All of the new games expected to appear in the next Nintendo Switch 2 Direct

Rumors are abound of a July Nintendo Switch 2 Direct showcase, as we reported previously. This also comes along with predictions and rumors from reliable sources, both old and new, of which games might make an appearance. There are loads of major third-party titles that haven’t been made official yet, not to mention some big-time titles that still need an official release date, and what would the first major Direct showcase after the Switch 2 be without a huge drop from Nintendo’s development teams?

At this point it seems unlikely that we will get any details or even a teaser for a new 3D Mario game (that initial rumor from months ago might really have just been the Mario Odyssey’s teams Donkey Kong Bananza). Nintendo made a strong push for the upgraded Switch 2 editions of its latest Zelda titles, so that seems a stretch at this point. And that might very well mean Animal Crossing is going to be the next Direct’s prime time reveal.

Animal Crossing on Switch 2

As we reported previously, rumors surrounding a new Animal Crossing game for Switch 2, right after Nintendo finally updated New Horizons ahead of the Switch 2 launch, hit at the same time inside sources claimed to have knowledge of this month’s Direct.

In fact, YouTuber Beatemups which claims to have inside details on the matter said Isabelle from Animal Crossing was going to make an appearance in the show to tease a 2026 release date for the new Animal Crossing Switch 2 experience.

We have already detailed our thoughts on a potential Animal Crossing reveal in this rumored Direct event, but it seems a more likely candidate to close the show out than say something from Hyrule or the Mushroom Kingdom at this point. Only time will tell.

As of yet unknown release dates

Alongside the slew of third-party games rumored to be landing on Switch 2 that have yet to be made official, there are some major releases that have been announced so far without release dates. Some of the highlights for us here include the following:

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – releases 2025
Kirby Air Riders – releases 2025
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade – releases 2025
The Duskbloods – releases 2026
James Bond 007 First Light – releases 2026
Elden Ring – Tarnished Edition – releases 2025
Borderlands 4 – releases 2025
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment – releases 2025
Hades 2 – releases 2025
Enter The Gungeon 2 – release date unknown
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam – release date unknown
Splatoon Raiders – release date unknown

More third-party ports

As we all know, the Switch 2 launch lineup is already littered, in the best way possible if you ask me, with third-party ports. From Cyberpunk 2077 and Street Fighter 6 to Star Wars Outlaws, and Madden 26, some major third-party games have already been ported and released to Switch 2 with more on the way this summer – here are the biggest Nintendo Switch 2 games still set for release this summer. However, there is what can only be described as quite a sizable backlog of rumored ports that are widely expected to go official at some point here, and the next Nintendo Direct is a fitting place to announce it all.

While we are in no way 100% sure which, if any, of these titles will make an appearance at the rumored Direct this month (or thereafter), here’s a look at the third-party games expected to be landing on Switch 2 (this year and next):

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
Diablo 4
Fallout 4
Starfield
One or more of The Division games
Rainbow Six Siege
Sea of Thieves
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Ori and the Blind Forest
Hi-Fi Rush
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Microsoft has been rumored to have a slate of titles landing on Switch 2 and it has already specifically said it would love to support Nintendo’s new console – Hi-Fi Rush, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and Sea of Thieves seem like a lock if this does actually happen. Early rumors ahead of the Switch 2 launch had Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater landing alongside an official rating for Assassin’s Creed Shadows and a slew of Ubisoft games that are also expected as well.