What the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Left Unsaid: The Biggest Reveal

Man, capping off July 2025 with a Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase? Kinda fitting, right? The Switch 2’s been out for like, two months, and we’ve already got some killer first-party Nintendo games: Mario Kart World, anyone? And Donkey Kong Bananza—can’t forget that! But what’s blown my mind are these third-party games. Like, seriously, Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2? Didn’t see that coming. And Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut? Oh boy, showing off that hardware, huh? Anyway—oops, let me backtrack—there’s more third-party stuff on the way. But, um, when? Yeah, that’s still a mystery waiting to unfold.

So, about that July Showcase, I gotta say it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Like, "Chillin’ by the Fire" was just kinda weird? Left people scratching their heads, I guess. But hey, not all surprises are unwelcome, you know? Persona 3 Reload, Cronos: The New Dawn, and Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero—those got release dates. Still, there’s a bunch of games hanging in limbo, lacking any solid launch details. So, for the latter half of 2025, yeah, we’ve got some gaps.

Ah, where was I going with this? Oh, right—Hollow Knight: Silksong didn’t even show up. Again! Silksong fans, I’ve got your back. You can try it at Gamescom, and it’ll drop by Holiday 2025, supposedly. But Hades 2 and Elden Ring? Nada. We all expected them, yet, here we are, empty-handed. A bummer, I know. Seriously, made no sense, their absence. They’ve got 2025 windows but no real dates. Does that make sense? Kind of? Elden Ring was supposed to headline the April Direct, and now… crickets.

Meanwhile, some big games from the Partner Showcase? Yeah, they’re missing release dates too. Like, imagine this—you’re hyped for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection and The Adventures of Elliot but all you get is a vague “2026.” What?! Two massive RPGs, Capcom and Square Enix at the helm, and still, no concrete dates. I mean, don’t get me wrong, exciting stuff. But those dates? They could really amp up the excitement.

Anyway, onto something unexpected—Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. It popped up despite being a Zelda franchise game, which is pure Nintendo turf. Surprise, surprise. Koei Tecmo’s at it again with this spin-off. But, even then, the release date is a mystery, only “Winter.” Argh, that vague window just adds to the uncertainty of Nintendo’s 2025 lineup.

And hey, don’t even get me started on some other stuff. I’m already rambling—oops! Too much coffee, maybe. So, the list of what’s coming when: Chillin’ by the Fire (July 31), Apex Legends (Aug 5), Madden NFL 26 (Aug 14), blah blah, well, you get the drift. Most hits here have solid dates though, thankfully.

Okay, I think that’s all my brain can muster. It’s a chaotic ride as usual with these showcases. But hey, keeps us on our toes, huh? Crazy times, crazy games. Let’s just hope for more dates soon. Fingers crossed!