The Nintendo Direct June 2023 is now over! Announced just yesterday, there have been rumors circulating about a June Nintendo Direct for some time now, but now it's finally all out there. We got a tonne of new announcements, including a new 2D Mario game called Super Mario Bros Wonder, a remake of Super Mario RPG, a new Peach game, and Detective Pikachu 2. And that's not even all of it.
Check out all the announcements below:
Biggest reveals
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC gets fully detailed
- Multiplayer farming sim Palia coming holiday 2023, and also to Switch
- New Splatfest pits vanilla against strawberry and mint chip July 14-16
- Detective Pikachu 2 is real, and it's coming this year
- The Super Mario RPG remake is real, with new graphics and old gameplay
- Princess Peach is getting her own game, but it doesn't have a name yet
- Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon from the 3DS is getting a remake
- The best Batman games are coming to Switch this year
- Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is the series' take on Pokemon but with genetic splicing
- Pikmin 4 gets gameplay walkthrough, confirms interior and underground areas
- Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection is out in October, and it's coming to Switch
- Indie game phenomenon Vampire Survivors comes to Switch with co-op in August
- Wave 5 of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass adds Petey Piranha, Wiggler and Kamek as new drivers
- Hell yes, another WarioWare game is on the way - WarioWare Move It
- Tears of the Kingdom Zelda and Ganondorf amiibos coming this holiday
- Super Mario Bros Wonder revives 2D action this October
Best of the rest
- Sonic Superstars got a new trailer after its SGF reveal
- Mythforce is a game inspired by Saturday morning cartoons
- Gloomhaven coming to Switch on September 18
- More tracks confirmed for Just Dance 2024
- Silent Hope is a new XSeed action-RPG game coming October 3
- New trailer for fantasy farming sim Fae Farm
- Manic Mechanics is a four-player co-op mechanic take on Overcooked
- Second paid-for DLC for Mario+Rabbids: Sparks of Hope drops today
- HD versions of Pikmin 1 and 2 dropping digitally on the eShop today
- Another trailer for the pigeon game Headbangers Rhythm Royale dropped
- Penny's Big Breakaway is a 3D platformer from the team behind Sonic Mania
- Remake of second Star Ocean game is on the way in November
For now though, you've got me again - Sam Loveridge - to drum up some hype ahead of today's Nintendo Direct.
And here was me thinking we wouldn't be having another showcase so close to Summer Game Fest!
Let's start with Pikmin 4 shall we? It's the only game specifically named by Nintendo for a showcase at today's Nintendo Direct.
Pikmin 4 is due to launch on July 21, 2023 - so not long to go now. It's been in the works for some time now, but from everything we've seen of it so far, it's looking like it'll be worth the wait.
You'll be playing as a customizable hero working to save Captain Olimar and the Rescue Corp from yet another crash landing.
Players are very excited about the idea that we'll be going inside a house for the first time. Or so suggests some screenshots that have appeared on Pikmin 4 download cards in Japan...
Pikmin 4 download cards are now in Japan! Are these new screenshots? I don’t recognize them… 🤔 pic.twitter.com/qGf9FPuvTaJune 20, 2023
It's also been confirmed that the game will feature splitscreen co-op, which has been a series staple since Pikmin 2.
Honestly I'm just here for this creature.
It's so weird that we've had such limited info for Pikmin 4 officially really, especially considering it's out quite so soon.
I imagine that today's Direct will feature a lengthy segment on Olimar's latest adventure.
But, really I wanna see what other games Nintendo counts among those "Nintendo Switch titles launching this year", because it's looking pretty light.
Just a little KLAXON to say the Nintendo Direct starts in less than 30 minutes!!
Obviously the other imminent Nintendo release is Everybody 1-2 Switch, which is dropping on June 30.
Weirdly enough though, we got a befuddling Everybody 1-2-Switch trailer mere hours before today's Nintendo Direct. It revealed that the some of the game's minigames support up to 100 player at once, with players able to join in with their phones or Joy-Con controllers, in a similar vein to Jackbox.
I'll warn you, it's quite the trailer if you want to watch it - and involves a man wearing a horse head mask for some reason.
If you're following the chat on the Nintendo Direct feed right now, there's some consistency in the pleas from fans right now.
It's mainly a new Mario game and Metroid... among chants for Mother 3 of course.
When it comes to Mario, I'm so with them. Super Mario Odyssey was so good and so needs a sequel, but I wonder if Nintendo is waiting to drop that with whatever is cooking for a Switch Pro or Switch sequel. Of course, I doubt either of those would drop today!
However, stranger things have happened...
As for Metroid, where is Metroid Prime 4? Back in May 2022, it did appear on Nintendo's launch schedule but without a year for release even vaguely attached. Originally announced back in 2017, it's obviously been through some development changes / hell since then.
Developer Retro Studios has been at the helm since January 2019, and has recently been on a hiring spree for development support, so hopefully, that means things are ramping up.
Personally, I'm just hoping that it's not all focused on remakes or ports. Some fresh stuff amongst the nostalgia is what the Switch does really need.
Of course, all my free time is currently devoted to Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, so maybe it's a little mean to say the Switch needs more new games.
Just a few more minutes to go now friends!
Are we ready? I don't think Nintendo is...
Spoke too soon, here we go.
