Nintendo Direct June 2026: Biggest Announcements and Reveals

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Finally Gets a Holiday 2026 Release Date

Nintendo ended years of silence on Wednesday by confirming that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will launch in November 2026, exclusively for the original Nintendo Switch. The trailer, shown during the June 2026 Nintendo Direct, returns to the series' first-person roots with a new planet, improved visor abilities, and a seamless open-zone system from Retro Studios that lets players explore multiple biomes without a single loading screen.

“The game’s design eliminates loading screens entirely across interconnected biomes,” a Nintendo spokesperson said during the Direct. “This is the most ambitious Metroid Prime yet.”

The announcement brings closure to a saga that began in 2017 when the game was first teased, then restarted under Retro Studios in 2019. Key details revealed include:

• Release window: November 2026, no specific date yet.
• New traversal abilities: grapple beam upgrades and a dash mechanic for speed-running.
• Planet environments: at least five distinct biomes, from toxic jungles to frozen tundras.
• Multiplayer: a new 4-player co-op mode called “Bounty Hunt” confirmed.

For fans of the series, this Direct delivered what many considered the final missing piece of Nintendo’s first-party roadmap.

A New 3D Mario Platformer Arrives in Spring 2027

Nintendo also debuted a brand-new 3D Mario game, currently without a subtitle, that is explicitly designed for the upcoming “Switch 2” console. Gameplay footage showed Mario using a new ‘Star Spin’ ability to traverse gravity-defying platforms across a galaxy-themed sandbox, with worlds that twist and fold mid-level. The title is slated for spring 2027, positioning it as a system-seller for the next-generation hardware expected to launch in early 2027.

The Direct confirmed several key design choices:

• The ‘Star Spin’ functions as a multi-purpose move: attack, traversal, and puzzle solving.
• Levels are fully destructible in places, reacting to Mario’s momentum.
• Optional co-op play with a second player controlling Cappy-like companion.
• No subtitle was revealed; Nintendo stated the name will be shared closer to launch.

The decision to tie a core Mario title to a new console mirrors the strategy used with Super Mario Odyssey for the Nintendo Switch in 2017. This time, the hardware leap promises faster load times and more dynamic world geometry, as highlighted in other indie showcases from the same period that push similar technical boundaries.

Splatoon 4 and Zelda Remakes Lead the Switch 2 Launch Window

Nintendo padded out its Switch 2 launch lineup with two major announcements: Splatoon 4, confirmed for a 2027 release, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD remasters arriving day-one on the new hardware. Splatoon 4 introduces a new hub world and 128-player turf wars on larger maps, a massive scale-up from its predecessors. The Zelda remasters run at 60fps with upscaled resolutions and optional gyro aiming — a set of features that leverage the Switch 2’s improved internals.

Additional launch-window third-party titles were also shown, including Hollow Knight: Silksong with a new 2026 release window, and a partnership that lets indie developers easily port their games — a strategy Nintendo highlights in discussions on the digital economy. The Direct emphasized backward compatibility with the original Switch library, easing concerns about a fragmented ecosystem.

“The Switch 2 will play all existing Switch games, cartridges and digital alike,” a Nintendo executive confirmed during the broadcast.

While no hardware was shown, the breadth of software suggests a confident transition plan.

Key Takeaways

• Switch 2 transition is imminent — software lineup points to a 2027 launch window.
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has a fixed November 2026 release date after years of delays.
• Splatoon 4 pushes multiplayer scale with 128-player matches and persistent world events.
• Zelda remasters of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess arrive day-one on Switch 2.
• Backward compatibility is confirmed for all existing Switch software and accessories.
• Third-party and indie support remains strong, with Hollow Knight: Silksong targeting 2026.