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Nintendo announces dates for Mario Kart 8, but fails to impress once again

nintendo announces release dates mario kart 8 nes remix 2 several games one cares wiiu mariokart8 scrn03

Check out our full written Mario Kart 8 review.

During Nintendo’s first Nintendo Direct broadcast of the year, beleaguered Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata appeared online to show off some of what the Japanese gaming giant has planned for the next few months. Highlights included the long-awaited reveal of Mario Kart 8’s release date on May 30, Little Mac’s confirmed inclusion in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS, and confirmation of NES Remix 2 for the eShop on April 25.

Nintendo also announced that several classic handheld games – including Metroid Fusion, Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3, and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga – are coming to the Wii U Virtual Store starting in April, and it showed off a new trailer for Bayonetta 2, although it did not give a release date.

There was also a quick look at the battle system for Monolith Soft Inc.’s new game, which uses the system built for Xenoblade Chronicles on the Wii. Of course there was no commentary, and the gameplay featured Japanese voices and text only. Two new games were also confirmed for the 3DS, Steel Diver: Sub Wars and Rusty’s Real Deal Baseball. There will also be a full NES Remix game titled Super Luigi Bros. that features levels from the original Super Mario Bros., but stars Luigi and has him running to the left instead of the right.

If that sounds somewhat underwhelming to you, you’re not alone.

At any other time, it would have been a decent, albeit perhaps a wee bit underwhelming presentation. Sure, it’s great to know when the next Mario Kart is going to be released, but Nintendo is in serious trouble right now and it desperately needs something to get people believing in it again. The company’s business model is fundamentally flawed thanks to the Wii U’s increasingly apparent failure, and announcing a few release dates and highlighting a handful of games we already know about isn’t going to do it. It’s sort of like a starving man buying silverware.

If you are a longtime gamer, you probably have a soft spot in your heart for Nintendo. After releasing video games for decades, it’s hard not to have at least a few fond memories of the Japanese company and its wares. And yet it’s tough not to see major issues within that company, both in its product and its presentation.

With the Wii U contributing to a 30-percent drop in Nintendo’s nine-month profits, leading to Iwata and other executives taking major pay cuts, Nintendo needs a big win. And soon.

Little MAcNintendo Direct has never been the most “action packed” of shows, but it is a good venue to thousands, if not millions of fans on Nintendo’s own terms. The last Nintendo Direct unveiled the new Zelda and Dynasty Warriors mash-up, Hyrule Warriors (still just a working title), a new Luigi re-release, and NES Remix 2. It wasn’t earth-shattering, but it got people talking, especially the Zelda game. Oddly, there was no mention of that game at all during this show.

For this Nintendo Direct, we got Little Mac joining Super Smash Bros. Yay?

The show was almost the equivalent of blowing into a NES Cartridge and hoping it plays. Granted, that actually worked more often than not, but Nintendo needs more than a handful of minor releases and news about games we already know about to ratchet up the excitement level.

Until then, events like these are a bit depressing.  We’re rooting for you, Nintendo, we really are. But you gotta give us something. 

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Ryan Fleming
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…
Everything announced at the September 2022 Nintendo Direct
Link overlooks Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom key art.

While digital video game showcases are more frequent than ever, no one does it quite as well as Nintendo. As such, this September 2022 Nintendo Direct really excited Nintendo Switch fans. So far, 2022 has been a great year for Nintendo thanks tp games like Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and Splatoon 3. During this show, we received a clear idea of how Nintendo plans to close this year out and kick off 2023.
We hoped to see a mix of announced games, DLC, remasters, and Nintendo's early 2023 lineup. While not every leak was true, we were pleasantly surprised by the likes of Fire Emblem Engage and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (yes, Breath of the Wild's sequel finally has a name). If you weren't able to watch it live or just want a recap of what was shown, this is everything Nintendo announced during the September 2022 Nintendo Direct.
Nintendo Direct 9.13.2022
Breath of the Wild 2 is officially titled The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Coming May 12th, 2023 – Nintendo Switch
After more than three years of secrecy, Nintendo confirmed that the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is titled The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This trailer also served as our first good look at gameplay for the game, as we see Link skydive off a sky island, launch himself into the air, climb, and even fly around.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be released on May 12, 2023.
Fire Emblem Engage lets you fight with classic Fire Emblem characters
Fire Emblem Engage – Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch
To kick off the show, Nintendo announced a brand new traditional Fire Emblem game called Fire Emblem Engage. We saw both cinematics and tactics gameplay, and while it plays like the strategy game fans would expect, players can also equip rings to get help from classic Fire Emblem characters.
Fire Emblem Engage will be released on January 20, 2023. It will also get a Divine Edition with collectible items.
Pikmin 4 is finally launching in 2023
Pikmin 4 – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch
Shigeru Miyamoto showed up for the Nintendo Direct. After giving updates on the Mario movie, Nintendo's theme park at Universal, and Pikmin Bloom, he announced Pikmin 4 with a trailer showing off its gorgeous-looking environments. It scheduled to launch sometime in 2023.
We didn't see gameplay, but he confirmed that you can view the game from the Pikmin's perspective on the ground. Pikmin 4 is a long time coming, considering that Miyamoto first teased the game in 2015. 
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe announced
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe – Nintendo Direct 9.13.22 – Nintendo Switch
To continue the Kirby 30th anniversary celebration this year, Nintendo announced that the Wii game Kirby's Return to Dream Land is coming to Nintendo Switch. Titled Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, it adds a Mecha copy ability, a new subgame, and the ability for everyone to play as Kirby.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe launches on February 24, 2023.
Octopath Traveler II is coming to Nintendo Switch
OCTOPATH TRAVELER II - Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch
Although it leaked just beforehand, this Nintendo Direct couldn't go without an HD-2D game as Square Enix announced Octopath Traveler II. Like the original, this is a turn-based RPG stylized like the SNES classics where players follow the journey of eight different characters in a fantasy world.
Octopath Traveller II will be released on February 24, 2023. It's also coming to PC, PS4, and PS5.
Everything else