First up, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Details on the DLC?
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero - this is our first proper look at the DLC.
The Teal Mask is up first, which is the first expansion.
Carmine and Keiran and a new locale of Kitakami?
The Local Three - three Pokemon that guard the area.
And one more that's just teased?
The Indigo Disk - that's the second expansion - is up now.
Looks like battles in giant greenhouses?
No actual updates on the dates for those either. Still 'fall 2023' and 'winter 2023'.
Sonic Superstars up now, which was revealed earlier this month at Summer Game Fest.
It's coming this Fall 2023.
Palia up now - which is essentially a multiplayer Stardew / farming sim.
It looks amazing!
Free to play and launches this holiday 2023.
That's the first release window we've had for that game!
Pre-orders begin for Persona 5 Tactica ahead of its November 17 release date.
Mythforce is a game inspired by Saturday morning cartoons.
Launching 2023.
New Splatfest inbound for Splatoon 3 - Vanilla vs Strawberry vs Mint Chip.
Mint Choc Chip.... surely.
And it's none of those - it's Salted Caramel ftw.
NEW DETECTIVE PIKACHU GAME KLAXON
Pikachu is talking and he's such a grump without his coffee. I'm obsessed.
You'll have to work together with Pokemon to solve crimes and mysteries.
October 6!!!
Oh hello Princess Peach and Mario
SUPER MARIO RPG. What a back to back reveal.
Oh wow, it's a true RPG too, with turn-based combat.
Ah I'm guessing this is a remake of the original Super Mario RPG then? I was getting hyped for something truly new there.
Coming November 17, 2023. Pre-orders begin today.
"Returns with brand new graphics".
And we're also getting a Prince Peach game!
Brand new game, no title, but something happens when she steps on a special spot on the stage...
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon from the 3DS is getting a remake too. Coming next year along with that Princess Peach game.
"More details will be revealed in the future".
Batman: Arkham trilogy coming to Switch this fall.
Gloomhaven video game coming to Switch too - September 18.
Just Dance 2024 Edition on now. New songs confirmed, including I Wanna Dance with Somebody by Whitney Houston. Tune.
New songs will drop all year round via Just Dance+.
That's coming October 24.
Silent Hope from XSeed Games just got revealed. It's an action RPG game, and it's coming October 3, 2023.
Now we've got another new trailer for fantasy farming game, Fae Farm.
Console exclusive launch on Switch September 8. We already knew that though.
I missed which game that was, but Manic Mechanics up now. It's a four-player co-op mechanic game with an Overcooked vibe.
Second paid DLC for Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. New areas, new enemies. IT's called The Spark Hunter and it launches later today.
Alongside a demo for the base game.
New Dragon Quest game will see you combining monsters to use in battle as you become "the master of monsterkind". Is this Dragon Quest Pokemon? No but close.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince - coming December 1.
Ah and here's Pikmin 4!
Oatchi the pup. I'm here for you boy!
Nice overview of the basic Pikmin mechanics for new players here.
Plus, Oatchi can help you out by helping to carry things, attack and fight, carry Pikmin over waters, and more.
Pikmin 4 will have you going inside, but also underground to discover different kinds of puzzles.
Turns out you'll also be doing Dandori Battles, where you have to collect more items than your opponent to rescue the castaway. Doing these will get you more options at base camp, including the option to train up Oatchi.
You'll also be able to go on night missions for the first time, which apparently makes the monsters mad. There's a new Glow Pikmin type too, specially for the night missions.
HD versions of Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2 launching digitally later today.
Plus, a Pikmin 4 demo dropping June 28.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 1 is coming to Switch too!
There's a lot in this collection! Strategy guides too!
Launches October 24, 2023.
Vampire Survivors is coming to Nintendo Switch, alongside four-player co-op, on August 17, 2023.
Now we've got a new trailer from Headbangers Rhythm Royale, originally announced at our own Future Games Show!
Over 20 mini-games included in this rhythm-action battle royale that drops October 31.
Penny's Big Breakaway is a 3D platformer from the team behind Sonic Mania.
Available early 2024.
Wave 5 of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass - Petey Piranha, Wiggler, Kamek all joining as new playable drivers.
Available this summer!
Remake of second Star Ocean game is on the way.
You can play as either main character, battles happen in real-time. New combat features including allies not in your partner attacking as support.
Available November 2.
Another Warioware game?
Seemingly all about motion controls - including drying your shell, dancing, and sliding along as Mario.
Warioware Move It launches November 3.
Over 200 minigames in Warioware Move It!
Seattle's getting Nintendo Live 2023 on September 1-4.
Tears of the Kingdom!!!!!
New Zelda and Ganondorf amiibo coming this holiday.
NEW 2D MARIO
Mario's got a little flower friend here. Glorious new art style - slightly more cartoon-esque than normal.
Wonder Seed?
Super Mario Bros Wonder it's called.
Overworld as normal. Can also play as other characters.
Four-player co-op confimred.
Coming October 20, 2023.
Excuse me? Elephant Mario???
When you touch a wonder flower, anything can happen apparently.
Oh I am so hyped for that!
Well that was a great Direct! Lots of new reveals, fresh games. It's all looking up for Nintendo's second half of the year.
Let's round-up everything that was announced shall we?
