Let’s Predict Nintendo’s Announcements at This Week’s Direct

RELEASE DATE FOR ARMS

ARMS is Nintendo’s big new intellectual property that they’re pushing for the Switch. ARMS is still set for a spring release and we haven’t gotten a proper release date yet, so it’s definitely possible that Nintendo will give some details soon.

So far, Nintendo has shown fights between two characters in a normal round arena. Maybe there are other ways to play ARMS than what we’ve been shown. Imagine team fights of two versus two in a big map, running around and throwing punches in the air. Are there items that we will be using during battles ala Smash Bros. style or will you be able to use your favorite character and build up their stats to your choosing? Perhaps Nintendo will give us a look at more unique stages, characters, and different modes during the direct.

The announcement of some amiibo support for the title, with new ARMS character figures, is also possible. Almost every first-party title that Nintendo puts out has had amiibo support, so this isn’t entirely out of the question.

SPLATOON 2 RELEASE DATE

After the recent Splatoon 2 test fire for the Nintendo Switch, fans have gotten a taste of Nintendo’s unique multiplayer shooter, and not much is left for the title but the release date. Nintendo has said summer 2017 over and over again, but it’s time to finally give us the actual date of release.

The first Splatoon had a platforming single-player campaign that was quite fun, but left people wanting more. We’re hoping that Splatoon 2’s single-player mode will be more fleshed out than its predecessor for people who don’t enjoy playing Splatoon 2 online. Splatoon 2 could also end up being one of the new flagship titles on Nintendo’s new console.

PIKMIN 3DS UPDATE

A Nintendo 3DS entry in the Pikmin series was announced last September during a Nintendo Direct. It’s completely different from the main Pikmin games being that it’s a 2D side-scrolling action title that has you solving puzzles using the touch-screen. It’s being developed by the same Nintendo team that worked on Yoshi’s New Island.

Nintendo has not released any other updates on this title since January where the company said the game is still coming in 2017. This Nintendo direct would be the perfect time to talk more about the title and give us a release date.

SMASH BROS. SWITCH

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS is still going strong with tons of downloadable characters, stages, and Mii costumes. With Mario Kart 8 getting a deluxe port on the Switch, why not give Smash Bros. the same treatment? Super Smash Bros. would become one of the biggest titles on the Switch if it came with all of the previously released content like Cloud, Bayonetta, and Ryu.

Nintendo hasn’t showed any interest in porting the game over to the hybrid console, but we’re sure that an announcement is imminent, considering Mario Kart and Splatoon are part of the Switch’s first year on the market.

STREAMING SERVICES

Once we received the news that the Switch won’t have streaming services or an internet browser at launch, fans were largely okay with it because there was still Zelda to distract them with. But it’s been more than a month and no news has been said about video services like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu. The Switch feels like skeleton of a console at the moment, so it’s time for Nintendo to give us this update during the direct on Wednesday.

Being a portable console, it only makes sense for the Switch to be able to stream television shows and movies on it. This is something that Nintendo has to do before the year is up, it’s just what every console needs to have in 2017.

LADY LAYTON RELEASE DATE

The seventh main entry in the Professor Layton franchise follows a new protagonist who happens to be Hershel Layton’s daughter, Katrielle Layton, who is searching for her missing father. The game is planned to release on the 3DS sometime before June in Japan. As for the release date here in the west, it’s still slated for a 2017 release.

It’s time for Nintendo to give us a date for this puzzle-solving 3DS adventure. Not much is coming to the 3DS, so this would be a prime time for Lady Layton to make her debut.

RELEASE PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED AMIIBO

Yeah, remember these three amiibo that Nintendo announced way back in 2015? Well, they’re not out yet. Corrin, Bayonetta, and Cloud have all made their way into Super Smash Bros. but the amiibo have yet to be released.

Since we’re getting a new Fire Emblem game next month for the 3DS, there’s hope for Corrin to be talked about in some way, but Nintendo is releasing new amiibo for that game on its own already, so who knows? As for Cloud and Bayonetta, maybe Nintendo is saving them for a Smash Bros. Switch announcement? We shall see this Wednesday.