E3 is dead. The long-running expo has been slowly losing ground over the last few years and it seems like the COVID-19 pandemic was the final nail in the coffin. Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest has essentially taking the reins going forwards, with a showcase event kicking off on June 9th, 2022.
What does this mean for Nintendo, though? Will we see a Direct from the company in June, as tradition largely dictates? Our lovely video team has teamed up once again to discuss what Nintendo's plans may be in light of E3's cancellation. Check out the video below.
As for this writer's opinion? Yes, we'll see a Nintendo Direct in June; you can bet on that. What we need to remember is that the major showcases from the likes of Nintendo, Microsoft, and Square Enix are more or less separate from the main E3 event. In fact, Microsoft has already announced its own showcase for June 12th, paving the way for other major publishers to follow suit. You'll see!
Make sure to share your own thoughts on Nintendo's potential plans this June in the comments below. Do you think we'll see a Direct? Or have our chances died along with E3?
Comments 59
Yes we'll see a direct in June.
I think a June Direct is still highly likely. Nintendo definitely had a lot of stuff planned to show this E3 season, and the loss of E3 will likely just lead to a normal June Direct. I doubt they would absolutely cancel all of their announcements because of the cancellation of E3.
I did also just want to clarify: E3 isn't officially, permanently dead. The ESA said that they are planning on having an E3 event next year.
I'm expecting a direct on either the 8th of June or a week later on the 15th
We can bloody well hope.
In terms of possible announcements, I honestly just want more substantial info on Splatoon 3 and Pokemon Scarlet Violet. Apart from that, I would love a new Punch Out (something that won't happen due to Strikers but let me believe), GB/GBA on NSO and a new Ace Attorney Trilogy (though this one would probably be announced by Capcom themselves rather than plonked into a general Direct).
My prediction? Pokemon Presents end of May, Nintendo Direct mid-June
Yup probably and most of it will be already announced games or games already released, and everyone will be annoyed.
Just calling it now
This absolutely, 100% will happen in June or I'll eat my Mario cap.
Yeah, we don't need E3 for a Direct, we haven't needed E3 for a long time. June is just a perfect month to tell people what they can expect in the later half of the year and possibly beyond. I'm certain we'll get one in June.
I still think a June will happen but Nintendo being the wierd staff abusing company that they are might do the Direct in July
E3 or not it’s about that time for an update since the last was all the way back in February.
The question should be: Even without the E3, do you still want to be disappointed by a Nintendo Direct?
My answer would be yes. I love the high, the low, and the shame that comes with getting my hopes up every time there's a new ND.
I hope so, and they likely will, but I'm not really expecting anything good unless theres anything Zelda related
Looking forward to the forthcoming Squid Research Lab Report Direct, whenever that's going to drop.
I think late June early July probably showcasing Splatoon 3 and hopefully a Bayonetta 3 release date and maybe a surprise 1st party title. I think Advance Wars is as good as shelved now so we need something more instead of just Pokemon games, albeit they are a safe bet for Nintendo and a license to print money.
E3 was the only time we knew a Nintendo direct was coming weeks/months before. I still think it’s happening but I miss that certainty this year.
No way they don’t… hope for some big stuff
They would want to show off some of their upcoming releases for the Summer so yes I think a Direct is inevitable.
E3 isn't dead. It'll be back next year. I'll miss the Treehouse Events and Devolver Digital show. But this year, as Directs aren't tied to industry events, we could get one any time. Nintendo like to go last, so we won't get one until after a 'Look at the State' and an 'Aquisition Showcase.'
There is a chance that it isn't in June, but Nintendo's definitely still going to have a Summer Direct.
@GrailUK E3 won’t ever be coming back, with things shifting towards digital faster than anyone predicted and less games from big publishers it’s dead in the water.
Considering there are games coming like XC3, Splatoon 3, Bayo 3, M+R 2, MK8DX DLC, unannounced games, games for next year, Pokémon SV (although TPC most likely will do a Presents for that) I'd be surprised if not
"We're pretending that Summer Game Fest isn't essentially going to be E3? OK then."
@moodycat Well, it's not. E3, as it's traditionally known, is a trade fair; a physical gathering at the LA Convention Centre. The Summer Games Fest is an online-only event.
@Orokosaki It's a trade show. Of course it will be back.
Inb4 Silksong confirmed.
Seriously though, E3 had been kind of a joke for a few years. I do however, miss cramming all my gaming news attention into one week. It was a fun week.
@GrailUK no chance, cancelling this year is a sign of the times. The pandemic is over so they aren’t even using that as a reason, they’re simply isn’t enough content to justify a show.
Pretty sure that’s their plan. Every other company is still making announcements around the time it would have happened. They’re just going to steer clear of Apple’s WWDC first.
You remember the last time people said that a June direct was a given, E3 or not?
2020.
Look, I get that that was 2020, but still...this reeks of deja vu.
Removed - off-topic
I do miss the big reveals at e3. I remember the Zelda reveal of Twilight Princess which is worth watching on YouTube. Classic days of the fans enjoying the show and when the Revolution was first shown which would end up being the Wii and the following year with Mario Galaxy.
But I hope we do get a direct from Nintendo this June , but then again with e3 out of the picture this year, Nintendo might use this to their advantage and not show us anything, not until later this year anyway. But having said that I’m hoping we might see something of Zelda, either Breath of the Wild 2, or even a new Top-down Zelda and the supposed new Donkey Kong game that is rumoured to be in development.
