In the heart of summer, Nintendo once again captured the attention of gamers and media with the July Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase , an event focused on upcoming third-party games for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. After weeks of rumors and leaks pointing to a presentation before August, the Japanese company finally confirmed the date, giving its fans just 24 hours' notice.
This Direct format, unlike the usual ones, sets aside Nintendo's own productions to focus on titles developed by external studios and publishers . And, although the company's major exclusives have been reserved for another occasion, anticipation was high thanks to the possible arrival of new ports, updates to popular titles, and a few unexpected surprises.
Date, time, and how to watch the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase
The Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase took place on July 31st at 15:00 PM CEST . As is customary for the company, the event was streamed live on Nintendo's official YouTube channels, as well as on their website and the Nintendo Today! app for those who preferred not to use YouTube. The broadcast lasted approximately 25 minutes , slightly shorter than regular broadcasts but sufficient to cover all the relevant information about upcoming releases from third-party companies.
For the convenience of fans in different locations, Nintendo provided a schedule adapted to multiple geographical zones. For example, it could be watched at 10:00 AM in Argentina , 8:00 AM in Colombia and Peru , 6:00 AM in Mexico (Pacific Time) , and 3:00 PM in Spain . This way, virtually anyone interested could tune in to the stream and learn about the new features 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 were showcased at the event, many with confirmed release dates and others with surprises, demos, or new trailers. Highlights included:
- 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 (launching on November 11), NBA Bounce (September 26), Chillin' by the Fire (already available), Hela (scheduled for 2026), Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven (update already on eShop), and downloadable content for Hello Kitty Island Adventure ready for autumn.
Absences, reactions and what was not seen
Although the event left a good impression in terms of variety, there were also some notable absences . Many fans were expecting news about familiar franchise titles, such as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokémon Legends AZ, Drag x Drive, and Kirby Air Raiders , but Nintendo had already announced that first-party titles would be reserved for future presentations.
Among the most talked-about absences following the broadcast were the lack of news regarding Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition , Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade , Hollow Knight: Silksong , and releases like Rhythm Paradise and Professor Layton . Some of these titles have been announced at Japanese conferences, leaving open the possibility that they will arrive in the West soon.
One of the most notable disappointments was the lack of Spanish translation in several prominent titles, especially Octopath Traveler 0 and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles . Conversely, the arrival of Yakuza Kiwami 2 with Spanish text was very well received.
This Direct was also praised for its role in previewing the release schedule for September and the last quarter of the year . Several games will be available as Game Key Cards for Switch 2, while the Switch 1 versions will be distributed complete on cartridge.
