- Kyle Chua
Nintendo Direct September 2022 Top Announcements: Fire Emblem Engage, Breath of the Wild Sequel
Nintendo's latest Direct online stream has concluded and it was packed with a ton of exciting announcements.
The 40-minute presentation hosted reveals of new games, updates on in-development projects and the unveiling of the title and release date of the highly-anticipated sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Here's a roundup of the top announcements from the event:
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The long-awaited sequel to much-acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild finally has an official title and release date. The game will be called The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and it'll arrive on the Switch on 12 May 2023. Nintendo also dropped a new trailer, featuring gameplay footage of Link back in action.
Resident Evil
Four Resident Evil games are coming to Switch via cloud streaming: Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil Biohazard, Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. They're all expected to launch in 2023, though no exact release date has been set yet.
Pikmin 4
After years of speculation, Nintendo has officially confirmed that Pikmin 4 exists and is in development. The accompanying teaser, however, doesn't give much about what we could expect from the game. All we know so far is that you'll be able to view the world from the perspective of the Pikmin and that the controls are "simpler", as legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto touts. The game is targeting a 2023 launch.
GoldenEye 007
Nintendo is expanding the list of N64 games available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Arguably the most notable addition is GoldenEye 007, the beloved first-person classic that was first released in 1997. The game will reportedly be a port of the original with online multiplayer. Other games N64 games announced include Pilotwings 64, Mario Party, Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3 and Pokémon Stadium, among a few others.
Fire Emblem Engage
A new Fire Emblem game is coming next year, one in which you have the ability to summon characters from previous instalments. Titled Fire Emblem Engage, the game features the familiar turn-based combat of the series but also appears to borrow the relationship-building and exploring elements of the last mainline Fire Emblem game, Three Houses. Engage launches on the Switch on 20 January 2023.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
Kirby's Return to Dream Land, which originally launched on the Wii, is coming to the Switch. This remake takes the original side-scrolling, co-op gameplay of the original and gives it a fresh coat of paint. You and up to three other players can take control of Kirby and his allies as they travel through the planet Popstar to save a stranded friend. The game launches on the Switch on 24 February 2023.
Tales of Symphonia Remastered
Speaking of modernising old games, Tales of Symphonia, which originally came out on the GameCube, is getting a remaster. Publisher Bandai Namco said the goal is to bring this fan-favourite JRPG to a whole new generation, complete with a range of visual and gameplay enhancements. The game arrives on Switch in early 2023.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Nintendo is also bringing Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, which was first released as Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life on the GameCube in 2003, to the Switch. The game looks to be a faithful remake of the classic farm simulation RPG that has you growing crops, raising livestock and making friends. There are even dating elements where your avatar can get married and have a kid. The game is expected to come out sometime next year.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion
Publisher Square Enix also brought a lot of announcements to the event. Chief of which is perhaps the reveal that Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion, a remake of the PSP action RPG, arrives on the Switch on 13 December. There's also a new trailer that showcases more of the revamped gameplay and updated graphics.
Octopath Traveler 2
In case retro is more your style, Octopath Traveler, a JRPG with retro pixel art visuals, is getting a sequel. It'll feature eight new Travelers, with each one having a unique set of Path Actions they can use to battle and collect items, among other actions. The game is due out on 24 February 2023.
Nintendo's latest Direct online stream has concluded and it was packed with a ton of exciting announcements.
The highlight of the event is perhaps the reveal of the title and release date of the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
The game will be called The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and it'll arrive on the Switch on 12 May 2023.
Nintendo also announced Fire Emblem Engage, Pikmin 4, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe and more.