Nintendo's latest Direct showcase revealed a brand new Legend of Zelda title, the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4 gameplay, and subtle hints at upcoming Switch 2 hardware.
Nintendo's February 2024 Direct delivered one of the most memorable software showcases in the company's recent history, featuring the reveal of a brand new Legend of Zelda game, the first extensive Metroid Prime 4 gameplay footage, and several moments that the community has interpreted as subtle confirmation of Switch 2 capabilities.
The Zelda announcement was the show's centerpiece: a new mainline entry in the series with a visual style that blends the cel-shaded look of Wind Waker with the painterly aesthetic of Tears of the Kingdom's concept art. The reveal trailer was nearly four minutes long, showing an overworld, dungeons, and a combat system that introduces a new mechanic involving time manipulation. A release window of Holiday 2025 was confirmed.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally received a full gameplay showcase after years of silence following its development restart. The footage confirmed first-person exploration and combat in the style of the Prime series, with Samus on a new planet with environments ranging from bioluminescent jungles to crystalline cave systems. The game appears to be running at 60fps and shows significantly more graphical fidelity than any previous Switch title — leading to widespread speculation that the game is targeting Switch 2 hardware.
Several other announcements rounded out the showcase: a new Paper Mario game, a sequel to Princess Peach: Showtime, a major update to Nintendo Switch Online adding 10 Game Boy Color titles, and Fire Emblem Engage DLC. The hint at Switch 2 came in the form of a "Nintendo Switch Family" branding that appeared briefly during the hardware disclaimer screen — language that didn't exist in previous Directs and implies an expanded family of devices.