The Biggest Announcements from the February 17th Nintendo Direct

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The Nintendo Direct on February 17th was the company’s first in 18 months, with the last presentation airing way back in September 2019. Hopes were high that Nintendo would reveal some big-name products – and the 50-minute presentation didn’t disappoint.

While the long-rumored Breath of the Wild sequel didn’t make an appearance, we did learn about a Skyward Sword remaster, new items in Animal Crossing and a release window for Splatoon 3. Here are the biggest headlines from the latest Nintendo Direct.

Splatoon 3 Arrives in 2022

Splatoon 3 
Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo’s presentation ended with a bang, as the company offered a sneak peek at the sequel to Splatoon 2. The short trailer didn’t reveal much, but it did give us a tentative release window of 2022. Splatoon is among the most popular Nintendo franchises, and Splatoon 3 looks to bring fans another colorful experience. Its reveal trailer, however, was decidedly drab, cloaking its main character in dirty threads before transitioning to the usual paint-splattered color palette.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Launches in July

The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword
Credit: Nintendo

More info about Breath of the Wild 2 will be announced later this year, but in the meantime, you can get your hands on the Skyward Sword HD remake. The title is now available for pre-order and will launch on July 16th – motion controls optional.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate adds Pyra and Mythra

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Credit: Nintendo

The jam-packed Smash Bros. roster continues to grow, as it will be adding Pyra from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in March. She’ll be able to transform into Mythra as part of her skillset, giving her access to a whole new set of moves.

Mario Golf: Super Rush Revealed

Mario Golf Super Rush
Credit: Nintendo

It’s been years since Mario’s last golf outing, but he’s set to return to the links on June 25. Multiplayer gameplay will be available via local or online play, and Super Rush features a roster that includes Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy and more. The casual sports game looks like it’ll be another instant hit when it arrives this summer.

Animal Crossing Gets Mario Gear

Animal Crossing
Credit: Nintendo

Animal Crossing: New Horizons might not be as popular as it was in 2020, but Nintendo continues to impress with constant updates for the idyllic island simulator. On March 1st, you’ll be able to purchase Mario-themed items from the Nook Stop. This includes functioning Warp Pipes, which will let you quickly travel across your island, and outfits for Mario, Luigi, Peach and Wario.

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The Best of the Rest

During the lengthy presentation, dozens of other announcements were made. Here are a few of the standout reveals beyond the heavy hitters mentioned above.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Gets an Expansion Pass

Link made another appearance during the Nintendo Direct, as the company announced expansion plans for Age of Calamity. Two waves of content will launch in 2021, with the first bringing new characters, weapons and enemies in June. The next update will arrive in November, adding new stages, skills and more playable characters.

Fall Guys Coming To Switch

Fall Guys
Credit: Nintendo

The world’s most popular non-combat battle royale is getting a Switch port later this summer. Publisher Devolver Digital was light on specifics, but it’s great to see the unique title launching on a new platform.

Project Triangle Demo now Available

Square Enix debuted a new strategy game during the Nintendo Direct with a working title of Project Triangle. If you’re interested in checking out the tactical RPG, a demo is currently available on the Nintendo eShop, with a full release planned for 2022.

Apex Legends Gameplay Reveal

We’ve known for several weeks that Apex Legends was coming to Nintendo Switch, but we got our first look at the game in action during the latest Direct. It doesn’t look as stunning as it does on PC, PS4 or Xbox One, but it still looks pretty good running on the underpowered hardware. For a portable version of one of the best battle royales on the market, a graphical downgrade is a small price to pay.

Plants vs. Zombies Finds a Home on the Switch

Plants vs. Zombies
Credit: Nintendo

Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Complete Edition comes to the Switch on March 19. You’ll have access to 23 fully customizable characters as you take part in garden warfare and blast your opponents into the dirt. The game will feature all the post-launch content available on PS4, Xbox One and PC and will also bring optional motion controls with the Switch’s Joy-Con controllers.

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