They have to announce new hardware this June so I would assume.
I feel it could go either way, Nintendo have revealed so much already between the February Direct and trailers in April that they could do something like this instead of a general Direct in June:
And just have other news before September being social media reveals like MK8 Deluxe DLC wave 2 and Bayonetta 3 release date.
Alternatively, they may do a similar thing but with a general Direct in mid June. Either way, I don't think we'll get BotW 2 news until September because of the delay announcement in March.
The great thing about Nintendo going to their streaming presentations, rather than a live showcase is not much changes for them, it's pretty much the same presentation if E3 is happening or not.
I think we'll get a June Direct. I remember before E3 was canceled I did a bunch of research to predict when it would be so I could invite a friend over and it was June 14th. I came to this conclusion based on the earliest and latest dates of E3 Directs and the day Nintendo usually hosts them which is on Tuesdays.
Don’t expect anything from Nintendo, then you’re less likely to be disappointed when they do different ¯(ツ)/¯.
I know I should never expect anything but I’d be surprised if we didn’t get a Direct sometime between now and late June. We know of most of Nintendo’s big titles for the rest of the year but I feel like they still have another title or two up their sleeve with Breath of the Wild being delayed, even if those games end up just being remasters. Plus it wouldn’t hurt to announce something for early next year, just nothing too far out.
Nintendo returned to their regular Direct schedule in 2021 with the expected February, June/E3, and September Directs.
2022 already got a February Direct - there is no reason to think the expected June and September Directs are going anywhere.
I would not get my expectations up. They did not do one in 2020 and now I got a feeling they skip this year again and just give us some game specific directs for Splatoon3 and some other game. Maybe September or later will give us a direct.
Unless Nintendo says otherwise I do think that we will get a mainline Direct next month. More than likely on the 6th or the 13th of June.
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I think so. We'll probably get a nice trailer for Bayonetta 3 + release date and possibly Mario+Rabbids release(though that may be up to Ubisoft, as the game was originally revealed at last year's Ubisoft Forward). I also think Nintendo will add a couple more unannounced games to release at the end of the year.
To be honest im going to miss E3.. R.I.P
I would like to see playable Nintendo demos return to Best Buy. I think the last one was for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3.
I think we will deffo get a Direct at some point in June, i think Nintendo probable would have been working on what to show before it was announced that E3 was cancelled, and knowing other companies will announce stuff i think it would be a mistake if they didn't. Hopefully we will get some dates, or at least see a little more work, on some we've been waiting for. Like Metroid 4, Zelda, and Hollow Knight 2......hopefully.
Why, they will be saving a few million bucks on anti-promotion, that's what.
It NEEDS to happen, and despite the fact that early 2022 has been mostly good release schedule-wise, there are certain holes yet to fill:
1) We need a Zelda: BotW extended trailer with plenty of game play footage to show what Aunoma's team has been up to all this time.
2) A firm and final release date (or even a same-day stealth drop) for Advance Wars: Reboot Camp likewise needs to happen; its delay over the Ukraine war, while well-intentioned, was a mistake.
3) Th reveal of the next round of tracks in MK 8 Deluxe's track pass is due.
4) If any new Nintendo hardware is coming (whether alongside BotW 2 or especially this Christmas season, it's IMPERATIVE to reveal it well in advance, and June showcases are where most of those occur.
5) There's no true 4th Quarter tentacle "AAA" first-party announcement yet. If not Mario, Zelda, or Metroid, what could it be?
6) If Metroid Prime 4 doesn't get an update trailer this time around, then that reveal WAY back was simply bad form, Nintendo.
7) An expansion for Mario Party Superstars would be welcome.
8) Reveals of some of those "other IPs" from Sega would be nice to see, especially if they end up being the likes of Shining Force, Skies of Arcadia, or Dragon Force. And I doubt that anyone would complain if they brought the Ages line back to Switch.
@AtlanteanMan I wanna talk about your eight point, I agree the ages line needs to comeback. I would personally love to see galaxy force 2 on there.
would be very surprised if June doesn’t give us a general direct with a big spotlight for BotW2
As per usual Nintendo will have a Direct when they decide to on their terms. I don't see why it would be any different. Ever.
@Kevember you sir win comment of the day. Yes I don’t know why we always expect Nintendo to deliver so highly…F-Zero, new Donkey Kong, Zelda remake, New Zelda, Wario Land etc. Let’s just know it will be to the masses.
@bones that is not true. They did not reach their goal so there will just be a new so-called variant this year.
They haven't called it an E3 event in years, there's just happened to be a June direct. Other companies do it too.
They frakking better had!
June, July, something in that zone I’m sure. Also anticipating new model Switch reveal between July and August as well..
I feel like they have to. Starting to really feel starved for news.
100% we're getting one in june or july, there's no way we don't.
Pleeeeeheeheeheeheeze!
I certainly hope so!
I would love to see physical conventions return, and endure. There's just a different sense of human-to-human community when you see people in person, enjoying and marketing games together.
"prediction mode: on"
the new direct will be between June, 7 and June, 14.
Sooo stay tuned!
Nintendo is a company of tradition. There will be a June Direct.
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