It Takes Two is coming to Nintendo Switch on November 4.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse gets a remaster in early 2023.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 expansion pass adds a new character called Ino, Challenge Battles on October 13.
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake gameplay was shown off.
Fitness Boxing First of the North Star comes to Nintendo Switch in March 2023.
Ubisoft announced Oddballers, launching in early 2023.
Tunic is coming to Nintendo Switch on September 27.
Front Missions 1st: Remake launches in November, Front Mission 2: Remake launches in 2023, and Front Mission 3 is getting a remake. 
Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life is getting a remake in Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life in summer 2023.
Splatoon 3's first Splatfest is "What would you bring to a deserted island?" The choices are Gear, Grub, and Fun.
Fae Farm was announced by the developers of Dauntless. 
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line launches on February 16, 2023, and it will get DLC based on other Square Enix franchises.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope gameplay highlighted progression and Sparks.
Rune Factory 3 Special was announced with a 2023 release window, while a new game in the series was confirmed to be in development.
Pilotwings 64, Mario Party, Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3, Pokemon Stadium, Pokemon Stadium 2, 1080 Snowboarding, Excitebike 64, and Goldeneye 007 are all coming to Nintendo Switch Online. 
Apple Arcade game Various Daylife is coming to Nintendo Switch today. 
Factorio is coming to Nintendo Switch.
Indie game Ib was announced for Nintendo Switch. 
Mario Strikers: Battle League's second update adds Pauline and Diddy Kong alongside more gear and a new stadium later this month. 
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & The Secret Key launches on February 24, 2023. 
Merry Mountain from Mario Kart Tour and DS Peach Gardens from Mario Kart DS are coming to the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass Wave 3 this holiday
Nintendo Switch Sports is getting a golf mode with 21 courses and eight-player online support this holiday. 
Just Dance 2023 Edition got a new trailer. 
Harvestella is getting a demo today ahead of its November 4 launch.
Bayonetta 3's eclectic cast was highlighted during the Direct, with a new trailer being released on Nintendo's YouTube channel afterward. 
The creators of Danganronpa announced Master Detective Archive: Rain Code. 
Capcom is bringing Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil 2, and Resident Evil 3 to Nintendo Switch, but they will be cloud versions of the games. 
Sifu comes to Nintendo Switch on November 8.
Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion launches on December 13.
Radiant Silvergun launches for Nintendo Switch today.
Endless Dungeon is coming to Nintendo Switch.
Tales of Symphonia Remastered was announced for Nintendo Switch and launches in early 2023. 
Life is Strange Arcadia Bay Collection, Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered, Lego Bricktales, Disney Speedstorm, and Fall Guys were featured in a sizzle reel.

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Our 5 biggest predictions for the September Nintendo Direct: Metroid, Zelda, and more
Samus gives a thumbs up in Metroid Prime.

Following months of Nintendo-related leaks and a third-party showcase in June, the second full-fledged Nintendo Direct of 2022 is finally happening. February's show had neat reveals of games like Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, Mario Strikers: Battle League, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and Nintendo Switch Sports. Now, Nintendo Switch players hope the September 2022 Nintendo Direct will give a clear idea of what to expect throughout the rest of this year and into the first months of 2023.
Ahead of the showcase's announcements, rumors about a couple of key Nintendo classic remasters heavily circulated. There are also delayed Nintendo Switch titles that we hope finally get release dates. Although there's a chance that none of the following predictions will come to fruition tomorrow, it's still fun to guess what might pop up. As such, here are five announcements we hope to see at the September 2022 Nintendo Direct.
Metroid Prime returns

 
Metroid fans ate well last year with the release of Metroid Dread, but they've still waited since 2017 for the long-delayed Metroid Prime 4. Although there's nothing to suggest that Metroid Prime 4 will pop up here just yet, a remaster or remake of Metroid Prime seems much more likely. A Nintendo Switch version of the GameCube classic was subject to rumors for years, but rumblings of the game's existence really ramped up in 2022. 
From Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb to prolific Nintendo leaker Emily Rogers, the more reliable parts of the gaming rumor mill say that some sort of Metroid Prime rerelease project is in the works at Nintendo. Grubb even claims that it's coming this year, so Nintendo would need to reveal it very soon if that's true. If it is real, the biggest question surrounding Metroid Prime on Nintendo Switch is just how much of a reimagining it is. Will it be an HD port, a more substantive remaster, or a from-the-ground-up remake? Hopefully, we won't have to wait much longer to find out. 
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess get rereleased 

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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is getting eight new tracks, including Waluigi Pinball
Waluigi Pinball.

Nintendo has announced the second wave of new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tracks are due to arrive on August 4. The list of new tracks includes fan favorites like Waluigi Pinball.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1552640466243489794?t=pB_HQPDAWwxnPgLdvRq1Ng&s=19

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