Can you believe it? Rumors of another Nintendo Direct happening soon are circulating. Now, I know what you’re thinking: we already had a February Nintendo Direct. It was a Partner Showcase on February 5 where Hollow Knight‘s Switch 2 version shadow-dropped and Oblivion Remastered was announced for the console, among other reveals.
But you wouldn’t expect rumor merchants to take a week off, would you? So please, join me as I present 10 predictions for a potential second February 2026 Nintendo Direct, some quite plausible and others, frankly, bordering on delusional.
The Legend Of Zelda Has A New Remake Revealed For Its 40th Anniversary
There has to be something in the oven for The Legend of Zelda‘s 40th anniversary. Right? The original Zelda first landed on the Famicom in Japan on February 21, 1986. That means its birthday this year is on a Saturday, an odd day for a Direct, but that hasn’t stopped Nintendo before (The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Direct was on a Sunday last month; it’s not exactly gaming related, but still…).
I think it’s too early for the next mainline Zelda to be unveiled, and I’ve just about given up hope of The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess coming to the Switch 2, but I think another classic game is due for a remake. To me, the most likely candidate is a revamp of A Link to the Past. It’s foundational to the Zelda formula that would persist until Breath of the Wild tore it all down, and Grezzo is on a roll with 2D Zelda games, having remade Link’s Awakening and then co-developed Echoes of Wisdom.
Splatoon Raiders Gets A Second Trailer
I wouldn’t blame you for forgetting about Splatoon Raiders. Nintendo didn’t even give the game’s announcement its own trailer. It was lumped in with the Splatoon 3 Switch 2 update—and has disappeared from the spotlight ever since. The game is set to be a Switch 2 exclusive, so it could potentially help bolster what has so far been a lackluster line-up for the new console.
The first ever Splatoon spin-off, Raiders, appears to be a single-player-only experience featuring a new protagonist whose only defined characteristic is being a mechanic who becomes stranded on an island chain after crash-landing there with idol pop trio Deep Cut (of Splatoon 3 fame). Splatoon Raiders is a third-person shooter and seems to have some form of base-building, but that’s about all we know so far.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition Is Revealed
Xenoblade is perhaps the most notable first-party franchise to not yet have a Switch 2 Edition released nor announced. A new Xenoblade Chronicles project was leaked, however, by a voice actor. All the details point to Xenoblade Chronicles 2 being the most likely candidate for a glow-up, and that’s what fans have been expecting.
The general sentiment says that XBC2 is the most in need of a Switch 2 Edition, which usually means a resolution bump, higher frame rates, and some more involved gameplay touch-ups. Both XBC2 and its successor, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, were often hailed as veritable technical marvels showing what the original Switch was unexpectedly capable of, and a Switch 2 version could really let the second game shine.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance Gets A Switch 2 Upgrade & A KCD2 Port Is Announced
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This prediction combines two exciting prospects. The first installment of Kingdom Come: Deliverance recently received a next-gen update (over five years into the console generation), bringing 60fps to its PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions. This upgrade may not be possible for the Switch version, but with work being done on the title from 2018, it’s plausible that it will receive an upgrade for Switch 2 relatively soon.
The sequel, seven years in development, is arguably an even bigger addition for Switch 2. I suspect that a port is on its way. The first installment was nominated for Game of the Year in 2025 and made significant strides in smoothing out some rough edges from its predecessor. It sold five million copies in its first year and would be an impressive third-party addition to Nintendo’s latest hardware.
A New Pokémon Pokopia Trailer Drops Before Its Launch In March
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Pokémon Pokopia, scheduled as the big Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive for March. If there’s another Nintendo Direct in February 2026, another trailer for Pokémon Pokopia is practically guaranteed. This would be an easy way to attract attention to this Ditto-centric cozy game. Given Pokémon’s high profile, it could potentially draw major interest from prospective Switch 2 buyers.
A significant franchise event is also approaching—Pokémon Day occurs every year on February 27 and will feature an edition of Pokémon Presents. Pokémon Pokopia is expected to be highlighted during this event as well.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Comes To Switch 2
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The original Red Dead Redemption received its Switch 2 Edition late last year. Therefore, it seems only logical that its sequel (narratively speaking) will also come to this platform soon. Red Dead Redemption 2 remains one of the best-looking games available today but initially launched on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. In my opinion (though unqualified), it should run quite well on Switch 2.
No game can universally be deemed an absolute must-play due to varying tastes—but RDR2 comes close. It involves much exploration and has a slow-paced nature that may not appeal to everyone. However, it is such a finely crafted experience that everyone should at least give it a chance—especially those who haven’t had access yet.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Has Its Release Date Announced
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The Fire Emblem series has remained relevant with recent releases like Engage in 2023. We are now rapidly approaching the next mainline entry titled Fortune’s Weave which was announced during September’s Nintendo Direct with a release window set for this year. If it remains scheduled for this year, we can expect more information soon.
The first half of Nintendo’s slate for 2026 appears largely set so we should soon see release dates cropping up for later in the year. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave will mark this storied tactical RPG series’ debut on Switch 1—and if Three Houses was any indication last generation, developer Intelligent Systems will not disappoint fans.
The Duskbloods Gameplay Is Shown Off & Elden Ring Gets A Switch 1 Release Date
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A year has passed since The Duskbloods was revealed at last April’s big reveal event for Switch II—and we are still awaiting gameplay footage. A FromSoftware exclusive generated immense excitement initially but some were disappointed when they learned it would involve PvPvE elements with extraction mechanics. It’s time we finally see what The Duskbloods truly entails!
Additonally, FromSoftware also promised Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition—a port of their acclaimed title from last year—on Switch II which faced delays due to performance issues reported upon initial impressions last year. We are still waiting on release date announcements for Tarnished Edition—a name that seems eerily prophetic now—and if significant improvements have been made technically since then—a Direct would certainly be an appropriate venue to showcase it.
Metroid Prime Is Unveiled
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The Metroid franchise has never been stronger than now—especially after Metroid Dread’s success in recent years—and while fans may have hoped for Metroid Prime IV instead (which I personally enjoyed), announcing Metroid VI could capitalize on this momentum effectively.
The developer MercurySteam recently released Blades of Fire—a unique action-adventure title showcasing clever combat mechanics—and their pedigree with Metroid titles like Samus Returns (the remake) and Dread makes them well-equipped to deliver another hit!
A New Super Mario Game Is Finally Announced
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Soon after each Nintendo broadcast since last year’s initial Direct rumors have circulated regarding announcements surrounding new Super Mario games coming soon—though they remain unconfirmed as yet! All five previous iterations were major highlights across console generations—Nintendo cannot afford to skip one this time around!
The cultural relevance surrounding Mario has never been higher thanks largely due to The Super Mario Bros Movie’s success alongside its forthcoming sequel—announcing or releasing any new Super Mario title alongside such popular films could significantly boost interest among potential buyers!
Here you can find the original article where images used here are sourced from without authorship claims—they’re solely used here with proper attribution.[nospin]
