Nintendo finally hosted a Direct in June and it had some games worth talking about! Goin into the event, the rest of Nintendo's 2023 was a bit of a question mark with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Pikmin 4's July release as the only internal productions with hard dates attached to them. The games, expansions, and DLC they announced during the event were:

• Sonic Superstars - Late 2023 Release; Multiplatform
• New Princess Peach Game - 2024 Release; Switch Exclusive
• Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon Switch Port - 2024 Release; Switch Exclusive
• Super Mario RPG Remake - November 17, 2023 Release; Switch Exclusive
• Pikmin 4 - July 21, 2023 Release; Switch Exclusive
• Pikmin 1 and 2 Switch Ports - Releases TODAY; Switch Exclusive
• Vampire Survivors Switch Port - August 17th, 2023; Multiplatform
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC - Releases TODAY; Switch Exclusive
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder - October 20th, 2023 Release; Switch Exclusive
• WarioWare: Move It! - November 3rd, 2023 Release; Switch Exclusive
• Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 1 - October 24th, 2023 Release; Multiplatform
• Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC - No Release Date or Window; Switch Exclusive
• Detective Pikachu Returns - October 6th, 2023 Release; Switch Exclusive
• Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince - December 1st, 2023 Release; Switch Exclusive
• Batman: Arkham Trilogy - Fall 2023 Release
• Star Ocean The Second Story R - November 3rd, 2023; Multiplatform
• Persona 5 Tactica - November 17, 2023 Release; Multiplatform
• MythForce - Late 2023 Release; Multiplatform
• Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopes DLC - 2023 Release; Switch Exclusive
• Splatoon 3's Next Splatfest - July 14-16
• Manic Mechanics - July 13, 2023 Release
• Headbangers Rhythm Royale - Oct 31, 2023 Release; Multiplatform
• Silent Hope - October 3, 2023 Release; Multiplatform
• Just Dance 2024 - October 24, 2023 Release; Multiplatform
• Palia - Winter 2023 Release; Multiplatform
• Fae Farm - September 8, 2023 Release; Multiplatform
• Penny's Big Breakaway - Early 2024 Release; Multiplatform
• Gloomhaven Port - September 18th, 2023 Release; Multiplatform
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Oct 19, 2023 Release; Multiplatform

Here's a link to the June Nintendo Direct without commentary in case you wanted to watch it:

Some highlights for me have to be the Remake of Super Mario RPG, the new 2D Mario platformer, and the return of Detective Pikachu. What stood out to you other than the potential of elephant Mario breaking DeviantArt?

Penny's Big Breakaway looks rad. I'm interested in seeing what the Sonic Mania team does with that. More so than the new Sonic game. I just don't like the whole interruption of "2D in 3D" aesthetic. I think it's hideous.

I actually had that reaction a lot during this direct. I don't like the look of the Sonic game. I don't like the look of Squat Mario (the character specifically. The rest of that game looks quite nice.) or the Super Mario RPG remake. I don't like the 2.5D stuff in Star Ocean. Is it just me? Am I the problem? Probably.

Mario Bros. Wonder was the highlight for me. I'm not sure what to make of it, but it seems there's some mechanic where levels morph into something crazy. It looks creative and interesting.

Pikmin 4 looks good but I wasn't a fan of the caves in Pikmin 2 so I'm not so excited about those returning. All I want from Pikmin is big, bright, beautiful open levels to explore.

ngl, as someone who doesn't get a nostalgia buzz off remakes or a particular affection for 2D mario- it was alright, but i wasn't popping for anything in particular.

now if they were to put out a god damned Rhythm Heaven for the Switch, i might be liable to cause a ruckus.

I think my expectations were so low for this direct that I came out pleasantly surprised. The Mario RPG stuff is cool, but I would have been fine with the original just being added to the SNES online where I could rewind and save state. What they showed of SMB Wonder seems cool, and it looks the most interesting 2d Mario has in a long time (not counting Mario Maker), but I gotta see more before I actually get excited for it. Vampire Survivors coming to switch is neat. WarioWare Move It! was the game of the show for me.

I'm surprised at how good that Star Ocean 2 remake looks. That's an odd one to bring back but I'm down for it.

Between New New Super Mario Bros., New Super Sonic Bros., and a new Super Princess Peach game it seems like there are as many polygonal 2D platformers in the works as there are farming sims. At this point Metroid Prime 4 is going to be launch title for their new hardware.

Maybe they'll finally make Mario RPG into something playable.

Decent showing for a console that is clearly at the end of its life and they're holding out the big stuff for the next generation. Weirdly I'm most interested at playing these Metal Gear games on a Nintendo console.

The 2D Mario is not doing it for me, I feel like the New Super Mario Bros series is out there and this is just another one of those. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon port is a weird one that really feels like this should have the first two games in one like the Pikmin release. I'll definitely check out Super Mario RPG though.

That was a wonderful Direct. Just so much cool stuff for any person to enjoy. Personal favorites are Palia, Silent Hope and Penny's Big Breakaway.

My only note is that I would've liked just a smidge more info about the Princess Peach game, because it looks like they're toning it down, rather than the sheer chaos of the DS game. I hope it stays weird, but in a better way.

An okay Direct. Looking forward to the sequel to Super Mario Bros 2 called Wonder. Elephant Mario rules. Them remaking Mario RPG is also nice. As someone who only played a little bit of Princess Peach, I will give the sequel a shot. And the remake of Star Ocean 2 one of the best JRPGs during the PSX era is nice. And the MSX Metal Gears are great.

Interesting, no Metroid Prime 4, no Super Mario Odyssey 2. Its safe to say those will be future launch games for the Switch 2.

I was almost hoping that we would see the original Peach game remastered to coincide with this announcement but yeah... I don't think that can be allowed to exist, and rightfully so, today. I do wonder what the gimmick for the new game will be considering they can't have it be Peach's emotions.

My issue with the Star Ocean 2 re-remake is that it seems like whoever was directing it continually shouted "MAKE IT LOOK LIKE OCTOPATH TRAVELER! MORE!!! MOOOOOOOOOOORE!"

Japan's Direct had an Umamusume game announced that was like a party game compilation of old Kunio games such as dodge ball and other activities.

That and besides the obvious first party announcements I was down with the Star Ocean 2 remake.

It was a great Direct. I was surprised that they didn't do a talk over until I realized it was on YouTube only. I only checked on a whim because it was odd but is this going to be a thing going forward? I use the site to watch videos because YouTube is a trash fire of dumb thumbnails and never check the channel.