September 2026 Nintendo Direct Disappoints on Major Game
The 45-minute Nintendo Direct failed to show anticipated titles like The Duskbloods and a new 3D Mario, focusing instead on updates for Metroid, Kirby, and
Nintendo's September 2026 Direct presentation lasted 45 minutes but omitted several highly anticipated games. Titles like the next 3D Mario and FromSoftware's exclusive The Duskbloods were notably absent, leaving many fans disappointed despite announcements for Metroid Ravenous and Kirby and the World Beyond.
The presentation covered upcoming releases for the Nintendo Switch 2. Metroid Ravenous will feature Samus in a new 2D adventure. Kirby and the World Beyond is scheduled for a 2027 release as a 3D title. Mario Kart World received a free update with reimagined classic courses. However, the overall fan reaction, as gathered from social media by IGN, suggests the show lacked major reveals expected for this point in the console's lifecycle.
The Duskbloods Absence Raises Questions
FromSoftware's vampire-themed multiplayer exclusive for the Switch 2, The Duskbloods, was missing from the show. The game still carries a 2026 release window. Details about the project have become more public in recent months, but a firm release date remains unknown. IGN notes that a recent network test for the game "didn't exactly go off without a hitch." The source states the game has not been officially delayed, but with the year ending, time for a proper announcement is running out. Fan concern was evident online, with one user posting "WHERE IS DUSKBLOODS" on social media platform X.
Mario and Smash Bros. Fans Left Waiting
No new mainline 3D Mario game was shown. The last title, Super Mario Odyssey, launched about eight months after the original Nintendo Switch. The Switch 2 is now 15 months old without a new 3D Mario entry. One fan posted on X that "10 years without a 3D Mario game is f**king pathetic." While the Donkey Kong Bananza game has helped fill the gap, it has not cooled fan disappointment.
Expectations for a new Super Smash Bros. Game were fueled by rumors from a leaker known as Malo932 earlier in the week. No official announcement was made. It has been nearly nine years since Super Smash Bros. Ultimate released and five years since its final DLC character, Sora from Kingdom Hearts, was added. The absence led to widespread fan dismay online, with one tournament organizer posting "don't forget to hug a Smash player today."
Other Notable Omissions
A new Animal Crossing game did not appear. The last mainline entry was 2020's Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the original Switch, which received a Switch 2 update in January 2026. Despite Nintendo's history of long breaks between releases, fans expressed unhappiness on social media over its omission.
Rumors also suggested potential reveals for Luigi's Mansion 4 and a new Nintendogs game, neither of which were shown. Next Level Games, the studio behind Luigi's Mansion, was acquired by Nintendo in 2021 but has not headlined a project since 2022's Mario Strikers: Battle League. The last Luigi's Mansion game released almost seven years ago. Fans speculated about a new Star Fox Adventures game, but the only related news was the addition of the original Star Fox Adventures to the Nintendo Switch Online GameCube catalog.
The Mario Kart World update, while substantial, also drew criticism. One IGN reader commented on the reveal story, "Anything to avoid giving us new costumes or original tracks, huh?" The report compares this to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass, which added content years after launch, suggesting more updates could still come. The presentation concluded without the major first-party reveals many were anticipating as the year winds down.
