving its followers just 24 hours' notice.
This Direct format, unlike the usual ones, leaves aside Nintendo's own productions to focus on titles developed by external studios and publishersAnd, although the house's big exclusives have been reserved for another occasion, anticipation was high thanks to the possible arrival of new ports, updates to popular titles, and the occasional unexpected surprise.
Date, time, and how to watch the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase
El Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase the July 31st at 15:00 PM Spanish Peninsular TimeAs is customary for the company, the event could be seen live from the official Nintendo channels on YouTube as well as on its website and the Nintendo Today! app for those who preferred not to use YouTube. The broadcast had a approximate duration of 25 minutes, somewhat lower than regular releases but sufficient to condense all relevant information about future releases from external companies.
For the convenience of fans in different locations, Nintendo offered a schedule tailored to multiple geographic areas. For example, fans could follow the 10:00 in Argentina, 8:00 in Colombia and Peru, 6:00 AM in Mexico (Pacific Time), 3: 00 in the afternoon in SpainThis way, virtually anyone interested could tune in to the streaming service and learn about the latest developments firsthand.
Games announced and key news from the Partner Showcase
This Partner Showcase did not disappoint in terms of the number of games presented. More than 25 third-party titles and indie productions Many of them had a specific release date, while others also had surprises, demos, or new trailers. Among the highlights were:
- Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection — Capcom's saga returns, renewed and ready for Switch 2 next year.
- Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO — confirms its arrival on both generations of Switch on November 14, including a huge playable roster.
- Octopath Traveler 0 — a prequel developed in 2D-HD, available on December 4th, although, as was learned after the event, it will not be translated into Spanish.
- Persona 3 Reload — the long-awaited remaster will be released on October 23.
- Just Dance 2026 Edition and EA Sports FC 26 — Sports and partying are back with new songs and updated templates.
- Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac — the classic returns with modern graphics, voice acting, and traditional challenges starting September 26.
- star wars outlaws — Ubisoft is betting on open-world action, releasing for Switch 2 on September 4.
- Yakuza Kiwami 2 and Yakuza Kiwami update — will be released translated into Spanish and optimized for Nintendo's new console on November 13.
- Cronos: The New Dawn — survival horror from Bloober Team, September 5th.
- The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales — 2D-HD action RPG with demo now available.
- Borderlands 4 — the popular shooter series is coming to Switch 2 on October 3.
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Banishment — spectacular trailer dubbed into Spanish, although no specific release date has yet been set.
In addition, new projects were shown such as Goodnight Universe (released November 11), NBA Bounce (26 September) Chillin' by the Fire (already available), Whole (planned for 2026), Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven (update now on eShop), and a downloadable content for Hello Kitty Island Adventure prepared for autumn.
Absences, reactions and what was not seen
Although the event left a good taste in the mouth in terms of variety, There were also notable absencesMany fans were expecting news from the brand's usual protagonists, such as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon ZA Legends, Drag x Drive or Kirby Air Raiders, but Nintendo has already warned that first-party titles would be reserved for future presentations.
Among the most commented absences after the broadcast, they also highlighted the lack of news about Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Final Fantasy VII Intergrade Remake, Hollow Knight: Silksong or releases like Rhythm Paradise o Professor LaytonSome of these titles have been announced at Japanese conferences, and there's a chance they'll be coming to the West soon.
One of the most notable disappointments was the absence of translation into Spanish in several prominent titles, especially in the case of Octopath Traveler 0 y Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. On the contrary, the arrival of Yakuza Kiwami 2 with texts in Spanish was very positively received.
This Direct was also valued for its role in advancing the release schedule for September and the last quarter of the yearSeveral games will be available in "Game Key Card" format for Switch 2, while the Switch 1 versions will be distributed complete on cartridge.
