Even though an early message suggested there would be no additional updates during their June presentation, Nintendo Direct still turned out to be a genuinely fun summer showcase, packed with a wide range of compelling games. We also put together our own Digital Foundry Direct special, looking closely at the announcements, with John Linneman and Oliver Mackenzie highlighting some of the most hotly anticipated titles—among them new entries from the Metroid, Zelda, and Lego line-ups.
Although you can watch the video recording of that Direct below, I felt it was worth sharing what stood out to me most during the event—and, just as importantly, considering how today’s reveals could shape the launch roster for a future Switch 2.
To start, I was genuinely struck by the Lego game: Lego Horizon Adventures. The original Horizon releases—Zero Dawn and Forbidden West—are defined by an outstanding world, and it’s fascinating to see that world reworked into a setting made from colored bricks. Even more encouraging is the impression that very little has been cut in comparison to the full Unreal Engine 5 edition of the game on PS5 and PC. High-quality Lumen RT reflections have been converted to SSR, and detailed virtual shadow maps have been replaced with standard shadow maps, yet the overall visual character of the game still comes through—despite the trade-offs needed to target 30fps on Switch rather than 60fps on other platforms.
Lego adaptations have long been among the most convincing and enjoyable ways of bringing major franchises to new audiences, and this latest release seems to carry real promise as well—especially on Switch, where both visuals and gameplay fit naturally with handheld play. I’m keen to see how things progress later this year, and perhaps by 2025 we’ll get a more visually refined edition for the Switch’s next model.
With that in mind, one major benefit Nintendo has had with the Switch is its deep back catalog of Wii U games, made possible after that earlier system’s comparatively modest sales. That has given the company access to plenty of genuinely excellent titles that didn’t reach a huge audience, enabling Nintendo to build (relatively) straightforward remakes and remasters for profitable Switch releases. Looking ahead to Switch 2, though, that pool is starting to shrink, as John notes in the Direct, with only a limited number of standout Wii U games still waiting to be remastered.
Since the Switch is expected to be close to eight years old when Switch 2 arrives—rumors point to a launch around March 2025—it’s clear Nintendo doesn’t feel the same pressure to roll out a successor on the same timetable as Sony and Microsoft. That cautious pace does have an impact on the lineup: games that might have debuted alongside a 2024 Switch 2 would instead arrive on the original Switch, or they’ll be held back until the new hardware is ready.
It’ll be interesting to see whether any releases in the coming year show signs of work being aimed at Switch 2—such as games targeting 30fps for series that are usually built for 60fps, or titles that run at surprisingly low resolutions but still include more advanced graphical enhancements. These kinds of adjustments are common in cross-generation releases, and, as Oliver points out during the Direct, it could end up being among the lengthiest cross-generation periods Nintendo has experienced.
We’ll keep an eye out for potential Switch 2 games, and hopefully Nintendo will share more information about the successor console, what it can do, and how its software lineup looks as we move toward the end of 2024 and into 2025. For now, I remain cautiously hopeful that Nintendo’s strategy is the right one. There’s also always a possibility of both an earlier-than-expected Switch 2 and a strong launch slate—especially since they’ve taken extra time to prepare the new system, even if only a small number of entirely new Wii U titles are waiting in the wings to get their moment.
This wraps up the update, but as always, if you’d like to support our work, you can visit our Patreon. If you’re a supporter, you’ll be able to submit questions for DF Direct Weekly episodes, get early access to non-embargoed material, find out what we’re covering each week, and, of course, join our welcoming and knowledgeable Discord community.