What Happened at Last Week’s Nintendo Direct?
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Last week was 2023’s first Nintendo Direct broadcast, and with it came the most recent news about upcoming games that Nintendo fans can anticipate for this year. From the continuation of the iconic Zelda series to the renewal of several classic Nintendo games, here’s all the biggest news from the February 8th Nintendo Direct.
What is Nintendo Direct?
Nintendo Direct is a broadcasted presentation that Nintendo puts out whenever the company has news to announce about upcoming games, gaming consoles, or other media ventures. The event has been held since 2011 and has been the most reliable way to learn about upcoming products from Nintendo since then.
The subject of the February 8th Nintendo Direct was upcoming games for the Nintendo Switch in the first half of 2023.
Gameboy and GBA games for Nintendo Switch Online
One of the biggest announcements from the most recent Nintendo Direct was the addition of many classic Gameboy and GBA games to the Nintendo Switch Online service. The launch of these new options will include eight games from the Gameboy to be available with the base version of Nintendo Switch Online, which costs $19.99 per year. These games include offerings from the Mario, Zelda, and Metroid franchises, among others.
For users who pay the extra $30 per year for Nintendo Switch Online’s expanded package, the new service will also include GBA games. The initial lineup consisted of six GBA games, including Mario Kart Super Circuit and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Zelda series has long been one of Nintendo’s most important franchises and has produced several of the highest-selling video games that have ever existed. This sequel to Zelda: Breath of the Wild will bring the player and the protagonist, Link, back to the land of Hyrule to again fight off the dangers that threaten the kingdom.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will also be the most expensive game that Nintendo itself has produced for the Switch. The game is set to retail for $70, where virtually all previous Switch games have cost $60 or less.
Pikmin 4
Pikmin is a strategy puzzle game series that has been a beloved part of the Nintendo lineup since the release of the first game in 2001. Pikmin 4’s development was announced way back in 2015 but has now finally been officially slated for a 2023 release.
Details about what new features and gameplay elements Pikmin 4 will bring haven’t yet been released. Pikmin 3 saw Alph, Brittany, and Captain Charlie replace Captain Olimar as playable characters, but it’s possible we could see any of those four or even a completely new protagonist for the new game.
Metroid Prime Remastered
Fans of classic Nintendo games were excited to hear of the launch of Metroid Prime Remastered, an updated version of the iconic GameCube game. This new release will now support HD graphics on the Nintendo Switch, as well as dual stick controls.
The digital version of Metroid Prime Remastered was released on the day of Nintendo Direct, and physical copies will be available for purchase on February 22nd.