Predictions · Published September 6, 2026

My Nintendo Direct 9.9.2026 Predictions

I expect a new 2D Metroid, plenty of known games, a lot of third-party support, and no new 3D Mario—yet.

The official title card for Nintendo Direct and Nintendo Treehouse Live from June 9, 2026 — Nintendo · official Nintendo Direct archive artwork

The short version

Nintendo has officially scheduled a 45-minute Direct for September 9 at 7 a.m. Pacific, focused on Switch 2 games coming this winter.
My biggest prediction is a new 2D Metroid targeting the first quarter of 2027; Nintendo has not announced that game.
I expect updates on known games and heavy third-party support, while a new 3D Mario waits for another presentation.

What Nintendo actually confirmed

Nintendo has officially scheduled a 45-minute Nintendo Direct for Wednesday, September 9 at 7 a.m. Pacific. Nintendo says the presentation will focus on games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.

That is the confirmed part. Nintendo has not published a game list for the presentation. The predictions below are mine, and the new games I mention are not confirmed unless I say otherwise.

I think this will be a useful Direct, but I do not expect it to be a nonstop first-party blowout. My bet is a practical winter lineup, updates on games we already know about, and a strong amount of third-party support.

A new 2D Metroid is my big swing

My biggest prediction is a new 2D Metroid game targeting the first quarter of 2027.

Nintendo has not announced that game. This is not a leak. It is the announcement I think would fit the moment: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has already carried the 3D side of the series into the Switch 2 era, and a new 2D game would give Nintendo a focused action release early next year.

I do not expect Nintendo to spend half the Direct on it. A sharp trailer, a name, and an early-2027 window would be enough. Show Samus moving quickly, give us one new ability, show a threatening new location, and get out before the trailer explains the whole game.

This is the prediction I am least confident about and the one I most want to be right about.

A lot of games we already know

I expect much of the show to cover games Nintendo has already announced. That is not a complaint. Dates, demos, and useful gameplay details matter more than a logo for a game that is four years away.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave launches September 17, so one final trailer makes sense. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is already confirmed for Switch 2 on October 23, which makes this a logical place to show how the Nintendo version runs and how the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls work.

Xenoblade Genesis is officially coming in 2027, but Nintendo has shared very little beyond the announcement. I expect a new look even if its release is outside the winter focus. Final Fantasy VII Revelation is also officially listed for 2027, and I would not be surprised to see another trailer or a narrower release window.

Those are already real games. The unknown part is how much new information Nintendo gives us.

I do not think the new Mario is here yet

I do not think Nintendo shows the next major 3D Mario game in this Direct.

A new Mario will be one of the biggest announcements Nintendo can make for Switch 2. I think the company saves it for a presentation where Mario can own the ending instead of sharing attention with a packed winter update show and a Zelda anniversary presentation the day before.

Nintendo could prove me wrong with one final teaser, but I am betting against it. If Mario appears, I expect a smaller update, expansion, or supporting announcement rather than the next full 3D adventure.

Animal Crossing finally moves forward

My other first-party bet is a new Animal Crossing game.

This is a risky prediction because Nintendo released Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition in January, followed by updates for the existing game. Nintendo may decide that New Horizons still has plenty of life left and save a true sequel for later.

I still think this is the moment Nintendo finally shows what comes next. Animal Crossing reaches an enormous audience, works perfectly as a long-term game people can keep returning to, and would give Switch 2 a different kind of major release from Zelda, Fire Emblem, Metroid, and Mario.

I am not expecting a shadow drop. A short announcement with a 2027 window would be enough.

Third parties may carry the show

More than anything, I expect this Direct to show that third-party support is becoming normal on Switch 2.

Call of Duty is the obvious example. Final Fantasy VII is already on the system. Nintendo has been bringing in larger games that would have been difficult to imagine on the original Switch. A 45-minute winter presentation gives publishers room to show ports, simultaneous releases, upgrades, demos, and release dates without forcing Nintendo to invent ten new first-party announcements.

Some viewers will call that disappointing if the show does not end with Mario. I think the better question is whether the games look good and whether people will actually play them. A healthier third-party lineup is valuable even when every trailer does not contain a Nintendo character.

My final prediction card

Here is my bet: a new 2D Metroid for early 2027, updates on Xenoblade Genesis and Final Fantasy VII Revelation, final pushes for Fire Emblem and Call of Duty, a new Animal Crossing announcement, and no new 3D Mario yet.

I also expect more third-party games than brand-new Nintendo games. That may make the show feel less explosive, but it could make the actual winter lineup stronger.

After the Direct, I will score these predictions without moving the goalposts. What do you think Nintendo will show?